From a folder of interval photos to a finished timelapse video – done in minutes.
Time Lapse Video Maker – Turn a Video into a Timelapse
Movavi Video Editor is an easy-to-use timelapse video software for Windows and Mac that lets you build a stunning timelapse from multiple photos or turn existing footage into a fast-forward time-lapse effect – in a few simple steps.
Whether you’re a beginner creating your first timelapse from iPhone photos, converting a long recording into a short time-lapse clip, or putting together a professional sunset or construction project video, Movavi gives you every tool you need – free to download for a 7-day trial.
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Key features of the timelapse video software
From stacking multiple photos into a smooth timelapse to speed-ramping existing footage – everything in one app for beginners and pros.
Build a timelapse from multiple photos – any camera
Import a sequence of photos taken at regular intervals – from an iPhone, DSLR, GoPro, or any other camera – and Movavi assembles them into a smooth timelapse video automatically. Set each frame’s display duration to 0.1 seconds (100 milliseconds) on the Timeline and the photo sequence plays back as a fluid, fast-moving timelapse. This is the standard method for sunset, construction, nature, and travel timelapse content.
Turn existing video into a timelapse with the speed tool
Already have footage recorded on your iPhone, phone, or camera? Use Movavi’s Clip settings speed slider to accelerate the video without installing extra apps. Drag the speed dial up to 2×, 4×, 8×, or any custom multiplier to create a fast-forward time-lapse effect from a video that’s already recorded. This works on any clip – MP4, MOV, MKV – and previews in real time before export.
Add a soundtrack and creative filters to your timelapse
Every great timelapse has the right music behind it. Movavi’s built-in royalty-free music library has tracks for every mood – ambient, upbeat, cinematic. Drag a track to the audio timeline, set fade in and fade out, and sync it to the video length. Add color filters and LUTs to give the timelapse a consistent cinematic look across all frames, whether you’re working with photos or accelerated video.
Export for YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and more
Export your finished timelapse in MP4 for YouTube or social media, or choose custom resolution and bitrate for archival quality. The app includes platform presets for YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, and TikTok – so the right aspect ratio and codec are applied automatically. GPU-accelerated rendering keeps export times fast even for long photo-sequence timelapses with hundreds of frames.
Why beginners use Movavi for timelapse videos
Three reasons beginners and experienced creators alike reach for Movavi to make timelapse videos.
How to make a timelapse video with Movavi – 4 steps
Step 1. Install Movavi Video Editor and create a new project
Download and install Movavi Video Editor for Windows or Mac. Launch the app and click New Project on the welcome screen. The editing workspace opens with an empty timeline, ready to receive your photos or video clips.
Step 2. Import your photos or video
Click Add Files in the Import tab and navigate to the folder containing your interval photos. Select all photos and click Open – they appear in the Project files and are added to the Timeline in sequential order automatically. If you’re turning an existing video into a timelapse instead, import the video file the same way.
Step 3. Set frame duration to 0.1 seconds
Select all frames on the Timeline (Ctrl + A / Cmd + A). Click the Clip settings icon and find the Duration field in the General tab. Change the duration to 00:00:00.100 – that’s 100 milliseconds per frame. Change the milliseconds value first, then the seconds. At 0.1 seconds per photo, the sequence plays at 10 frames per second, which creates smooth timelapse motion. For a faster effect, use 0.05 seconds (50ms). For video speed-up: drag the speed slider in Clip settings to the desired multiplier instead.
Step 4. Add music and export
Open the Audio tab and drag a royalty-free music track from the built-in library to the audio timeline. Trim the track to match the timelapse length and set Fade in / Fade out by double-clicking the track. Preview the full timelapse with music in the preview window. When it looks right, click Export, choose MP4, set resolution and save location, and click Start. Movavi renders the timelapse and saves it to your computer.
Who makes timelapse videos
Timelapse is one of the most visually striking video formats – and it’s used across many different creative and professional contexts.
