Got a tip for us?

How to edit Live Photos on iPhone

by Abigail Shilets

In the Photos app, you can edit Live Photos, change the key photo, and add fun effects like Bounce and Loop.

In addition to the photo editing tools, you can trim a Live Photo’s length and mute the sound. You can even turn a Live Photo into a still of its key photo. Effects like Loop repeat the action in a continuous looping video.

Here’s how to edit Live Photos on iPhone.

Make Live Photo edits

Besides the photo editing tools, you can trim a Live Photo’s length, mute the sound, change its key photo, and turn it into a still photo.

A Live Photo is open in the Photos app. Beneath the photo is the frame viewer with the Make Key Photo button active. On either end of the frame viewer are two arrows that allow you to trim the Live Photo. At the bottom of the screen are the Live, Adjust, Filters, and Crop buttons. The Live button is selected.

  1. Open the Photos app on your iPhone.
  2. Open a Live Photo, then tap the Edit button.
  3. Tap the Live Photo button. Do any of the following:
    • Set a key photo: Move the white frame on the frame viewer, tap Make Key Photo, and tap Done.
    • Trim a Live Photo: Drag either end of the frame viewer to choose the frames the Live Photo plays.
    • Make a still photo: Tap the Live button at the top of the screen to turn off the Live feature. The Live Photo becomes a still of its key photo.
    • Mute a Live Photo: Tap the Mute button at the top of the screen. Tap it again to unmute.

Note: On an iPhone 15 model or later, Live Photos taken with a portrait effect lose that effect if you change the key photo.

Add effects to a Live Photo

Adding effects to Live Photos turns them into fun videos.

  1. Open the Photos app on your iPhone.
  2. Open a Live Photo.
  3. Tap Live in the top-left corner. Choose one of the following:
    • Live: Applies the Live video playback feature.
    • Loop: Repeats the action in a continuous looping video.
    • Bounce: Rewinds the action backward and forward.
    • Long Exposure: Simulates a DSLR-like long exposure effect by blurring motion.
    • Live Off: Turns off the Live video playback feature or applied effect.
    • Portrait: Applies the Portrait effect.
    • Portrait off: Turns off the Portrait effect.

Turn a Live Photo into a video

To share a Live Photo with people who aren’t on Apple devices, for example, you can turn it into a short video to save or share.

  1. Open the Photos app on your iPhone.
  2. Open a Live Photo.
  3. Tap the More button in the top-right corner. Then tap Save as Video.
Tag: Photos

Read Next

A photo is open in the Photos app library. The subject in the center of the photo is outlined and the Copy, Add Sticker, and Share buttons appear above it.

How to lift a subject from the photo or video background on iPhone

by Moses Johnson
You can lift the subject of a photo or video from its background on iPhone, then copy, share, look it up, or turn it into a sticker.
Read Full Article
An iPhone showing the Get Started Screen for creating an iCloud Shared Photo Library.

How to add content to an iCloud Shared Photo Library on iPhone

by Emily Long
You can add photos and videos to an iCloud Shared Photo Library on iPhone by moving them manually or saving them directly from Camera.
Read Full Article
On iPhone, a phot is being edited in the Photos app. The Adjust button is selected, and a slider is available below the Exposure setting to adjust its level. The Cancel button is in the top-left corner of the screen and the Done button is in the top-right corner.

How to edit photos and videos on iPhone

by Chris Smith
You can edit photos and videos in the Photos app on iPhone: adjust light and color, add filters and stickers, and copy edits to other photos.
Read Full Article