Live Photos are one of the most exciting features Apple has introduced to iPhones in the past decade. Around since the iPhone 6S release in 2015, Live Photos capture 1.5 seconds of motion and audio before and after the shutter is pressed. Technically, each Live Photo consists of two files: a full-resolution JPEG paired with a 3-second MOV video clip, linked together by identical filenames. When Live Photo is enabled, you can long-press any photo in your album to see the “live” version. You can turn Live Photos into a number of shareable media – but what when the perfect shot is part of a full video instead? Fortunately, you have options.
I’ll teach you how to make a video a Live Photo using a third-party app and share some extra tips for the Live Photo feature. Remember that your source video needs to be at least 4 seconds long for the conversion to work properly, and the resulting Live Photo output will be as long as 1.5 seconds. Most conversion tools also have file size limits – web-based tools like WidgetClub support MP4, MOV, AVI, and MPEG files as large as 50MB, and others like LivePhoto.online accept files as large as 100MB. If you’re using a web-based tool, you’ll usually need iOS 17 or later (or Android 12 or later) for full compatibility.
Why Convert a Video Into a Live Photo?
You might convert a clip of your video into a Live Photo for a few reasons, like:
- Customize your device: One popular reason people turn video clips into Live Photos is to use them as a moving wallpaper or lock screen photo. To do this, open your Photos app, select the Live Photo you want to use, select “Share,” then choose whether you’d like to use it as a wallpaper, lock screen image, or both.
- Upload to social media: Uploading a Live Photo to your social media account is one way to stand out in your feed and share a special moment with friends and family that wouldn’t translate the same way in a still photo alone.
- Share with contacts: Share Live Photos with your contacts through iMessage, AirDrop, or iCloud photo sharing. Keep in mind that web-based conversion tools generally require iOS 17 or later to ensure full compatibility with Live Photo playback.
- Capture specific scenes: Live Photos are often the perfect — and only — way to capture specific scenes, like rolling waves, crashing waterfalls, buzzing bees, or a baby’s first smile. Because each Live Photo captures 1.5 seconds of motion and audio before and after the shutter, you get a brief but memorable window into the moment that a still image simply can’t replicate.
- Create new media: You can transform Live Photos into other types of creative media, like long exposure shots or GIFs. Open the Live Photo inside your Photos app and explore the Animation options, or use a third-party app like intoLive — the most popular converter on the App Store, rated 4.6 out of 5 from around 100,000 reviews — to unlock even more creative possibilities.
How to Turn a Video Into a Live Photo
You’ll need to download a third-party app from the App Store to start turning great video clips into moving Live Photos. We recommend intoLive as a starting point. But there are a few options available depending on how you want to edit your Live Photo or what iOS version you’re running. Popular alternatives include WidgetClub and web-based tools like LivePhoto.online. Always double-check that any app you download from the App Store is made by a legitimate developer and read user reviews before making any purchases.
Before you get started, keep in mind that your source video needs to be at least 4 seconds long for the conversion to work. The resulting Live Photo will capture up to 1.5 seconds of motion, and the final file is made up of two parts: a full-resolution JPEG and a 3-second MOV video clip.
intoLive – Live Wallpapers
intoLive is the most popular third-party app for changing videos into Live Photos, holding a 4.6 out of 5 rating from approximately 100,000 App Store reviews. It’s free with optional in-app purchases and lets you edit Live Photos, choose layout styles, create custom GIFs or Burst effects, and add a background color.
Follow these steps to use intoLive to change your video clip into a Live Photo:
- Search “intoLive” on the App Store and wait for the app to finish downloading before launching it.
- Give the app permission to access your Photos when prompted.
- Navigate to your albums and select the video file you want to convert into a Live Photo. Remember, it needs to be at least 4 seconds long.
- Tap “Edit.”
- Select “Make.”
- You can now add additional effects to your Live Photo, like making it repeat or altering color options.
- Once you’ve finished adjusting your Live Photo, hit “Save Live Photos.”
- Close the app and check your Photos album for your new image.
WidgetClub
WidgetClub is another well-known option that supports a number of file formats like MP4, MOV, AVI, and MPEG, with a file size limit of 50MB. It also has a web-based version, which requires iOS 17 or later on iPhone, or Android 12 or later, making it a flexible choice if you’d rather not download a dedicated app. Follow the on-screen prompts to import your video and export your finished Live Photo directly to your camera roll.
LivePhoto.online
LivePhoto.online is a browser-based tool that requires no app download at all. It accepts video files as large as 100MB, which makes it a good option for slightly longer or higher-resolution clips. Simply visit the site, upload your video, and follow the prompts to generate and download your Live Photo. As with WidgetClub, you’ll need iOS 17 or later to use web-based Live Photo tools on iPhone.
Whichever tool you choose, the process is easy and the end result is the same: a shareable Live Photo made up of a JPEG still and a paired MOV clip, ready to use as a wallpaper or send to friends. If you run into any issues along the way, check out our guide to common iOS problems and how to fix them.
Pulling a Still Photo From a Live Photo
Follow these steps if you want to turn a great Live Photo into a still photo frame for your social media, wallpaper or to print:
- Open your Photos app and find your saved Live Photos.
- Choose the Live Photo you want to pull a still image from.
- Tap “Share.”
- Select “Duplicate,” then “Duplicate as Still Photo.”
A duplicate version of the image will appear in the same album next to the original Live Photo. But it won’t be moving. You can repeat this process with as many Live Photos as you want.
Learn iPhone How-Tos and Shop Devices at Gazelle
Smartphone technology has become advanced enough to capture life’s moments in a few formats – like video, still photo, and Live Photo. Since Apple introduced Live Photos with the iPhone 6s in 2015, third-party apps and web-based tools have made it easier than ever to change existing video files into the format – with just a few taps.
Whether you’re using a dedicated app like intoLive or a web-based tool like WidgetClub or LivePhoto.online, the conversion process is easy. Just keep in mind that your source video should be at least 4 seconds long, and that your finished Live Photo will capture up to 1.5 seconds of motion – stored as a JPEG paired with a short MOV clip played silently. For web-based tools, you’ll usually need iOS 17 or Android 12 or later to get started.
Now that you know how to make a video a Live Photo, head to the Gazelle blog to learn even more insider tips and tricks for your iPhone or Android-powered device. Interested in an upgrade? Learn how iPhones are refurbished before you buy — Gazelle’s inventory is full of certified refurbished smartphones from leading manufacturers, accessible on all networks and free of contracts and hidden fees. Not sure what you need? Check out our guide on how much phone storage you actually need before you shop.