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How to change a video's frame rate on a Mac
By Himanshu Ranjan · Updated 8 November 2026
To change a video's frame rate on a Mac, select it in Finder, hold the right Option key and run FileDial's Adjust › Change frame rate… It saves a new copy beside the original, offline. Dropping from 60 to 30 fps also reduces file size, while raising the rate does not add real detail.
What frame rate is
Frame rate is how many pictures play each second. Wikipedia notes that 24 frames per second became standard for sound film, that PAL video is customarily stated as 25 and that NTSC-based formats are stated as 29.97 or about 60. Newer standards support 120, 240 or 300 so that the usual rates divide evenly.
You change frame rate to match a delivery spec, to make footage from different cameras consistent before joining, or to shrink a file recorded at an unnecessarily high rate.
Change it in FileDial
Adjust › Change frame rate… makes a copy at the rate you choose.
- Select the video in Finder.
- Hold the right Option key to open the dial.
- Choose Adjust › Change frame rate… and enter the rate.
- Check the new copy for smooth motion and in-sync sound.
Lowering versus raising
Lowering the rate, such as 60 to 30, drops frames. Motion looks slightly less smooth but the file is usually smaller. Raising the rate, such as 24 to 60, has to invent frames and does not recover missing detail, so the video generally just plays at a higher rate without looking sharper.
Converting between rates that do not divide evenly, such as 30 and 25, can produce slight judder in panning shots. If the video is going to a platform, check which rate it prefers before converting.
Matching rates for editing
Editors prefer a single frame rate per project. If you mix footage from a phone at 30, a camera at 24 and a screen recording at 60, changing them to one rate before editing avoids stuttering. Pick the rate of your main footage or of the delivery spec.
Check the exact rate of each clip in QuickTime Player's movie inspector or the Finder's Get Info before choosing. Close but not equal rates, such as 29.97 and 30, can cause slow drift in sound over long videos.
Frame rate and file size
Fewer frames per second means less data to store, so dropping a screen recording from 60 to 30 can cut the file size noticeably, with limited visible loss for slow-moving content like slides. For fast action, the lower rate is more noticeable.
For the best size reduction, combine rate and resolution changes with a Compress tool, then compare the result card sizes.
Which rate to pick and why
Pick the rate from the destination, not from habit. Film-style work uses 24, as Wikipedia notes for sound film. Broadcast in PAL regions uses 25 and NTSC-derived formats use about 30, while 50 and 60 suit fast motion and games. Web video is flexible, and 30 is a safe default for talking and screen content.
If you must pick between two rates, pick the one that divides evenly into the source. Going from 60 to 30 simply drops every other frame, which looks clean. Going from 30 to 24 cannot drop frames evenly, so motion may judder on pans. This is the same reason newer standards support rates like 120 and 240, which divide into the common ones.
Common mistakes: converting to a higher rate expecting smoother motion, converting between 29.97 and 30 without need, changing the rate on a clip that already matches the project, and forgetting that sound must stay in sync. After conversion, play the whole file or at least jump to the end to confirm the sound still lines up.
FileDial is the right tool for a quick, private rate change on one video or a batch. It is not the right tool for sophisticated standards conversion for broadcast, where blending and motion-based methods exist.
Checklist before converting rates
Settle these points before you change anything.
- Find the source rate and the target rate.
- Prefer rates that divide evenly, such as 60 to 30.
- Do not raise the rate expecting more detail.
- Play the result to the very end to check the sound.
- Convert all clips for a project to one rate before editing.
Related adjustments
If you want slow motion, a high source frame rate matters more than a conversion. See the speed guide, because footage slowed down from a normal rate looks choppy. Before merging clips shot on different devices, matching the rate first helps the joined result play evenly, as covered in the merge guide.
iPhones let you choose recording frame rate in Settings, and Apple suggests 60 fps or lower for better compatibility on older devices. FileDial processes the video on your Mac and nothing is uploaded.
Questions
How do I change 60 fps to 30 fps on a Mac?
Select the video and run FileDial's Adjust › Change frame rate…, then enter 30. It saves a new copy beside the original. The file is usually smaller, with slightly less smooth motion. Dropping the rate is a quick way to save space, and screen content with little motion loses very little.
Does a higher frame rate improve quality?
Not by raising it after the fact. Converting 24 to 60 invents frames and does not add detail. A higher rate helps only when it was recorded that way. The effect depends on the clip, since converting up can only repeat or invent frames and never recovers detail.
Which frame rate should I choose for film-like video?
24 is the traditional film rate, per Wikipedia. For web and screen content, 30 or 60 are common. If a platform or client specifies a rate, follow that. Check the exact rate in the file's info and any delivery spec before choosing a number.
Does changing the rate affect sound?
The tool makes a new copy, and you should confirm the sound stays in sync by playing it through before removing the original. Play the whole result and watch the sound sync, then keep the original until you are satisfied.