Record a video on your Pixel phone

You can record in real-time and slow motion on your phone or tablet. You can also record time-lapse videos that speed up when you play them. Learn how to open your Camera app.

Important:

• Some of these steps work only on Android 10 and up. Learn how to check your Android version.
• Some of these steps require you to touch the screen.

Take videos with your camera

Record a video

Important: When you take a video, your device silences notification sounds to avoid an interruption.

To quickly record a video, open your Camera app, then touch and hold Capture .

1. Open your Camera app .
2. If you're in Photo mode , switch to Video mode .
3. To start recording, tap Record .
   • To put a cut in your video, tap Pause . To start recording again, tap Record .
   • To take a high-resolution photo while recording a video, tap Capture .
4. To stop recording, tap Stop .

Tip: You can change your camera settings to use features like gridlines or a flash. Learn how to adjust how your camera records.

Use video effects

Edit your videos on your Pixel phone

Make a video more smooth

1. Open your Camera app . Learn how to open your Camera app on your Pixel phone.
2. If you're in Photo mode , switch to Video mode .
3. At the bottom left, tap Video Settings Stabilization .
4. Choose the type of stabilization you want.
   • To capture light movement, tap Standard .
   • Pixel 4a (5G) and later only: To capture still shots, tap Locked .
   • Pixel 4a (5G) and later only: To capture heavy movement, tap Active .
5. For each mode, you can adjust the level of stabilization.

Get cinematic video effects

Important: This feature is available on Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 9 and later.

When you record in Cinematic mode, you can blur backgrounds and keep your subject in focus. To turn on Cinematic mode:

1. Open your phone’s Camera app .
2. If you're in Camera mode , switch to Video mode .
3. Swipe to Cinematic Blur mode.
4. Tap the shutter to record.
5. Tap your subject to direct the focus.

Get vibrant video color

Important: This feature is available on Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 9 and later including Pixel Fold.

When you record in HDR video, you get vibrant video color. To turn on 10-bit HDR video:

1. Open your Camera app .
2. If you're in Photo mode , switch to Video mode .
3. At the bottom left, tap Video Settings .

Take underwater videos

Taking videos underwater can be hard because of the way light works. Below the surface, red, yellow, and orange light are reflected by the water, so that only blue and green light can be seen in deep water.

To correct these issues, Pixel camera uses a special AWB algorithm designed and optimized to color-correct for an underwater environment. You can turn on this feature in Advanced settings.

Important:

• This feature is available on Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro XL.
• You must use a waterproof case to take underwater videos.

You can record a video of the true color of underwater scenes.

1. Open your Camera app .
2. At the bottom left, tap Settings More settings Advanced.
3. Turn on Underwater photography and video.

Record high resolution, slow motion & time-lapse videos

Take high resolution & frames rate video

You can record in 4K at up to 60 frames per second (FPS). To turn on high resolution video:

1. Open your Camera app .
2. If you're in Camera mode , switch to Video mode .
3. At the bottom left, tap Video Settings .
   • Under “Resolution,” turn on 4K.
   • Under “Frames/sec,” turn on 60fps.

Tip: You can boost your videos to even higher quality. Learn how to use Video Boost.

Record a slow motion video

To record a video in slow motion: 

1. Open your Camera app .
2. If you're in Photo mode , switch to Video mode .
3. Switch to Slow motion.
4. To start recording, tap Record .
   • To take a high-resolution photo while you record a slow motion video, tap Capture .
5. To stop recording, tap Stop .

Tip: To record very high speeds in slow motion, choose 1/8x.

Record a time-lapse video

To record changes that take place slowly over time, like a sunset:

1. Open your Camera app .
2. If you're in Photo mode , switch to Video mode   Time Lapse.
3. To choose a speed up time setting, at the bottom right, tap Auto.
4. Select a speed option. For example:
   • For 50 seconds in reality to take 10 seconds in the video, tap 5x.
   • For 20 minutes in reality to take 10 seconds in the video, tap 120x.
5. Tap Record .
   • To take a high-resolution photo while you record a time-lapse video, tap Capture .
6. To stop recording, tap Stop .

Tip: If you're unsure of the speed to choose or how long to record for, tap Auto.

To turn on Night Sight with Time Lapse:

1. Open your Camera app .
2. If you're in Photo mode , switch to Video mode Time Lapse.
3. At the bottom left, tap Settings More light.
4. Tap Night Sight .
5. Tap Record . Hold the phone still while it records the video.
6. To stop recording, tap Stop .

Related resources

• Change your Camera app settings on your Pixel phone
• Take motion photos & use Top Shot on your Pixel phone or tablet
• Use Video Boost on your Pixel phone