Free iPhone video to GIF
Turn an iPhone video into a GIF
Make a GIF from any video in your iPhone's photo library, right in Safari: pick the moment, choose a frame rate, and save the GIF. The video is converted on the phone, so nothing is uploaded.
Updated
Choose an iPhone video to make a GIF
MP4, MOV, WebM, or any video your browser plays · pick the start, end, and frame rate · up to 150 frames
or paste with Ctrl/⌘ + V
How it works
How to make a GIF from an iPhone video
- 1
Open this page in Safari
Tap the drop area above and choose Photo Library, then the video. Safari plays the iPhone's HEVC videos, so any clip from the camera opens.
- 2
Pick the moment
Drag the handles to the seconds you want and choose a frame rate. The line under the trimmer shows how many frames that makes.
- 3
Create and save
Tap Add frames, then Create GIF, and download. Safari saves the GIF to the Downloads folder in the Files app.
Limits
How many seconds fit in a GIF
A GIF made on a phone holds up to 60 frames, and on a computer up to 150. How much video that covers depends on the frame rate you pick in the trimmer:
| Frame rate | Delay stored in the GIF | Longest clip on iPhone | Longest clip on a computer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 fps | 200 ms | 12 s | 30 s |
| 10 fps | 100 ms | 6 s | 15 s |
| 15 fps | 70 ms (rounded) | 4 s | 10 s |
| 20 fps | 50 ms | 3 s | 7.5 s |
| 25 fps | 40 ms | 2.4 s | 6 s |
GIF stores each frame's delay in hundredths of a second. At 15 fps a frame should last 66.7 ms, but it is saved as 70 ms, so the GIF plays about 5% slower than the video. 5, 10, 20, and 25 fps are stored exactly. When the trimmer opens, it selects as much of the video as fits at 10 fps.
Formats
iPhone video formats and where they open
High Efficiency (HEVC)
With Settings → Camera → Formats set to High Efficiency, the iPhone records video as HEVC, also called H.265. Apple says it takes less space than H.264 at the same quality. Safari decodes it on current iPhones, iPads, and Macs, so making the GIF in Safari works for camera videos.
Most Compatible (H.264)
With Most Compatible, new videos are recorded as H.264, which every browser plays. Choose this if you often make GIFs on a Windows PC. It only affects new recordings, not videos already in your library.
Copying videos to a computer
Apple notes that videos imported over USB into Photos, Image Capture, or a PC can be converted to H.264 on the way, unless Settings → Apps → Photos is set to Keep Originals, and that AirDrop, Messages, or email may convert a video when the receiving device can't handle HEVC. The HEVC guide has the browser support table and the steps for converting a file.
Settings
Settings that suit phone videos
iPhone videos are usually 1080p or 4K, far larger than a GIF needs. On the phone, EasyGIF caps the GIF at 640 px on its long side; for a message or a chat, 320–480 px wide is usually enough and keeps the file small.
Vertical videos stay vertical. To make a square GIF from one, choose the 1:1 shape on the Canvas tab, or use Crop to pick the part of the frame you want. 10 fps is smooth for people and pets; use 5 fps for slow scenes or to fit more seconds.
The same steps work for any video, not just from an iPhone: the video to GIF converter covers screen recordings and webcam clips, and the guide to making a GIF smaller shows how much each setting saves.
Troubleshooting
When an iPhone video doesn't turn into a GIF
The trimmer says there are too many frames
Why: On a phone, a GIF in EasyGIF holds up to 60 frames, so the browser doesn't run out of memory and reload the page. At 10 fps that's 6 s of video.
- Tap Shorten to fit to cut the selection to what fits.
- Or choose a lower frame rate: 5 fps doubles the time you can use.
- For a longer GIF, use a computer, where the limit is 150 frames.
The video won't open on my Windows PC
Why: iPhones record HEVC (H.265) by default. Safari and iOS decode it everywhere; on Windows, browsers decode it only with the right graphics hardware, and Edge also needs an extra extension.
- Make the GIF on the iPhone itself in Safari.
- Or set Settings → Camera → Formats to Most Compatible, so new videos are recorded as H.264.
- Or convert the file to H.264 on a Mac with QuickTime Player's Export As, then open it here.
I can't find the downloaded GIF
Why: Safari doesn't save downloads to the Photos app. According to Apple, files downloaded in Safari go to the Downloads folder in the Files app.
- Tap the Downloads button next to Safari's address bar to see recent downloads.
- Or open Files, tap Browse, then iCloud Drive (or On My iPhone), then Downloads.
- From there, use the Share button to send the GIF or save it elsewhere.
The GIF is too large to send
Why: On a phone the GIF is capped at 640 px, but a few seconds at 10 fps is still dozens of full pictures. Camera footage has lots of detail, which makes each frame larger.
- Lower the width on the Canvas tab: 320–480 px is plenty for messages.
- Trim to the shortest moment that still makes sense.
- On the Style tab, try 128 colors and check the size in the preview.
FAQ
iPhone video to GIF FAQ
- How do I turn an iPhone video into a GIF?
- Open this page in Safari on the iPhone, tap the drop area, and pick the video from your photo library. Trim it, choose a frame rate, tap Add frames and Create GIF, then download it.
- Do I need an app to make a GIF on iPhone?
- No. EasyGIF runs in Safari, so there's nothing to install. The video is converted on the iPhone and is not uploaded.
- How long can a GIF from an iPhone video be?
- On the iPhone, up to 60 frames: 6 s at 10 fps or 12 s at 5 fps. On a computer, up to 150 frames.
- Can I make a GIF from an iPhone screen recording?
- Yes. Screen recordings are saved to the photo library as videos, so pick one the same way. Turning dithering off on the Style tab keeps flat areas clean and the file much smaller.
- Does the GIF keep the sound?
- No. GIF has no audio, so the sound is dropped. To keep it, send the video instead.
iPhone Video to GIF: go deeper
All guides →- Formats & timingWhy an HEVC video won't open in your browser, and three fixesWhy some iPhone and camera videos won't open in a browser GIF maker, which browsers can decode HEVC (H.265), and three ways to get the clip working.
- Formats & timingGIF frame delay and frame rate: how GIF timing really worksGIFs store time in hundredths of a second, browsers slow down delays under 20 ms, and loop count lives in a 1990s Netscape extension. What that means for your GIF's speed.
- File size & qualityHow to make a GIF smaller: what each setting actually savesWe encoded the same clip dozens of ways and measured the file each time. Width and frame count matter most; colors and dithering come next; frame delay saves nothing.
More GIF tools
- GIF Creator →Turn photos, screenshots, or an existing GIF into an animated GIF.
- Video to GIF →Any clip from your phone, camera, or screen recorder, trimmed to the moment you want.
- MP4 to GIF →Convert an MP4 file to an animated GIF, with control over size, frame rate, and file size.
- GIF Editor →Open a GIF you already have to crop, trim, resize, speed up, reverse, or caption it.
One job at a time: GIF Compressor · GIF Resizer · GIF Cropper · WebP to GIF · PNG to GIF