MOV to GIF Converter

How to convert MOV to GIF

MOV is Apple's QuickTime format, the kind of file iPhones and Macs make. You don't need to turn it into an MP4 first. To convert MOV to GIF:

1. Add the MOVOn a Mac, drag it from Finder or the desktop onto the page. On an iPhone, tap Choose files and pick the video from your library.
2. Let it openMost clips open right away. If your browser can't play the video inside, DropGIF converts it on your device first. The first time, that downloads a 31 MB converter.
3. Trim to the momentDrag the yellow handles on the Trim timeline. Free GIFs can be up to 20 seconds long, but two to six seconds loops best.
4. Crop for where it's goingPhone videos are often vertical. Under Crop, choose 9:16 to keep it tall, or 1:1 or 4:5 so it sits neatly in a chat, then drag the box to keep the subject in frame.
5. Export and saveTap Export GIF. On a Mac, use Download GIF. On an iPhone, tap Share or save GIF, then Save Image to put it in Photos.

iPhone MOV files and HEVC

With the camera set to High Efficiency (in Settings, then Camera, then Formats), an iPhone records video in HEVC, also called H.265. Most Compatible records H.264 instead. HEVC saves space, but not every browser can play it. Here's where it opens directly, based on caniuse data as of October 2026:

• Safari on iPhone, iPad and Mac plays HEVC, so iPhone clips open straight away.
• Chrome plays HEVC on Macs and Android phones, and on Windows PCs whose hardware supports it.
• Edge on Windows needs hardware support plus Microsoft's HEVC Video Extensions.
• Firefox plays HEVC on devices with hardware support.

Anywhere it can't play, DropGIF converts the clip on your device instead. It takes longer, but nothing is uploaded, and it works on files up to 250 MB. So there's no need to switch your camera to Most Compatible just to make GIFs. For Live Photos, saving to Photos and other phone tips, see iPhone video to GIF.

Converting QuickTime screen recordings

On a Mac, Shift-Command-5 opens the screenshot tools, and screen recordings are saved as .mov files. Drag one straight from the desktop into DropGIF. It's the quickest way to turn a bug report, a design review or a how-to into a GIF for Slack or a slide deck.

Choose Free under Crop and drag the box around the window or menu you're showing. A tight crop at 480 px reads far better than a whole screen squeezed down. On a computer, press I and O to mark the start and end at the playhead, and use the arrow keys to step one frame at a time. To label each step, add a Caption; add text to GIF has tips.

MOV or MP4: does the format matter?

Hardly. The MP4 format was created on the basis of Apple's QuickTime format, so the two are close relatives. What decides whether a file opens is the codec inside it, which for iPhone videos is HEVC or H.264. DropGIF treats a MOV like any other video, so the settings on MP4 to GIF work here too.

Either way, the GIF has no sound, holds up to 256 colors per frame, and is usually several times bigger than the video. If it's going to Instagram, TikTok or WhatsApp, tap Make an MP4 on the result screen instead; GIF to MP4 explains why. To check a GIF against Discord, X and Slack before you send it, see GIF size limits, and for sharper results, the high-quality GIF maker.

Frequently asked questions