How to Make a Video a Live Photo – 6 Best Methods in 2025 [iPhone, iPad, Mac]

Ever wanted to turn a favorite video moment into a moving wallpaper or share it as a looping animation? For many in the early 2000s, it was a long-held dream.

Apple Live Photos add dynamic movement to static images, creating immersive experiences that capture moments with both visual and temporal depth. It’s a feature that opens up creative possibilities for personalizing your device experience and sharing content that stands out from traditional static images.

There are a few easy ways to convert your video into a Live Photo on your iPhone. Learn how to make a video a Live Photo or convert a GIF to a Live Photo in two different ways, each offering unique advantages depending on your workflow and preferences.

IntoLive is a free, highly rated app on the App Store that helps you convert a video to a Live Photo without losing quality or frame control. It's one of the most user-friendly tools available for iOS, supporting various video formats and offering precise editing controls for optimal results.

The app excels at maintaining video quality during conversion while providing intuitive trimming tools that let you select the perfect moment from longer clips. IntoLive also offers advanced features like frame rate adjustment, loop direction control, and quality optimization settings that ensure your Live Photo looks professional.

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Download and open IntoLive from the App Store.
   Download IntoLive
2. Select the video you want to convert from your camera roll or files.
3. Trim or edit the clip if needed using the precision timeline controls.
4. Adjust quality settings and preview the result before finalizing.
5. Tap Make to turn it into a Live Photo with your chosen specifications.
6. Tap Save Live Photo and check your Photos app for the converted file.

You can now set the result as your lock screen, use it in Instagram Stories, or share it on other social media platforms. The app automatically optimizes the file size while preserving visual quality, ensuring smooth playback across different Apple devices and applications.

If you already use TikTok, you can turn any of your videos into a Live Photo without needing an extra app. This method leverages TikTok's native conversion tools, which are optimized for social media sharing and offer seamless integration with your existing content creation workflow.

The TikTok method is particularly effective for users who regularly create short-form video content and want to repurpose their clips across different platforms. The built-in converter maintains TikTok's video processing standards while creating Live Photos that work perfectly with iOS features.

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Upload your video to TikTok, setting it to private if you prefer not to share it publicly.
2. Once uploaded, tap the Share button located on your video's interface.
3. Choose Live Photo from the comprehensive share menu options.
4. TikTok will instantly process and save it as a Live Photo on your iPhone.
5. Find the converted file in your Photos app and use it however you like.

This method is especially handy if you're already editing content for social media and want something fast. The process typically takes just a few seconds, and TikTok automatically handles the technical aspects of Live Photo creation, including proper formatting and compression.

The iPad methods are very similar to those on the iPhone, especially since most of the same apps are compatible with both devices. A big difference, though, is that the larger screen real estate provides enhanced editing capabilities and more precise control over the conversion process.

iPad users benefit from improved touch controls, better preview capabilities, and the ability to work with longer video clips more comfortably. The increased processing power of most iPad models also means faster conversion times and the ability to handle higher resolution source videos. Here’s how to save a video as a Live Photo on your iPad.

Like on an iPhone, IntoLive works perfectly on iPads, offering the same core tools and layout optimized for a larger screen. The iPad version provides enhanced timeline controls, better preview quality, and more comfortable editing thanks to the expanded interface.

The app takes full advantage of iPadOS features, including improved multitasking capabilities that let you simultaneously work with videos from different sources. You can also use Apple Pencil to perform more precise trimming and editing operations.

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Download IntoLive from the App Store and launch it on your iPad.
   Download IntoLive
2. Open the app and select your video from your library or connected storage.
3. Use the enhanced slider interface to trim the clip to the desired segment with frame-level precision.
4. Tap Make and preview the result using the larger display for better quality assessment.
5. Save the Live Photo to your iPad's photo library with your preferred quality settings.

You can now use the converted image on your lock screen or move it to another Apple device using AirDrop. The iPad's larger storage capacity allows you to convert multiple videos in batch operations without storage concerns.

VideoToLive is another excellent alternative that focuses on trimming longer videos and converting them into Live Photos with fewer restrictions. This app offers more advanced editing features and supports a broader range of video formats than some competitors.

The application provides professional-grade tools, including color correction, speed adjustment, and advanced trimming options that give you complete control over the final Live Photo output. It's particularly well-suited for users working with high-resolution video content or those who need specific customization options.

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Open the App Store and install VideoToLive on your iPad.
   Download VideoToLive
2. Launch the app and pick your video from available sources.
3. Customize your clip with comprehensive trimming, filters, and layout options.
4. Use advanced settings to adjust loop behavior, quality, and compression.
5. Tap Convert to Live Photo and monitor the conversion progress.
6. Save and locate your optimized Live Photo in your Photos app.

This app is ideal for users who want extensive editing flexibility when preparing a video to use as wallpaper or animated content. The advanced features make it suitable for professional workflows while remaining accessible to casual users.

Unlike mobile devices, macOS does not currently support direct video-to-Live Photo conversion using native apps. However, with strategic workflows using your iPhone or iPad, you can achieve the same results while leveraging the Mac's superior video editing capabilities for preparation work.

Mac users can take advantage of powerful desktop video editing software to prepare and optimize clips before converting them on mobile devices. A hybrid approach often produces superior results, especially when working with complex video projects or multiple source files. Check out the guide below to learn more.

If you have a video on your Mac, here's how to turn your video into a Live Photo using mobile tools in conjunction with your desktop workflow.

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Prepare and edit your video on a Mac using Final Cut Pro, iMovie, or QuickTime Player for optimal quality.
2. AirDrop or upload the MP4 or MKV video from your Mac to your iPhone or iPad via iCloud or direct transfer.
3. Open IntoLive or VideoToLive on your mobile device and import the prepared video.
4. Follow the conversion steps listed earlier, taking advantage of the pre-optimized source material.
5. The final Live Photo will be saved with enhanced quality in your iOS device's Photos app.
6. If needed, AirDrop the converted Live Photo back to your Mac for desktop use or further distribution.

This method ensures compatibility across Apple ecosystems without requiring third-party converter software for desktops while maximizing quality through proper video preparation.

Now, if your goal is to use a video snippet as a shareable file or animation rather than an actual Live Photo, you can create similar results using Mac-native tools.

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Open the video in QuickTime Player or import it into iMovie for advanced editing capabilities.
2. Trim the section you want to convert using precise timeline controls available on desktop software.
3. Export it as a short looped MP4 with optimized settings, or use specialized tools like GIPHY Capture to create high-quality GIFs.
4. Optimize the file size and quality settings based on your intended use case and distribution platform.
5. Use that file for messaging, Instagram, or other social media platforms that support animated content.

While this doesn't produce a true Live Photo, it achieves similar visual results for your intended use while providing broader compatibility across different platforms and devices.

Need to reverse it? Check out this helpful tutorial on how to save a Live Photo as a video if you want to go the other way and extract video content from existing Live Photos for editing or sharing purposes.

It's easier than ever to create a Live Photo with the right tools and techniques.

Apps like IntoLive and VideoToLive are specifically optimized for iOS and iPadOS. They offer simple conversion options and comprehensive editing features that maintain quality while providing creative control.

While Mac doesn't support native Live Photo conversion yet, you can still achieve excellent results with a seamless mobile-to-desktop workflow that combines the strengths of both platforms. It often produces superior results by leveraging desktop editing power with mobile conversion capabilities.