Capturing those magical moments can often lead to the dilemma of wanting to share them in a more dynamic format. Live Photos on iOS capture the joy of movement, bridging the gap between photos and videos. Yet, sharing these moments across different platforms often requires converting them to videos. So, how do you turn live photo into video? In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn all the necessary steps.

Table of Contents

1. Understanding Live Photos
2. Why Convert Live Photos to Videos?
3. How to Turn Live Photo into Video on iPhone
4. Using iOS Apps for Conversion

• iMovie
• Lively

5. How to Turn Live Photo into Video on Mac
6. Sharing Your Video
7. FAQs

Understanding Live Photos

Introduced by Apple in 2015, Live Photos are a unique capture mode available on iOS devices. They capture the 1.5 seconds before and after you press the shutter button. Resulting in a 3-second moving image, Live Photos allow you to experience moments with sound and motion, akin to watching a short clip. However, their proprietary format means they’re not universally shareable.

Why Convert Live Photos to Videos?

The inability to easily share Live Photos across platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp has led to the need for conversion. Videos enjoy universal compatibility, enabling the dissemination of rich content experiences beyond Apple's ecosystem. Whether for sharing on social media, collaborating on projects, or preserving memories in a more accessible format, the ability to convert live photo into video remains paramount.

1. Broader Sharing Options: Videos can be shared on any platform without compatibility issues.
2. Enhanced Editing: Videos offer more options for editing, enhancing, and resharing.
3. Memorable Moments: Converting Live Photos retains audio and motion, making for memorable clips.

How to Turn Live Photo into Video on iPhone

Before diving into third-party solutions, iOS users can directly convert their Live Photos to videos using the Photos app.

1. Open the Photos App: Navigate to your Live Photos album.
2. Select the Live Photo: Choose the one you want to turn into a video.
3. Use the Share Button: This is found at the bottom left of the screen.
4. Choose “Save as Video”: In iOS 13 and later, select this option. Your Live Photo will be transformed into a video, stored in your video album.

Using iOS Apps for Conversion

For those requiring more robust tools or features, several apps offer enhanced functionality to turn live photo into video.

iMovie

iMovie is Apple's flagship video editing software, available for both iOS and Mac users. Although primarily a video editing tool, it can be used to convert Live Photos seamlessly.

1. Import Your Live Photo: Open iMovie and create a new project, importing your desired Live Photo.
2. Edit As Needed: Add filters, text, or transitions to enhance your content.
3. Export Your Project: Save it as a video, ready to share across various platforms.

Lively

Lively offers a straightforward process for converting Live Photos into videos or GIFs.

1. Download and Open Lively: Available on the App Store, Lively makes conversion intuitive.
2. Select Your Live Photo: Upon app launch, your gallery is displayed—choose your Live Photo.
3. Export as Video: Choose the video option, adjusting frames as needed, then export.

How to Turn Live Photo into Video on Mac

For Mac users, the process is equally straightforward but requires using iCloud Photo Library for seamless transfer.

1. Ensure iCloud Sync: Sync your iPhone’s Live Photos to your Mac using iCloud.
2. Use Photos App: Open Photos on your Mac and select the Live Photo.
3. Export Video: Right-click, select "Export" and choose the video format.

Sharing Your Video

Once your Live Photo is a video, sharing becomes simple.

• Upload Directly to Social Media: Use platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, or Snapchat.
• Send via Messaging Apps: Services like WhatsApp, Telegram, and iMessage support video files.
• Edit Further: Consider apps like Adobe Rush or Final Cut Pro if additional editing is needed.

FAQs

1. Can I convert Live Photos to GIFs instead of videos?
   Yes, apps like Lively allow you to export Live Photos as GIFs, offering even wider sharing choices.

2. Do Live Photos take up more storage compared to regular photos?
   Yes, because they capture more data (audio and a sequence of images), they consume more storage.

3. Can Live Photos be taken on non-iOS devices?
   No, Live Photos is a feature exclusive to Apple devices, though many Android devices now have similar features.

4. Can I revert a video back into a Live Photo?
   Currently, you cannot directly convert a video back to a fully functional Live Photo with all its capabilities.

5. Is it possible to convert multiple Live Photos to videos at once?
   Directly from the Photos app, no. However, using third-party apps may offer batch processing.

Bullet-Point Summary

• What are Live Photos? Captures 1.5 seconds before and after the shutter.
• Why convert? For broader sharing and editing options.
• Methods on iPhone: Use Photos app or apps like iMovie and Lively.
• On Mac: Utilize iCloud and Photos app for conversion.
• Sharing methods: Social media, messaging apps, and further editing tools.
• FAQs cover: GIF conversion, storage, prerequisites, and batch processing.

By understanding these techniques and tools, you can effectively turn live photo into video, enhancing your ability to share and preserve special moments across any platform.