How to reverse a video on iPhone
Water jumping back into a glass, a dive in rewind, a mess that tidies itself up — reversed video is one of the simplest effects that still makes people watch twice. The Photos app can't play a video backwards, but Video Grid Collage can, for any clip in your library.
Step by step
Open the video
In Video Grid Collage (free on the App Store), tap + on the start screen, choose Image or Video and pick the clip you want to reverse.
Select the clip
Tap the video on the timeline to show its tools.
Tap Reverse
The app renders a reversed copy of the clip on your iPhone — longer videos take a few moments.
Trim the best part
Reversed clips work best short. Trim the start and end so only the surprising moment stays.
Add speed and music
Slow the reversed clip down with Speed for drama or speed it up for a rewind feel. Reversed sound plays backwards too, so mute it under Sound and add a song with Insert → Audio.
Export
Export and share — or put the original and the reversed version side by side in a collage.
Reverse video ideas
- Anything that falls, splashes or breaks looks magical in reverse: pouring, jumping into water, tossing things in the air.
- Put the original and the reversed clip side by side so one plays forwards and the other backwards.
- Film with a steady phone — camera shake looks twice as odd played backwards.
- Keep it under 10 seconds. The effect is strongest as a surprise.
Try it yourself — free
Video Grid Collage · 4.9 on the App Store · 100 layouts, up to 100 clips in one collage