Make a GIF on iPhone in Safari
- Go to DropGIF in SafariVisit dropgif.com and tap Pick a video or photos. Nothing to install, nothing to sign up for.
- Pick the videoChoose a clip from your photo library. For a Live Photo, save it as a video first (see the tips below).
- Trim the clipDrag the yellow handles until only the moment you want is left. Two to four seconds is a good length for a GIF you'll text to someone.
- Adjust the look (optional)Set Size to 320 or 480 px, use Crop at 9:16 to keep a vertical video tall, and add text under Caption.
- Export and save to PhotosTap Export GIF, then Share, then Save Image. The GIF is saved to the Photos app.
Add DropGIF to your Home Screen
If you make GIFs often, keep DropGIF one tap away. Apple's steps at the time of writing (October 2026): in Safari, open the page, open the Share menu, scroll down and tap Add to Home Screen. If you don't see it, tap Edit Actions at the bottom of the list to add it. Turn on Open as Web App, then tap Add.
The icon opens DropGIF like an app, and after your first visit it works offline, so you can make a GIF on a plane or with no signal. Everything still happens on the phone. The GIF maker app page covers Android and desktop too.
Apple's built-in options
To be fair to the iPhone, it has a couple of ways to make looping clips on its own, and they're worth knowing about.
- Live Photo Loop and Bounce. In the Photos app, open a Live Photo, tap Live in the top-left corner, and choose Loop or Bounce. It's quick and fun, but it's an effect on the Live Photo rather than a separate GIF file, so it won't help with a regular video or with apps that expect a .gif.
- Shortcuts. The Shortcuts app includes a Make GIF action, and Apple's own guide uses it as an example of a shortcut. You can build a shortcut around it or search the Gallery tab for a ready-made GIF shortcut. It's handy for automation, but you set it up yourself, and there's no caption tool or check against Discord or X upload limits.
- Photos on a Mac. If you have a Mac, Photos there can export a Live Photo as an animated GIF.
DropGIF is the better pick when you want a trim timeline, captions, cropping and a size check before you send. When you just want a Live Photo to bounce, Apple's effect is right there.
Tips and fixes
- Live Photo to GIF: in Photos, open the Live Photo, tap the More button (three dots), then Save as Video. The new video lands in Recently Saved.
- Can't find your GIF? Check Recently Saved in Photos. If you used Download GIF, open the Files app, go to Downloads, and send the GIF to Photos with Share and Save Image.
- Sending in Messages? The result page previews the GIF in a mock iMessage chat, and Where it fits shows whether it's small enough for iMessage.
For every setting on the converter itself, see iPhone video to GIF. For width and frame rate tradeoffs, read the general guide on how to convert video to GIF.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make a GIF on iPhone without an app?
Use Safari. Go to dropgif.com, choose your video, trim it and export; the GIF is made on the phone, and Share then Save Image puts it in Photos.
Does the iPhone have a built-in GIF maker?
Not a dedicated one. Photos offers Loop and Bounce effects for Live Photos, and the Shortcuts app has a Make GIF action you can build into a shortcut.
How do I turn a Live Photo into a GIF on iPhone?
Photos can save any Live Photo as a regular video from its More menu. Convert that video in DropGIF, or use the Loop effect if it only needs to loop inside Photos.
Where do saved GIFs go on iPhone?
When you tap Save Image, the GIF goes to the Photos app. Look in Recently Saved if you don't see it right away.