Travel and nature photographers · PHOTOGRAPHY
Landscape photographers, wildlife shooters, and travel content creators use timelapse to capture sunrises, cloud movements, star trails, and cityscapes in motion. Movavi turns a folder of interval shots from any camera – iPhone, GoPro, DSLR – into a polished timelapse with music in minutes. The beginner-friendly frame-duration tool removes the technical barrier that stops many photographers from making timelapse videos.
Construction and project documentation teams · BUSINESS
Construction companies, architects, and project managers use timelapse to document site progress – compressing weeks of construction into a two-minute video for stakeholder presentations, social media, and marketing materials. Movavi’s photo-sequence timelapse tool handles hundreds of photos in a single import, and the export presets produce a ready-to-share MP4 without any post-processing.
Social media creators and vloggers · CONTENT CREATION
YouTube creators, TikTokers, and Instagram vloggers use timelapse as a content staple – speeding up setup shots, cooking processes, workouts, room makeovers, and daily routines into short, engaging clips. Movavi’s video speed-up tool lets creators turn any existing recording into a timelapse effect in one step, without re-shooting, which is especially useful for repurposing already-recorded footage into short-form social content.
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Frequently asked questions
Common questions about timelapse videos – iPhone, phone cameras, duration, and converting existing footage.
How do I make a timelapse video on iPhone?
How do I make a timelapse video on iPhone?
There are two ways to make a timelapse video on iPhone:
- Use the built-in Timelapse mode in the iPhone Camera app – swipe to Timelapse, point, and record. The iPhone automatically compresses the recording into a short clip as it records.
- Take interval photos and assemble them in Movavi for more control. Transfer the photos from your iPhone to your Windows or Mac computer, import them into Movavi Video Editor as a photo sequence, select all frames, set frame duration to 0.1s in Clip settings, add music, and export. The Movavi method gives you full control over the speed, music, color grading, and output format – the iPhone Camera Timelapse mode is faster but less customizable.
How long is a 30-minute time-lapse video?
How long is a 30-minute time-lapse video?
The output length of a timelapse depends on the source length and the speed multiplier. At the standard timelapse frame rate of 0.1 seconds per photo (10 fps), a 30-minute sequence shot at one photo every 5 seconds produces: 360 photos ÷ 10 fps = 36 seconds of timelapse video. For a video-speed timelapse at a common multiplier of 30×, a 30-minute recording compresses to: 30 ÷ 30 = 1 minute. At 60×, 30 minutes → 30 seconds. The practical rule: every 30 minutes of source footage at 30× speed = 1 minute of timelapse. To get a specific output length, calculate backwards: a 2-minute timelapse at 30× requires 60 minutes of source recording, or 3,600 photos shot at 1-second intervals. Movavi’s Clip settings speed slider lets you preview the output duration before committing to the export.
How do I make a time-lapse video with a phone?
How do I make a time-lapse video with a phone?
To make a timelapse video with a phone:
- iPhone: use the built-in Camera Timelapse mode, or shoot photos in interval mode using the Timer and burst feature, then assemble them in Movavi on a computer.
- Android: most modern Android cameras include a Timelapse or Hyperlapse mode (Samsung, Google Pixel, OnePlus all have it). If not, use the open-source Framelapse app from the Play Store.
For assembling phone photos into a timelapse on a computer: import the image sequence into Movavi Video Editor, select all frames, set Clip settings duration to 00:00:00.100, add music, and export. This workflow works with photos from any phone camera and gives you full editing control over the final timelapse online or on desktop.
How do I make a timelapse from a video that's already recorded?
How do I make a timelapse from a video that's already recorded?
To turn a video into a timelapse using Movavi Video Editor:
- Import the video file into Movavi.
- Drag it onto the Timeline.
- Double-click the clip to open Clip settings.
- Find the Speed slider and drag it to the right – 2× plays the video twice as fast, 4× four times, and so on. For a true timelapse effect, most creators use 10×–60× depending on content type (slow cloud movements work well at 30×; walking at 4×–8×).
- Preview the sped-up clip and adjust until it looks right.
- Add music and export. No separate online tool or additional app needed – the speed adjustment and export are both done inside Movavi in the same session. This is the fastest way to how to turn a video into a timelapse when the footage is already recorded and you just need to compress it down to a shorter duration.
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