Skip to main content

How to create time-lapse video on your iPhone 6 and 6 Plus

create time lapse video iphone 6 plus guide copy
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Time-lapse photography isn’t a new thing. However, although the technology has been around since French filmmaker Georges Méliès first utilized the technique at the turn of the 20th century, it’s only recently come to the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus (as well as other iOS-compatible iPhones) via iOS 8. The remarkable and fun feature had been available through third-party apps, but it’s now baked directly into the iPhone Camera app, letting you easily snaps photos at dynamically selected intervals before speeding up the resulting video to produce a film that’s quite the opposite of slow motion. It’s a clever process, one much more apparent when tracking the movement of stars across the night sky, flowers blossoming with the rising sun, and other changes that appear subtle to the human eye. Nonetheless, using the advanced technique on your iPhone requires you to do little more than launch the Camera app, press the Record button, diligently wait, and watch the resulting video at a standard 30 frames per second in glorious high definition. Follow the directions below for details on how to take a time-lapse video on an iPhone 6 or 6 Plus, so you can capture those cliche clouds.

Note: Although the screenshots below are from an iPhone 5 running iOS 8, the process is exactly the same on the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, along with any other iPhone capable of running iOS 8 or later.

Related: Our favorite photography apps for the iPhone and the best iPhone 6 cases.

Launch the camera app

Film a time-lapse video on an iPhone isn’t particularly difficult. Tap the gray camera icon while viewing the home screen, or tap the camera icon and swipe up while viewing the lock screen, to launch the Camera app. Afterward, continually swipe right until you access the iPhone’s time-lapse mode, indicated by the words Time-lapse in yellow at the bottom.

Time Lapse Tutorial
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Capture the time-lapse video

Once you’ve found a scene you want to capture, press the red Record button at the bottom of the screen — or either volume button — to begin recording your time-lapse. You can record video for as long as you’d like, whether it be 30 seconds or 30 hours, but keep in mind the images in the frame will appear to move faster than they do in real life. Click the Record button or either volume button again when finished with your recording to save the resulting video to your camera roll. Afterward, access the Photos app to view your new time-lapse on your Retina HD display!

[iPhone 6 time-lapse montage courtesy of Uncage the Soul Productions/Vimeo]

Editors' Recommendations

Brandon Widder
Brandon Widder is a multimedia journalist and a staff writer for Digital Trends where he covers technology news, how-to…
iOS 18 could add a customization feature I’ve waited years for
iOS 17 interactive widgets on an iPhone 15 Pro Max.

iOS 18 is coming later this year, and all signs point to it being a dramatic iPhone update. Now, thanks to one new report, it looks like iOS 18 could add a customization feature I've been waiting years and years and years for: better home screen customization.

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, iOS 18 will introduce a "more customizable" home screen. More specifically, iOS 18 will allow you to place app icons and widgets anywhere you want. If you want a space or break between an app icon or your widget, welcome to the future: iOS 18 may finally let you do that. MacRumors corroborated this report with its own sources, too.

Read more
5 phones you should buy instead of the iPhone 15 Pro Max
iPhone 15 Pro Max lying on the ground surrounded by leaves.

Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro Max is one of the top choices for a premium smartphone. It offers the latest and greatest from Apple, including the new A17 Pro chip, a fantastic camera system, a lightweight titanium body, the Action button, and USB-C charging. It's a great package.

But there’s no doubt about it — the iPhone 15 Pro Max is also quite expensive, with a starting price of $1,200. It’s also not the only option out there if you want the best smartphone on the market, especially if you aren’t particularly invested in the Apple ecosystem.

Read more
The best iPhone keyboard apps in 2024: our 12 favorites
Typing on the iPhone 14 Plus.

The iPhone's default keyboard may not meet everyone's needs. Its limited features may leave some users wanting more variety and flexibility, especially on larger devices like the iPhone 15 Pro Max or smaller models like the iPhone SE (2022).

We have conducted research and compiled a comprehensive list of the best third-party keyboards for iPhone, that can significantly enhance your texting experience. These keyboards offer a wide range of features and customization options, such as adjustable key size, swipe typing, themes, and easier access to emojis. Most of these keyboards are available for free, while some offer premium subscription options. Either way, you'll easily be able to find a keyboard that suits your needs and preferences.

Read more