How to Make a GIF or Video from a Live Photo on iPhone

Did you know that you could turn Live Photos into videos, animations, and GIFs? We’ll teach you how to use the Photos app and the Shortcuts app to transform your Live Photos into new and exciting content.

How to Turn Live Photo into Video or Animation

Do you want to learn how to make a Live Photo a video or an animation? It's quick and easy! If you need to turn your Live Photo into an actual GIF file, skip to the next section, and we'll show you how to use the Shortcuts guide to do it. The process for saving Live Photos as videos and animations is a little different.

How to Save Live Photo as Video

First, I'll show you how to save a Live Photo as a video (HEVC or H.264 format). I do this often when making videos because sometimes a Live Photo can capture some priceless footage!

1. Open the Photos app.
2. Tap the Albums tab, then scroll down and tap Live Photos under Media Types.
3. This will show a grid of all the Live Photos in your library. Tap the one you want to convert to video to open it.
4. Tap the more icon (three dots).
5. Select Save as Video.

These videos are usually only 1-3 seconds long. Keep in mind that while HEVC and H.264 formats can be uploaded directly to most social media apps, some third-party apps and browsers require an MP4 or MOV format. You can convert these using third-party apps or websites.

How to Turn a Live Photo into a Video Animation

Animations are a little different from videos because they are saved in the HEIF format, which isn't supported universally. Unfortunately, you cannot post these as animations in certain apps, including Instagram. However, you can make your Live Photos do cool effects like Bounce, which mimics Instagram's Boomerang effect, which you can't achieve with a regular GIF.

1. Open up another Live photo and tap the Live Photo icon.
2. You’ll see Live Photo with a check by it, then Loop, Bounce, and Long Exposure. Tap on Loop or Bounce to select the animation style you prefer.
3. Tap the Share icon to share your Live Photo however you’d like.

If you tap the Share icon and then select a third-party app like Facebook, you'll be able to share the animation as a video. You must share the animation directly from your Photos app. If you open Facebook and try to upload the animation directly, any Live Photos, Loops, or Bounces will be uploaded as still images. Don't forget to sign up for our free Tip of the Day newsletter for more iPhone tips.

How to Make a GIF on iPhone from a Live Photo

For the most part, if you want to share a fun Live Photo with friends or family, sharing it directly from the Photos app is really all you need. It will share the Live Photo as a short .MOV video file, however, so if you want to create an actual GIF file, follow the steps below.

1. First off, open up the Shortcuts app.
2. The Shortcuts app can do all kinds of things, and while you can create customized shortcuts yourself, there are also many official, premade shortcuts you can find in the Gallery tab.
3. At the top of the Gallery tab, tap into the Search field and type in GIF. You should see a shortcut appear named simply Make a GIF appear from the search. Tap it.
4. This screen will give you a little more information on the shortcut. This one is pretty simple, so there isn't much to see. Just tap the Add Shortcut button.
5. Now, whenever you want to turn a Live Photo into a GIF, all you have to do is tap the Make a GIF shortcut in the Shortcuts app.
6. When you do, it will open a window to let you select the Live Photo you want. The easiest way to do so is to tap Albums at the top.
7. Next, scroll down and tap the Live Photos option under Media Types. This will open a grid view of all your live photos. Just tap the one you want to convert!
8. After you tap the Live Photo, it will play it in a small window over the Shortcuts app. If it's the right one, just tap the Done button. You'll find the new GIF-format version of the Live Photo in your Photos app.

Now you know how to make a Live Photo a video or a GIF! File types such as GIFs, Loops, and Bounces will be stored in the Animations folder in the Photos app. For more on Live Photos, check out photo-sharing tutorials or check out our complete guide to Live Photos. If you don't feel like making your own, check out this article on how to save GIFs on your iPhone.