Did you know that you can convert Live photos to still images that use regular HEIC or JPG formats? This is perfect for freeing up storage space (if you don’t keep the video part), more efficient file sharing, and in case you want to edit the photo part or video part independently.
There are actually a bunch of different ways to convert Live photos, each with their own pros and cons. We’ll cover them all in this guide.
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Do Live Photos Take Up More Space?
Yes, Live photos take up more space compared to a “normal” image because it’s actually a bundle of two separate files: the photo itself (usually .HEIC or .JPG format) and a 3-second video (.MOV). The Photos app combines these components to create the interactive Live photos. It’s how you can view the moments before and after the image.
However, note that the image information in the Photos app may not reflect the size gap accurately because it only analyzes the photo–it doesn’t include the video clip. In actuality, Live photos can end up using twice as much space as a “normal” photo.
What Does “Converting Live Photos” Mean?
To change a Live photo to still actually means extracting the image component from that “bundle” or simply making a copy of it. Depending on the exact outcome you want, there are several ways to accomplish this:
| Outcome | Solution |
|---|---|
| I want to convert my Live photos into still images and eliminate the video clips (good for freeing up storage space). | Method 2, Method 3 |
| I want to create still image copies of my Live photos but I want to keep a copy of the original. | Method 1, Method 4, Method 5 |
| I want the still image and video clip as separate files. | Method 6 |
| I want to convert multiple Live photos to normal at the same time. | Method 2, Method 3, Method 5 |
| I want to convert Live photos using my Mac. | Method 5, Method 6 |
| I need a quick and easy way to convert Live photos to still images. | Method 1, Method 4 |
6 Ways to Convert Live Photos to Still Images
In this section, we’ll show you 6 different ways to convert all Live photos to still on an iPhone using native and third-party tools—all except one are free. Each method has its own usefulness and produces slightly different outcomes (for example, do you want to keep or discard the video clip?), so we recommend that you review all of them.
Method 1: Disable the Live Effect in the Photos App
The easiest way to save a live photo as a still is by using the Live effects feature in the Photos app. This feature allows you to apply different types of Live effects on the photo, but it also allows you to turn off the Live effect on that photo completely.
Note that this method does not get rid of the short video clip created by the Live effect. This simply turns the effect off for the photo—so you can just as easily turn it on again.
Step 1. Open the Photos app.
Step 2. Scroll down to the Media Types section and tap Live Photos.
Step 3. Tap a Live Photo you want to convert.
Step 4. In the top left corner of the photo, tap LIVE and select Live Off.
If you want to revert the still photo into a Live photo, you can follow the same steps and select Live instead of Live Off.
Method 2: Duplicate Live Photos as Still Images Using the Photos App
If you want a still image of your Live photo without getting rid of the original Live, the Photos app has another feature called Duplicate as Still Photo. This literally creates a still image “copy” of the Live photo, instead of eliminating the video portion.
Step 1. Open the Photos app.
Step 2. Scroll down to the Media Types section and tap Live Photos. Then, tap any of your Lives.
Step 3. In the top right corner of the screen, tap the meatball menu. Then, tap Duplicate.
Step 4. In the pop-up that appears, select Duplicate as Still Photo.
The new still photo will be saved in your photo library (as a regular image). However, its original Live photo will still exist and remain in the Live Photos album.
Method 3: Utilize a Third-Party iPhone Library Management App
If you want to convert Live photos to still images in bulk without keeping the original, the best way to do it is using third-party apps. This feature is commonly found in iPhone cleaning apps that provide tools for managing Live photos.
For this demonstration, we’ll be using an app called Clever Cleaner: AI Cleanup App. It’s completely free (no ads and no “limited free trial”) and it has this exact feature—you can select multiple Live photos from your library and convert them to stills all at once.
Step 1. Download and install Clever Cleaner: AI Cleanup App from the App Store. Make sure you grant it Full Access to your photo library.
Step 2. On the bottom menu, tap the Lives button. Then, tap the Live photo you want to convert.
Step 3. Tap the sphere at the bottom of each of the Live photos you want to convert (you can convert multiple Live photos at once). Then, tap Compress.
Step 4. In the popup that appears, you can choose whether to Delete the original Live photo or Keep in Trash (within the Clever Cleaner app) for later review.
Method 4: Take a Screenshot of the Live Photo
Capturing a screenshot of a Live photo is a quick way to generate a still image copy without affecting the original (and without having to go through the Photos app’s menus).
Depending on your iPhone model, there are several ways to take a screenshot. Choose from one of the following:
- iPhones With NO Home Button: Press the Lock button and the Volume Up button at the same time.
- iPhones With a Home Button: Press the Lock button and the Home button at the same time.
- Assistive Touch: Enable Assistive Touch via Settings > Accessibility > Touch. Once enabled, tap the AssistiveTouch button and select Device > More > Screenshot.
- Siri: Say “Hey Siri… Take a screenshot.”
Method 5: Export Live Photos From the Photos App on a Mac
If you have a Mac and you have iCloud enabled for Photos, you can simply drag your Lives from the Photos app directly to any location on your computer. This process automatically converts Live photos into still photos, which are saved as JPEG image files.
Step 1. On your Mac, open the Photos app. On the left sidebar, expand the Media Types menu and select Live Photos.
Step 2. Click the photo you want to convert (you can press Shift + Click to select multiple photos at once). Then, drag your selection to your Mac—you can drag it straight to your Desktop or to any folder open in Finder.
Don’t worry! This won’t remove the photo from your library—it just copies.
Method 6: Use a Third-Party Image Editing App on a Mac
There are third-party apps for Mac that are designed to handle Live photos in their own unique way. For example, Adobe Lightroom (which we’ll be using for this demo), automatically separates the Live photos’ components for you.
In other words, you can save the image and video components of a Live photo separately, just by browsing your photo library using Lightroom. Not only are both files saved as their highest possible quality, but the original Live photos also remain unaffected.
Step 1. Download and install Adobe Creative Cloud and Adobe Lightroom on your Mac.
Step 2. Securely connect your iPhone to your Mac using the appropriate cable. Then, open the Adobe Lightroom app.
Step 3. In the main menu, click Local in the top left corner of the window.
Step 4. Under Local, your iPhone should appear if it’s properly connected.
Step 5. You’ll find your “Live photos” already separated into its image and video components, side by side. Select the still image, the video clip, or both. You can do this for multiple “Live photos” at once. Then, click Choose folder in the right sidebar.
Step 6. Use the dialogue menu to navigate to and select a folder where you want Lightroom to save the media components. Then, click Open.
Step 7. Finally, click the Save Items button in the top right corner of the window.
Are You Trying to Free Up Storage Space?
If you’re converting Live photos to still images in order to reclaim storage space on your iPhone–especially when you can’t delete any more of your data? There are several more ways to accomplish this that many users are completely unaware about!
Check out our other guide on how to free up storage on an iPhone without deleting anything. We’ll show you how to clean up non-user data like caches, system files, app data, and other iOS clutter.
