Convert a video to a Live Photo on iPhone
A Live Photo is a still image with a few seconds of motion attached. If the motion already exists in a video, the conversion is mostly about choosing the right three seconds and the right cover frame.
What a video-to-Live-Photo conversion actually does
A Live Photo is not a video with a different file extension. It is a pair: a still image and a short motion track, tied together by metadata that Photos understands. Converting a video means three decisions:
- Which frame becomes the cover — the still you see in the library and when the Live Photo is not playing.
- Which few seconds become the motion — a Live Photo is about three seconds, not the whole clip.
- How the pair is written — the metadata is what makes Photos play it on press and hold.
Live.AI does all three locally on the iPhone, iPad or Mac. The video is not uploaded, no account is needed, and no credits are used.
Four steps in the Convert tab
- Open Convert → Video to Live Photo. The tab has both directions of the conversion.
- Choose a video. Any clip the app can read: camera video, a download, a screen recording.
- Trim and pick the cover. Keep the best three seconds and choose the frame that should appear in Photos.
- Save. The app builds the paired asset and saves it to Photos as a Live Photo.
Choosing the right three seconds
- Start just before the action. A little lead-in makes the loop feel natural.
- Avoid cuts. A hard cut inside a Live Photo looks like a glitch.
- Keep the camera still. Handheld shake becomes more obvious in a three-second loop than in a long video.
- Pick a cover that stands on its own. The cover frame is what the library shows, so choose a clean, sharp moment.
- Sound is optional. The motion track keeps the source audio when it has some; a Live Photo without sound plays just as well.
Video, GIF or Live Photo?
All three can hold motion, and they are not interchangeable:
- Video plays anywhere and can be any length. It is not a photo, and it does not live in the photo grid as a still.
- GIF autoplays in chats and on websites, but has no sound, is large, and is not a Live Photo. The free browser tool on this site converts a clip to GIF without uploading it.
- Live Photo behaves like a photo in Apple Photos: cover frame, press and hold to play, share as a Live Photo. It is about three seconds by design.
If the destination is an iPhone photo library, a Live Photo is the format that fits. If the destination is a chat group or a web page, a GIF or a normal video is the better choice.
Questions
Is the video uploaded?
No. The conversion runs on the device. That is also why it is free and does not need an account.
How long is the resulting Live Photo?
About three seconds, which is what the Live Photo format is designed for. Longer clips are trimmed.
Does it keep the audio?
The motion track keeps the source audio when the clip has some. A Live Photo without sound works the same way.
Can I convert a Live Photo back to a video?
Yes. The same tab has Live Photo to Video, which exports the motion as an H.264 MP4.
Will the Live Photo play on Android?
A Live Photo is an Apple format. When shared to Android, most apps send only the still. Use the video or GIF export for those destinations.
Does it need a network connection?
No for the local conversion itself, as long as the video is already on the device.