How to Turn a Live Photo Into a GIF

Want the movement from a Live Photo to play in a message or on a page that accepts images? Export a GIF. A Live Photo's Loop effect may look like one in Photos, but an effect in your library and a downloadable .gif file are different things.

Already have the files? Convert in your browser

The Live Photo to GIF converter accepts a .livp package or the original still and movie pair (HEIC/JPEG plus MOV). Drop the file or pair into the page, choose a frame rate and width, and download the GIF. The conversion runs in the browser; your files are not uploaded.

Start with a modest width and frame rate if the GIF is going into a chat or a form with a size limit. Preview the result before sharing. GIF uses a limited color palette and carries no audio, so its colors and file size may differ noticeably from the original movie.

If your Live Photo exists only inside iPhone Photos, first get its files onto a computer. In Photos on Mac, select it and choose File → Export → Export Unmodified Original. Apple says this exports a still image and a video file; select both when loading them into the converter. Keep the pair in the same folder so it is easy to identify.

On Mac: use Photos to export a GIF

Apple also documents a native Export GIF workflow in Photos on Mac:

1. Double-click the Live Photo in Photos, then click Edit.
2. Open the Live Photo effect menu and choose Bounce.
3. Click Done.
4. Choose File → Export → Export GIF, then choose where to save it.

If Export GIF is unavailable, Apple's guide suggests Export Unmodified Original to get the movie. You can then feed the pair to the browser converter, or use the video in a video editor.

What about Loop on iPhone?

In iPhone Photos, open the Live Photo, tap Live, then choose Loop or Bounce. Apple describes Loop as repeating the action and Bounce as playing it forward and backward. These effects are handy for viewing the photo in your library. When a destination specifically asks for a GIF file, export an actual GIF and verify the downloaded filename ends in .gif.

GIF or video?

• Use a GIF when the destination accepts images but needs visible motion, or a short silent loop is enough.
• Use a video when you need the original sound, better picture quality, or a smaller file and the destination accepts video uploads.

GIF has no sound, and reducing its width or frame rate trades detail for a smaller download. If the voice, music, or ambient sound matters, extract the Live Photo's video instead.

Common questions

Will conversion change my Live Photo? No. The converter downloads a separate GIF and leaves your original files alone.

Why is my GIF larger than the MOV? GIF compresses motion much less efficiently than modern video. Lower the output width and frame rate, or use the MOV if the destination accepts video.

Can a GIF become a Live Photo again? It can be converted into a new Live Photo pair with the GIF to Live Photo tool, but GIF has already discarded the original audio and some color information.