How to convert a video to a Live Photo
- Choose your video. Tap “Choose a video” and pick an MP4, MOV, WebM or GIF. The file stays on your device.
- Trim 1–3 seconds. Drag the Start slider to the moment you want and set the length between 1 and 3 seconds.
- Pick the cover frame. Use the Cover frame slider to choose the still image people see before the Live Photo plays.
- Create the clip. Tap “Create clip”. The tool trims and re-encodes the video in your browser and shows a preview.
- Save it as a Live Photo. Save the clip to your iPhone and open it in AliveShot, which saves it to Photos as a Live Photo.
What this tool does — and what it doesn’t
| In your browser | Needs the app |
|---|---|
| Trims your video to 1–3 seconds | Saving to Photos as a Live Photo |
| Lets you choose the cover frame | Pairing the still and the video so iOS treats them as one Live Photo |
| Crops to fill a 9:16 lock screen | Setting it up for your lock screen in a tap |
| Exports an MP4 clip and a JPEG cover |
We’d rather be straight with you: no website can put a Live Photo into your iPhone’s Photos library, because iOS only lets apps save that kind of photo. The clip you make here is a normal video. Open it in AliveShot to finish the job.
Tips for a great Live Photo
- Pick one clear motion. A smile, a wave, a splash. Busy clips look jittery when they’re this short.
- Choose a sharp cover frame. It’s what you see most of the time, so avoid motion blur.
- Keep it portrait. Vertical clips fill the lock screen without heavy cropping.
- Shorter is safer. If iOS says “Motion not available”, try a shorter trim. See the wallpaper guide.
Converting something else? Try GIF to Live Photo, TikTok to Live Photo or Instagram video to Live Photo. Want every method side by side? Read how to turn a video into a Live Photo.
Frequently asked questions
How can I convert a video to a Live Photo online?
Use an online tool to trim the clip and pick a cover frame, then save the result as a Live Photo with an app. A Live Photo is a still image paired with a short video, and on iPhone only apps can save that pair into the Photos library. This tool does the trimming in your browser for free; AliveShot does the final save.
Is my video uploaded anywhere?
No. The converter runs on your device with WebAssembly. The first time you use it, your browser downloads the converter itself (about 30 MB) from a public CDN, but your video never leaves your device.
What’s the best length for a Live Photo?
Between 1 and 3 seconds. iPhone camera Live Photos are about 3 seconds long, and short clips are the most reliable as lock screen wallpapers. More in How long can a Live Photo be?
Why does the tool crop my video to 9:16?
Your lock screen is tall and narrow. Cropping to 9:16 makes the Live Photo fill the screen instead of showing black bars. Uncheck “Crop to fill the lock screen” to keep the original framing.
Which browsers work?
Recent versions of Safari, Chrome, Edge and Firefox on iPhone, Android, Mac and Windows. Very large files can run out of memory on older phones; trim long videos first, or use the app.
Last updated October 31, 2026