How to Turn a Live Photo into a Video: An Easy Guide

Live Photos is one of the iOS camera’s features that adds a dynamic element when capturing a photo. The subtle motion and sound they record make these images more vibrant. Instead of keeping these memories only as photos, why not convert Live Photos to videos?

In this article, we will show you how to turn a Live Photo into a video. But before we talk about that, let’s take a look at the definitions of Live Photos. We will also mention the benefits and limitations that Live Photos has. Let’s jump right in!

Part 1. What Is a Live Photo and What Makes It Different to Still Image?

Live Photos is a feature on iOS devices that adds motion to your pictures. Instead of just a still image, a Live Photo captures a 3-second video. It records 1.5 seconds before and 1.5 seconds after you press the shutter button. While capturing the video, the device also records audio, creating a short clip with sound.

The file format of Live Photos is HEIC, which stands for High Efficiency Image Container. It uses advanced compression methods to store photos in smaller file sizes while still providing better picture quality than the common JPEG format.

The Benefits of Live Photos:

• Smaller File Size: Live Photos, using the HEIC format, occupy less space on your device, letting you store more memories without using too much space.
• High Image Quality: Despite the compact file size, Live Photos maintains excellent image quality, thanks to HEIC's support for 16-bit color depth.
• Versatility: Live Photos serve as both photos and videos, making them versatile.

Despite its benefits, Live Photos has one big problem: it is not compatible with a lot of devices and programs. Unlike JPEG, HEIC doesn't work on many Windows computers, some Macs, web browsers, or Android gadgets. So, if you want to see or edit HEIC files, you often have to change the format first.

To convert Live Photos into a video format, you can follow the guides we will discuss below. Hence, Live Photos can be easily shared and viewed on any device, regardless of the platform or operating system.

Part 2. How to Turn a Live Photo into a Video on an iPhone?

In this section, we will show you how to how to turn a Live Photo into a video on an iPhone. We will also provide the reasons why you can’t change the Live Photos into videos. Let’s jump right in!

2.1 How to turn Live Photos into a video on iPhone

The steps on how to turn Live Photo into video are a bit different depending on your iOS version. If you have the latest iOS 17, which works on iPhone 15 to iPhone 8, the steps are pretty straightforward.

If you have an older iPhone like the 6s or 7 stuck on iOS 15, the process is nearly the same, with just one option placed slightly differently. Here is the guide on how to turn a Live Photo into a video using iPhone:

Step 1. Open the Photos app on your iPhone, then go to the Albums section.

Step 2. Scroll down to Media Types and select Live Photos.

Step 3. Open the Live Photo you want to convert.

Step 4. Tap the three-dot More button in the top right corner. A drop-down menu will appear with more options.

Step 5. From the drop-down menu, select Save as Video. You can find the converted video in the Recents album while the original Live Photo stays in the Live Photos album.

2.2 Why can’t I save a Live Photo as a video on iPhone?

Here’s why you might not be able to convert a Live Photo into a video on your iPhone:

If the "Save as Video" option is missing when you select a Live Photo, it’s likely because the Live Photo feature is turned off or an effect like Loop or Bounce is applied. Live Photos with effects can’t be converted to videos.

To fix this, set the photo back to a normal Live Photo. Tap the Live button in the top left corner of the photo (which might say Loop, Bounce, or Long Exposure) and select Live from the menu.

The video will keep the same metadata as the Live Photo, such as date, time, and location. This means it will be sorted with the original Live Photo in your library.

Part 3. How to Convert Multiple Live Photos into One Video?

Using iOS 16 or later, you can convert several Live Photos into one video clip, creating a single video. Here’s how to combine multiple Live Photos into one video clip using iOS 16 or later:

Step 1. Open the Photos app on your iPhone and navigate to the Albums icon at the bottom.

Step 2. Scroll down and select Live Photos under "Media Types" to view only your Live Photos.

Step 3. Tap Select in the top right corner and choose the Live Photos you want to combine.

Step 4. Click on the Share button at the bottom left to open the options menu, then select Save as Video.

The process may take a few seconds to a couple of minutes, depending on the number of photos. A "Saving..." dialog will appear while your Live Photos are processed into a video. Once done, you can find the video in the Recents album, with the timestamp of the oldest Live Photo you included.

Part 4. How to Turn Live Photos into Animated Messages Stickers?

With iOS 17, you can now create animated stickers from Live Photos. These stickers are available in the emoji keyboard and synced to your iCloud. Hence, you can access them on any Apple device with the same Apple ID.

Here’s how to turn Live Photos into animated message stickers on iOS 17:

Step 1. Open the Photos app on your iPhone, select a Live Photo, and open it in full screen.

Step 2. Next, tap and hold the subject of the Live Photo, then slide up until a duplicate of the subject appears.

Step 3. Select Add Sticker.

Step 4. To add effects like Outline, Comic, or Puffy to your sticker, tap Add Effect.

Part 5. How to Turn Still Photos into Video

The steps above are the tutorial on how to turn a Live Photo into a video, but what if you want to turn a still photo into a video? You can turn a still photo into a video by using an app called MotionLeap.

MotionLeap is available on Android and iOS devices. It is free but it has limited use. Unlimited access costs $9.99 to $59.99, based on subscription length. Here’s how to turn a still photo into a video using MotionLeap:

Step 1. Download and open MotionLeap on your device. Then, tap on New Creation.

Step 2. Choose an image from your gallery. Make sure the image is in JPEG or PNG format.

Step 3. Now, it is time to apply the animation. Animate parts of the photo using freeform Paths or Anchor points to keep sections static. Add effects like moving clouds or flowing water. Use the navigation bar for camera controls like zoom and tilt.

Step 4. Export to save it as a GIF or video file.

Bonus: How to Make a Still Photo into Talking

No Live Photos? No problem. You can also use a still photo to make a compelling narrative by making it talk! A talking photo can synchronize the lip movement of your photo to the audio. One of the best tools for this purpose is Wondershare Virbo.

Wondershare Virbo is a video editing tool powered by AI. It has a Talking Photo feature where you can add voiceovers, dialogue, or narration to your images. It also uses text-to-speak technology where you can also generate the audio directly from written text.

To create talking photos using Wondershare Virbo for free, you can follow these steps:

Step 1. Go to the Wondershare Virbo website and download it on your computer or you can click "Generate AI Video Online" to use this tool online.

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Step 2. Click "Talking Photo."

Step 3. Upload your photo or select a template, and continue.

Step 4. Input your text, and adjust voice settings like accent and speed. You can also add subtitles and background music if you want.

Step 5. Click "Create Video" to generate your talking avatar video and wait for the export process to finish. Then, download your completed talking photo video.

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Conclusion

Live Photos offer a dynamic element to capturing memories on iOS devices, allowing for both motion and sound in an image. While they provide benefits like smaller file sizes and high image quality through the HEIC format, compatibility issues remain a challenge.

However, by following the provided guides, you can easily turn a live photo into a video or animated sticker, expanding your creative options. It will enhance their versatility and accessibility across platforms.

Additionally, MotionLeap offers a solution for turning still photos into videos, further expanding creative possibilities. With tools like Wondershare Virbo, you can even animate photos and create talking avatars. Using these options, you can bring your photo to life in unique and engaging ways.

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