For several years now, GIFs have gained popularity as a dynamic and fun way to share content. However, many iPhone users don't know that they can create GIFs from videos on iPhone without downloading additional apps.
Thanks to the “Shortcuts” function (Shortcuts for English speaking friends) integrated into iOS, this process is easier than it seems and so that you can learn how to do it, in this post we will explain how to do it step by step.
Using Apple's Shortcuts app to create GIFs from an iPhone
Application Shortcuts, pre-installed on your iPhone, allows you to automate tasks and create custom workflows and if you can't find it on your home screen, search the app library or download it again from the App Store.
The use of Shortcuts to convert videos to GIFs is based on the automation of tasks, which is the beauty of this app itself, in which each action you add to the shortcut is a step in the conversion process.
To do this, first you have to select the video file, then you convert it to GIF and finally you save it to your gallery, without further ado. Being a tremendously efficient process that eliminates the need for third-party applications, saving space on your device and protecting your privacy.
Create a new Shortcut
Once inside the Shortcuts app, follow these steps:
- Touch the button "+" in the upper right corner to create a new shortcut.
- Choose "Add action" to start building your workflow.
Choose the necessary actions
To convert a video to GIF, you need to add three specific actions What you must do to create the GIF. Keep in mind that here we are not really dealing with an app that has been designed to create files of this type as such, but rather we will use its functionalities to do so.
- Search and select the action “Get file”, which will allow you to select the video you want to convert from your photo gallery.
- Set the action to allow selection of videos.
- Find and add the action “Convert video to GIF”, which will be in charge of transforming the selected video into a GIF file.
- Finally, search and select “Save to photos”, so that your creation ends up in your iPhone Gallery.
Run the Shortcut
After setting up the actions, give your new shortcut a name, for example, “Create GIF from Video” and since you will have already created the process flow to convert the video, simply run the shortcut:
- Play the play icon in the lower right corner.
- Select the video that you want to convert when prompted.
- The shortcut will automatically perform the conversion and it will save the GIF to your photo gallery.
What are the advantages of using Shortcuts to create GIFs from videos on iPhone?
Obviously, although the first time it is a pain to set up the macro to make the shortcut, using Shortcuts to create GIFs from videos on iPhone has inherent advantages to its use.
The first is that no additional apps needed because it is already integrated into the system, preventing you from downloading and using third-party applications that could collect unnecessary data as happens with free apps.
Furthermore, due to its essence it is highly customizable, creating workflows adapted to your specific needs and with the advantage that once created, the shortcut can be used repeatedly without additional configurations.
Use third-party pages to do it online
Another way to create GIF from videos on iPhone is use online converters that are intended exclusively for this.
These converters do not require installation either, but to process the GIFs they are made from servers external to your iPhone, which is good because it saves your phone's resources but the negative point is that obviously, you do not know where you are really sending your video.
So we advise you that, as always when you use an online converter, you do so with videos that you believe will not have a significant impact on your data protection or with things that may be private or confidential.
Giphy
Giphy is one of most popular platforms for creating and sharing GIFs, which in addition to having a vast catalog of GIFs, offers an easy-to-use online tool to create your own GIFs from videos.
This app allows you to upload videos from your device or paste URLs from YouTube and other platforms and also does not require us to invest time editing the video with external converters, as it offers tools to trim the length of the video, add text, stickers and filters.
Imgur
Imgur, known for its huge community of users and memes, too It has a tool to create GIFs from videos called “Video to GIF,” which is as easy to use as Giphy.
As with the other application, we can also use videos from YouTube or other video sites, which we can edit with the integrated tools that the app has, let it all be said, they are more basic than in the first option that we have told you about. .
ezgif
ezgif is another popular option for creating and sharing GIFs, whose GIF creation tool is famous for being fast and efficient, bringing out content that has good visual quality and in general, good finishes.
In Ezgif we will also have more basic programs to edit the videos and extract the GIF, which will allow us to select its duration and add subtitles to it, as well as the possibility of exporting them directly to our social networks or forums in the that we are registered.
Which of the two methods is the best to create GIFs from videos on iPhone?
If you give us the choice between one of the two methods that we describe, personally I think that the best option is to use Shortcuts if what you are looking for is simply to take a frame for a GIF and little else, although it is only valid for that and nothing else, and already in In case you want to make GIF with meme style, you can use the other alternative by having an integrated editor.
Everything will depend on the use you want to give to those GIFs, but without a doubt to create GIFs from videos on iPhone both methods work well and you will surely not have any problems with any of them.