How to Change the Frame Rate of a Video

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Increase or decrase your video speed without distorting the footage

Co-authored by João Homem and Travis Boylls

Last Updated: November 7, 2024

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Editing with Handbrake

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Converting with VLC

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Expert Q&A

The frame rate of a video is how many frames-per-second (FPS) a video has. The more FPS, the smoother the motion in the video. A video with a lower frame rate, especially below 20 FPS, will appear choppy. You can adjust the frame rate in either direction to get the desired effect and file size you need. Although if the video was filled with a very low frame rate, increasing it now may not improve its quality. This wikiHow teaches you how to change the frame rate of a video using free software on your PC or Mac.

Changing the Frame Rate of a Video with Handbrake

Download, install, and open Handbrake, a free video encoder.
Drag and drop the video file you want encode into the box on the right of the screen.
Click the Video tab.
Click the "Framerate (FPS)" drop-down and choose your new frame rate.
Name your video, preview it, then click Start Encode.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Editing with Handbrake

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1
Download and install Handbrake. Handbrake is a free video encoder that has the ability to edit the frame rate of your video. Use the following steps to download and install Handbrake:
- Go to https://handbrake.fr/downloads.php in a web browser,
- Click Download (64 bit) for Windows 10, or Download (Intel 64bit) for macOS 10.11 or higher.
- Open the installer in your web browser or Downloads folder.
- Follow the install instructions.
Handbrake has an icon with an image that resembles a cocktail glass next to a pineapple. Click the icon in the Windows Start menu, Applications folder on Mac, or on your desktop to open Handbrake.

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Drag and drop a video file into the box. When you first open Handbrake, it asks you to drag and drop a video file into the box on the right. Use File Explorer or Finder to navigate to the location of the video file you want to change the frame rate for. Drag and drop it into the box.
- Alternatively, you can click File on the panel on the left. Then navigate to the video file you want to open and click it to select it. Click Open.
The tabs are below the drop-down menus at the top of Handbrake. Click the Video tab for options to change the video output.
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Use the "Framerate (FPS)" drop-down menu to select a new frame rate. A good average frame rate is between 24-30 frames per second. Anything lower than 20 frames-per-second will result in choppy videos motion.
- Increasing the frame rate beyond the original frame rate will not make the motion look any smoother. This will only result in duplicate frames and a larger file size. You can't more frames to a video than what it original has.
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Type a name for the video. Use the text box next to "Save as" to edit the file name of the video. This will allow you to keep a copy of the original video when you encode the new video.
- To change the location the video saves to, click Browse to the right of this bar.
It's at the top of Handbrake next to an icon that resembles a stack of photos. Clicking this option displays a still image of the video.
It's at the bottom-center of the still image. This displays a 30 second preview of the video. This allows you to see what the frame rate looks like and decide if it looks acceptable.
It's has an icon that resembles a green "play" button. This starts encoding the video at the frame rate you selected.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Converting with VLC

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1
Download and install VLC. VLC is a free media player that has a built in video converter, which can be used to change the frame rate of a video. Use the following steps to download and install VLC:
- Go to https://www.videolan.org/vlc/index.html in a web browser.
- Click Download VLC.
- Double-click the installer file in your web browser or Downloads folder.
- Follow the instructions in the installer to complete the installation.
VLC has an icon that resembles an orange traffic cone. Click the VLC icon in your Windows Start menu, Applications folder on Mac, or your desktop to open VLC.
It's in the menu bar at the top of VLC.
It's in the media menu. This opens the VLC converter.
It's the button to the right of the box below "File Selection".
Use File Explorer or Finder to navigate to a video file you want to change the frame rate for. Click it to select it and click Open. This adds the video to the file selection.
It's the button at the bottom of the "Open Media" file.
It's next to the drop-down menu across from "Profile". This opens the Profile Edition menu.
It's the second tab at the top of the "Video Edition" menu.
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Type your desired frame rate next to "Frame Rate". A good frame rate is between 24-30 frames per second. Anything less that 20 frames-per-second will result in choppy motion in the video.
- Increasing the frame rate beyond the original frame rate will not produce smoother video quality. It will just result in duplicate frames and a larger video file.
It's to the right of the box that says "Destination file". This allows you to select a file name for the converted video and a save location.
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Type a name for the video. Use the space next to "File name" to type a new file name for the converted video.
- You can also navigate to a location you want to save the video at.
It's at the bottom of the File Explorer or Finder menu.
This starts converting the video to a new file at the frame rate you selected.

Expert Q&A

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Question

What's the difference between 30fps and 60fps?

João Homem
Film & Media Industry Expert
João Homem is a Professional Colorist and Film & Media Industry Expert based in Vancouver, British Columbia. As the Co-Founder and Creative Director of Escuro Studios, a Canadian full-service production company, he oversees creative development and both pre- and post-production for diverse projects, including music videos, commercials, films, and TV series. He is also the CEO and founder of Cromatic Elements, an online asset store for filmmakers that supports emerging professionals by providing a platform to share high-quality tools, insights, and assets across multiple creative fields. Originally created to develop filmic assets for personal use, Cromatic has grown into a community-driven space where up-and-coming creatives can access resources designed by top industry professionals. João’s commitment to fostering a collaborative environment and offering accessible, authentic tools has positioned Cromatic as a valuable resource for filmmakers around the world.

João Homem

Film & Media Industry Expert

Expert Answer

30 fps is the standard visual experience—it’s what you typically see with regular TV shows and movies. While 60 fps takes things up a bit by creating smoother and more fluid motion. This stands out in fast-paced content, like action games or sports. With 60 fps, the frame transitions are smoother, making everything look more lifelike and “live.” This higher frame rate makes actions and camera movements feel crisper and more responsive, which is why gamers and video enthusiasts love it for a more immersive experience. With that being said, whether 60 fps is worth it depends on what you're watching. For regular videos or casual viewing, 30 fps is perfectly fine and doesn’t feel choppy. But if you’re into gaming, sports, or anything with lots of fast movement, 60 fps can make a big difference and feel easier on your eyes.

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