How to make a GIF from a video
A GIF loops and plays anywhere without a tap. Here is how to make one on each platform, and a browser tool for when there is no built-in way.
Why a GIF instead of the video
A GIF has no play button, no sound and no controls: it loads and loops immediately in a chat, a forum post, a README or a slide, even on sites that block autoplaying video. The trade-off is file size and quality, since a GIF stores far less information per frame than a video codec does. Trim the clip to the part that matters first, since every extra second adds to the size before you even convert it.
On an iPhone or iPad
The Shortcuts app can do this without any other software: open Shortcuts, tap the + to create a new shortcut, add the Select Photos action followed by the Convert Media action, set its format to GIF, then tap the play button and pick your video. The result saves to Photos as an actual GIF file. It is a few steps to set up once, but after that it is a one-tap shortcut you can reuse or add to the share sheet.
On Android
Android and Google Photos do not have a built-in video-to-GIF export. Google Photos can trim a clip and make a looping "Cinemagraph" style Motion Photo, but that stays inside Google Photos and is not a standalone GIF file you can post elsewhere. For an actual GIF file, use a browser tool or a dedicated GIF-maker app.
On Windows
Windows has no built-in converter for turning an existing video file into a GIF. The free, open-source ScreenToGif app can do it (its "Video to GIF" import handles this even though the app is mainly built for screen recording), but it is a separate download and install. For a one-off conversion, a browser tool avoids installing anything.
On a Mac
macOS can export a Live Photo as a GIF (right-click it in Photos and choose "Save as GIF"), but that only works for Live Photos, not for a regular MOV or MP4 you already have. Converting an arbitrary video file to GIF on a Mac otherwise needs QuickTime Player plus a command-line video tool, or a browser tool.
Converting without installing anything
Stayput's video to GIF converter reads the video and writes the GIF entirely in your browser tab, so there is no upload and the size limit is your device’s memory (phones hold less). It handles MP4, MOV straight from an iPhone, and WebM. For a smaller file, lower the frame rate and the output width before converting; a GIF at 10-12 fps and 480px wide is usually plenty for chat and forum posts, and cuts the size dramatically compared to the source resolution and frame rate.
Questions
Why is my GIF so much bigger than the video it came from?
GIF compresses far less efficiently than video codecs like H.264. Trimming the clip, lowering the frame rate, and reducing the width before converting are the three levers that bring the size down.
Can I make a GIF without sound?
Yes, and you have to: the GIF format has no audio track at all, so any conversion drops the sound automatically.
What is the best frame rate for a GIF?
10-15 frames per second looks smooth enough for most clips and keeps the file much smaller than matching the video's original 24-60 fps.
Does converting a video to GIF upload it anywhere?
Not with a browser-based converter. Stayput's reads and writes the file in your tab using WebCodecs, so the video never leaves your device.