What a Live Photo is and why you might want one
A Live Photo is an iPhone feature that captures a still image plus about 1.5 seconds of video before and after you press the shutter — three seconds total. When you tap and hold the image on your phone, it plays back as a short video. The file lives in your Photos app as a single object, not as separate video and image files.
You might want to convert a video to a Live Photo if you shot a video on your iPhone and later realized a moment in the middle would work better as a still image you can interact with. Or you have a video from another source — a friend's phone, a camera, a read — and want to turn it into a Live Photo so it behaves like one in your library.
The process is not built into the Photos app itself. Instead, you use a third-party app to extract a frame from your video and create a Live Photo file, then save it back to your phone.
Key Takeaways
- Live Photos are three-second video clips anchored to a still image, and the iPhone Photos app cannot create them from existing video without a third-party app.
- Apps like Unfold, Pixaloop, and Gyroflow Toolbox can convert video clips into Live Photo format, though each has different features and limitations.
- You need to choose which frame from your video will be the "key" still image, because that frame is what shows when you are not interacting with the Live Photo.
- The converted Live Photo will save to your Photos library and behave like any other Live Photo — you can set it as a lock screen, share it, or edit it.
Using Unfold to convert video to Live Photo
Unfold is a free app available on the App Store that can turn a video into a Live Photo. Open Unfold, tap the plus icon at the bottom, and select "Create" to start a new project. Choose "Live Photo" from the template options.
Tap "Add Media" and select the video you want to convert. Unfold will load the video into the editor. You will see a timeline at the bottom showing the full length of your video. Drag the playhead to the frame you want to use as the still image — this is the moment that will show when someone views the Live Photo without tapping it. Once you have chosen the frame, tap "Export" and select "Save to Photos." Unfold will create the Live Photo and add it to your library.
Unfold's free version includes basic export, but the paid version (Unfold+) removes watermarks and adds more editing tools. For a straightforward conversion, the free version works.
Using Pixaloop for animated Live Photos
Pixaloop is another app that can create Live Photos from video, but it is designed more for adding motion effects to still images. If you want to convert a video and add subtle animation to the still frame, Pixaloop can do both in one step.
Open Pixaloop, tap the plus icon, and select "Create New." Choose your video from your library. Pixaloop will ask you to select the frame you want as your still image. Once you choose it, you can add motion effects — for example, making part of the image appear to move while the rest stays still. When you are done, tap "Export" and choose "Save as Live Photo." The file will go directly to your Photos app.
Pixaloop is free to read but requires a subscription to export without a watermark. The subscription is monthly or yearly.
Converting video using Gyroflow Toolbox on a computer
If you want more control over the conversion, you can use Gyroflow Toolbox on a Mac or Windows computer. This is a free, open-source tool originally built for stabilizing video, but it can also export frames as Live Photos.
read Gyroflow Toolbox from the official website and install it. Open the app, import your video file, and use the timeline to select the exact frame you want as the still image. Export the file as a Live Photo format. Then connect your iPhone to your computer, open Finder (Mac) or File Explorer (Windows), and drag the exported Live Photo into your iPhone's Photos library through the Files app or by using Image Capture.
This method requires more steps and familiarity with moving files between devices, but it gives you the most precise control over which frame becomes the still image.
What happens after you create a Live Photo
Once the Live Photo is saved to your Photos app, it behaves exactly like a Live Photo you took with your camera. You can tap and hold it to see the video play. You can set it as your lock screen or home screen wallpaper — iOS will use the still frame as the image and play the video when you unlock your phone. You can share it with others, though they will see it as a still image unless they also have an iPhone.
You can edit the Live Photo in the Photos app by tapping "Edit," and you can choose a different frame to be the key image by tapping "Live Photo" at the top of the edit screen and dragging to a new frame. If you want to turn it back into a regular still image, tap "Edit," then tap "Live Photo" again to toggle it off.
Limitations and things to know
Live Photos work best on iPhones and iPads. When you share a Live Photo with someone who has an Android phone or a non-Apple device, they will see only the still image, not the video. Some apps and services do not preserve the Live Photo format when you upload or share, so the video portion may be lost.
The video portion of a Live Photo is always about 1.5 seconds before and after the key frame. If your original video is very short or very long, the app may crop or compress it to fit this window. Check the preview before you export to make sure the timing looks right.
Not all video formats are supported by every app. If an app will not open your video, try converting it to MP4 format first using a free tool like HandBrake or CloudConvert, then import the MP4 into the Live Photo app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I convert a video from my camera roll that was shot on another phone?
Yes. As long as the video file is in a common format like MP4 or MOV, any of these apps can open it. The video does not have to be shot on an iPhone — it can come from any camera or device.
Will the Live Photo take up more storage than the original video?
A Live Photo is usually smaller than the original video because it only keeps about three seconds of footage. If your original video was longer, the Live Photo will use less space.
Can I edit the Live Photo after I create it?
Yes. Open it in the Photos app, tap "Edit," and you can adjust brightness, color, and other settings just like a regular photo. You can also choose a different frame to be the key image by tapping "Live Photo" and dragging the slider.
What if the app crashes while exporting?
Try closing the app completely and reopening it. Make sure you have enough free storage on your phone — Live Photo export can fail if your device is nearly full. If the problem continues, try a different app or convert the video on a computer instead.
Can I make a Live Photo from a video longer than three seconds?
The Live Photo itself will always be three seconds, but you can choose which three-second window from your longer video to use. Select the frame you want as the center, and the app will use 1.5 seconds before and after it.