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10 Tech How-To

Turn Live Photos Into Video on iPhone & iPad

Guide 10-9170 · Updated · Step by step

Live Photos capture 1.5 seconds of motion before and after you tap the shutter. You can turn that clip into a standalone video file to share anywhere, edit in another app, or save without the photo attached. Here’s how to do it on any iPhone or iPad running iOS 13 or later.

What You’ll Need

  • An iPhone or iPad with the Photos app (built-in, no download required)
  • The Live Photo you want to convert (it shows a concentric-circles icon in the corner)
  • iOS 13 or later (check in Settings > General > About)

Step-by-Step

  1. Open the Photos app on your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Tap the Live Photo you want to convert. It will open full-screen.
  3. Tap the Share button — the square with an arrow pointing up, in the bottom-left corner (iPhone) or top-right (iPad).
  4. Scroll down in the share sheet and tap “Save as Video”. The Live Photo is immediately converted and saved to your Photos library as a standard .mov video file.
  5. Find the new video in your Photos library — it will appear at the bottom of your Recents album, or under the Videos album. It has the same date and time as the original Live Photo.

That’s it. The original Live Photo stays untouched; you now have a separate video file alongside it.

Common Mistakes

  • Looking for “Export” instead of “Share”: The option lives in the Share sheet, not in the Edit screen or a hidden menu.
  • Choosing “Save to Files” instead of “Save as Video”: “Save to Files” stores the original Live Photo file (which may not play as video on other devices). You specifically need “Save as Video.”
  • Not seeing the option: If the photo is not actually a Live Photo (no concentric circles icon), the “Save as Video” option won’t appear. It only works on genuine Live Photos.
  • Sharing to a social app instead: If you tap a social app icon in the share sheet, it uploads the Live Photo as-is, not as a video. Use “Save as Video” first, then share the new file.

Tips

  • Trim before converting: If you want a shorter clip, open the Live Photo, tap “Edit,” then tap the Live Photo icon (concentric circles) at the bottom, drag the handles to trim, tap Done, and then follow the steps above.
  • Remove the photo, keep the video: After converting, you can delete the original Live Photo if you only want the video. The video file is independent.
  • Batch convert: There’s no built-in way to convert multiple Live Photos at once. You’ll need to do them one by one, or use a third-party shortcut.
  • Check the video quality: The converted video is 1080p at 30fps, matching what the Live Photo captured. It won’t be upgraded to 4K.
  • Use a Shortcut for speed: If you convert Live Photos often, create a Shortcuts automation that runs “Save as Video” on selected photos.

Troubleshooting

  • “Save as Video” is grayed out or missing: Confirm the photo is a Live Photo (look for the icon). If it’s a regular photo, this option won’t appear. Also check that you’re not in a shared album — photos in shared albums often lose Live Photo data. Download the photo to your library first.
  • The video saves but won’t play: This is rare. Try closing the Photos app and reopening it. If it still won’t play, restart your device. The file itself is a standard H.264 .mov, so it should play on any modern device.
  • Storage is full: Converting a Live Photo creates a second file, roughly the same size as the original (about 2-5 MB). If you’re low on space, the conversion may fail. Free up storage or offload the video to iCloud or a computer afterward.
  • The video is longer than expected: A Live Photo is always about 3 seconds (1.5 before, 1.5 after the shutter). If you see a longer video, you may have accidentally selected a video clip, not a Live Photo. Check the icon in the corner.
  • Can’t find the saved video: It appears at the very bottom of your Recents album, or in the Videos album under Media Types. If you have iCloud Photos enabled, it may take a moment to appear on all devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does converting a Live Photo to video affect the original?

No. The original Live Photo remains exactly as it was. “Save as Video” creates a new, separate file.

What’s the difference between “Save as Video” and just sharing the Live Photo?

Sharing a Live Photo sends it as a Live Photo — the recipient needs an Apple device to see the motion. “Save as Video” converts it to a standard video file that plays anywhere, including on Android, Windows, and in web browsers.

Can I convert a Live Photo to a GIF instead?

Not directly in the Photos app. You’d need a third-party app or a Shortcut. The built-in “Save as Video” only outputs .mov video.

Will the video have sound?

Yes, if the Live Photo captured audio. Live Photos record 1.5 seconds of audio along with the video. The converted video includes that audio track.

Can I convert Live Photos on an iPad?

Yes, the exact same steps work on iPad. The Share button is in the top-right corner instead of the bottom-left.

How do I convert a Live Photo without the Share button?

The Share button is always present in the Photos app. If you don’t see it, tap the photo to make sure it’s full-screen, then look at the bottom or top of the screen. If you’re in an album view, tap the photo first.

Does this work on older iPhones?

Yes, as long as the device runs iOS 13 or later. That covers iPhone 6s and newer. The feature is built into the operating system, not dependent on the camera hardware.

Related

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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