- Picking pictures for a Photos slideshow
- Telling a story with the order of your slides
- Playing a whole album as a slideshow
- Changing transitions, speed and time per slide
- Choosing or muting the slideshow soundtrack
- Sharing or showing a slideshow on a bigger screen
- Turning photos into a memory movie with its own look
- Making a slideshow video you can post with iMovie
- Using iPhone slideshows in a small business
- Frequently asked questions
To make a slideshow on iPhone, open Photos, tap Library, tap Select, choose your photos and videos, then tap the More button and Start Slideshow. Photos sets it to music automatically. Tap the screen while it plays and use Customize to change the song, timing and transitions.
A slideshow is the easiest way to turn a camera roll full of event photos into something people will sit and watch. Think of a workshop recap for attendees, a portfolio to show a client across the table, or photos from a launch party playing on the TV in your shop.
The Photos app on iPhone makes one for you in a few taps, complete with music, and Apple's iPhone User Guide explains how. Below are those steps, how to change the music and timing, how to share it, and what to use if you need a slideshow you can save and post as a video.
Picking pictures for a Photos slideshow
Apple's help says you can create a slideshow from a selection of photos and videos you choose, and that slideshows are automatically formatted and set to music. Here's the route:
- Open the Photos app on your iPhone.
- Tap Library.
- Tap Select, then tap each photo or video you want to include.
- Tap the More button.
- Tap Start Slideshow.
It starts playing straight away. Choose your pictures in the order you want them to appear, and leave out near-duplicates, because a slideshow with five versions of the same group shot drags.
Telling a story with the order of your slides
A slideshow works best when it has a beginning, a middle and an end, even a tiny one. For an event, I'd open with a wide shot of the room, move through the moments people will remember, and finish on a group photo or a thank-you slide. For a portfolio, lead with your strongest piece rather than your oldest.
A simple habit is to build an album first with only the pictures you want, then play that album as the slideshow. It's much easier to curate there than to keep re-selecting pictures in your library. Short video clips mixed in between photos also help keep people watching.
Playing a whole album as a slideshow
If you've already gathered the pictures into an album, you don't need to select them one by one. Apple's help says to tap Collections, open any album or collection, tap the More button, then tap Start Slideshow.
This is my favourite trick for events. Make an album called something like Launch Night, drop the best shots in as you go, and the slideshow is ready the moment you want it.
Changing transitions, speed and time per slide
While the slideshow plays, tap the screen to bring up the controls. According to Apple, you tap Customize, then Transition & Duration, to change the transition style, the speed and how long each slide stays on screen.
Slower is usually better for a crowd, so people can take in each photo. Faster suits a quick, upbeat recap.
Choosing or muting the slideshow soundtrack
Every Photos slideshow comes with music. Apple's help lists your options while it plays:
- Choose a different song: tap Customize, tap Music, then tap Choose Song.
- Turn the sound off: tap the Mute button.
- Keep it playing on repeat: tap Customize, then tap Loop.
Loop is perfect for a screen at a stand or in a waiting area, where the slideshow just needs to keep running.
Sharing or showing a slideshow on a bigger screen
Apple's help gives two ways to get your slideshow in front of more people:
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| What you want | What to tap while it plays |
|---|---|
| Send it to someone | More button, Share, then an option such as Messages or Mail |
| Show it on a TV or display | More button, AirPlay, then choose the device |
| Repeat it continuously | Customize, then Loop |
| Change the pace | Customize, then Transition & Duration |
AirPlay is great for client presentations and events, as long as the TV or display supports it and is on the same network.
Turning photos into a memory movie with its own look
Photos also makes memory movies, which are a more polished cousin of the slideshow. Apple's help says you can personalise them with Memory Looks, which pair songs with a matching photographic style, and you can change the song, edit the title, change the length and add or remove photos.
To get there, tap Collections, find Memories, play one, then tap the screen and tap Customize. If your slideshow is for something special, like a client's milestone or a year-in-review post, a memory movie often looks more finished.
Making a slideshow video you can post with iMovie
A Photos slideshow is ideal for playing and sharing from your phone. If you want full control over each slide, titles and timing, iMovie works too. Apple's iMovie guide says each photo appears in the timeline as a clip that stays on screen for 6 to 12 seconds by default, and trimming a photo changes how long it shows. You can then save the result as a video to post anywhere.
For a polished promo built from your photos, my walkthrough on building promo videos for social on iPhone goes deeper on structure and captions.
Using iPhone slideshows in a small business
- Show a portfolio on a tablet or TV at a networking event, set to Loop.
- Send a recap slideshow to workshop attendees the same day.
- Play product photos on a shop screen with the sound muted.
- Share a behind-the-scenes slideshow with your team after a busy week.
Before you share, check each photo for anything private, such as screens, documents or people who didn't agree to be photographed. And if you're doing a lot of on-the-go admin from your phone, my guide on faxing from an iPhone covers one more job you might not realise it can do.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make a slideshow on iPhone?
Open Photos, tap Library, tap Select, choose your photos and videos, tap the More button, then tap Start Slideshow. Photos adds music automatically.
How do I change the music on an iPhone slideshow?
While it plays, tap the screen, tap Customize, tap Music, then tap Choose Song. Tap the Mute button to turn the sound off.
Can I make a slideshow from an album on iPhone?
Yes. Tap Collections, open the album, tap the More button, then tap Start Slideshow.
How do I make photos stay on screen longer in a slideshow?
Tap the screen while it plays, tap Customize, then Transition & Duration to change the speed and time per slide.
Can I put my iPhone slideshow on a TV?
Yes, with AirPlay. While it plays, tap the More button, tap AirPlay and choose the device.
