How to convert a GIF to MP4
This GIF to MP4 converter keeps every frame of your animation and the time each one stays on screen. Here's how to convert a GIF to MP4:
- Drop the GIFDrag it onto the page, tap Choose files, or paste it with Ctrl/⌘ + V. Animated WebP and APNG files work too.
- Check the formatOpen Advanced (it's under More on a phone) and make sure Format is set to MP4. On this page it starts there.
- Edit if you want toCrop it, add a Caption, change the Speed, or set Direction to Reverse or Boomerang. You can also remove or reorder frames in the Frames strip.
- Export MP4Tap Export MP4. Then tap Download MP4 on a computer, or Share or save MP4 on a phone.
Why turn a GIF into an MP4
Some apps don't play GIFs. Instagram and TikTok are built around photos and videos, so a GIF file tends to get turned down or show up as a still picture. WhatsApp is hit or miss, and a GIF can arrive frozen. An MP4 is an ordinary video, so all three play it.
MP4s are usually much smaller. A GIF stores every frame with its own limited palette, while video codecs mostly record what changes from one frame to the next. In an example on Google's web.dev, a 3.7 MB GIF became a 551 KB MP4. Savings depend on the clip. Real-world footage usually shrinks the most, while tiny GIFs with flat colors, like pixel art or emoji, can come out about the same size as video.
Converting can't add quality. The MP4 is built from the GIF's frames, so it keeps the GIF's colors, banding and grain included. If you still have the original video, drop that into DropGIF and set Format to MP4 instead. Starting from the source gives you a sharper result. Going the other way? MP4 to GIF turns a video into a GIF.
Already made a GIF? Tap Make an MP4
You don't have to start over. After you export a GIF, the result screen has a row that asks Instagram, TikTok or WhatsApp? Tap Make an MP4 and DropGIF builds a video of the same animation at the same size, on your device. When it's ready, tap Share MP4 to send it straight to an app, or Download MP4.
Short loops get a little help. If the GIF runs under 3 seconds, Make an MP4 repeats it until the video is at least 3 seconds long, because some apps turn down very short clips. The same button appears after you make a GIF from one of the templates.
Not sure how to post it? In the Where's it going? row on the result screen, tap Instagram, TikTok or WhatsApp for a one-line tip on getting the file there.
What carries over to the MP4
| Part of the GIF | In the MP4 |
|---|---|
| Frames and timing | Kept. Each frame stays on screen as long as it did in the GIF. |
| Your edits | Crop, Caption, Speed, Direction and frame changes all apply. |
| Size | Up to 480 px wide free. HD MP4 goes up to 1080 px with Pro. |
| Length | Up to 20 seconds free, or 60 seconds with Pro. |
| Transparency | Not kept. MP4 has no see-through pixels, so clear areas turn white. |
| Loop setting | Not stored. Whether a video repeats is up to the app playing it. |
| Sound | None. GIFs have no audio, and DropGIF doesn't add any. |
Need to keep the see-through background? Then keep it as a GIF, or export WebP with Pro. The transparent GIF maker explains how GIF transparency works.
MP4 export uses the video encoder built into your browser. Current versions of Chrome and Edge can do it, and so can Safari 17 or later. If your browser can't, DropGIF tells you, and you can switch browsers or keep the GIF. If the GIF is too big to post, try the GIF compressor or trim the edges with Crop GIF.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert a GIF to MP4 for free?
Drop the GIF into DropGIF, check that Format under Advanced is set to MP4, and tap Export MP4. It's free up to 480 px wide and 20 seconds, with no watermark or sign-up.
How do I post a GIF on Instagram?
Convert it to MP4 first, since Instagram is built for photos and videos rather than GIF files. In DropGIF, export the GIF, tap Make an MP4 on the result screen, then share the MP4 to Instagram.
Is an MP4 smaller than a GIF?
Usually much smaller. In one web.dev example, a 3.7 MB GIF became a 551 KB MP4. Tiny GIFs with flat colors, like emoji, are the exception and can come out about the same.
Does converting a GIF to MP4 keep the transparent background?
No. MP4 video has no transparent pixels, so clear areas turn white. Keep it as a GIF, or export WebP with Pro, if the background needs to stay see-through.
Will the MP4 loop like a GIF?
An MP4 doesn't store a loop setting, so the app playing it decides whether it repeats. If your GIF is shorter than 3 seconds, Make an MP4 repeats it until the video is at least 3 seconds long.
Is my GIF uploaded when I convert it?
No. DropGIF converts the GIF with your browser's built-in video encoder, so the GIF and the MP4 stay on your device.