iPhone has a hidden feature that lets you merge multiple live photos into a single video.
No extra apps required. The trick works directly from the Photos app.
Perfect for sharing memories, turning short moments into one smooth, shareable clip.
Live photos capture motion and sound around each shot, turning still images into lively moments. They are a favored feature among iPhone users, and stacks of them build up quickly. Flipping through one by one feels endless and is time-consuming.
The Photos app on iPhone can combine them all into a smooth video without installing other external apps. Videos play seamlessly and can be easily shared on social media or in chats. This guide walks through every step and offers tips for quickly making these amazing clips.
A set of hundreds of photos from a street food walk, with sizzling sounds and vendor energy, can be turned into a single, flowing reel. A 30-second video of the whole experience can be captured with ten photos, since each photo has an action time of three seconds, and the sound flows naturally between them without pauses. This can also save storage space as these video clips use less space than separate files.
Timestamps enable sorting all images in the order they were captured. This makes it easy to create an elegant and urbane tech unboxing or travel highlight video. It becomes easier to engage with these stories rather than the raw pictures they were earlier.
The Live Photo mode needs to stay active in Camera settings for fresh shots. The process runs on iPhones from older models up to iOS 26, with faster speeds on new chips.
Users should ensure they have enough storage, since twenty photos might generate a 150MB video. This can be done by clearing some space from Recently Deleted if needed. The shoot should be done in a solid light to keep the motion looking smooth and crisp.
Also Read: Best Mobile Photography Lenses for iPhone and Android Users
Start the Photos application and select the Albums tab at the bottom.
Scroll down to the Media Types section. Tap Live Photos identified by LIVE badges.
Press the Select button in the upper right to pick five to thirty live photos marked with blue checkmarks.
Access the three-dot menu in the upper right, select the Save as Video option, then wait 10 minutes for processing before saving the resulting video to the Library or Videos album.
Verify whether timestamps align with the initial photos.
Tap the video, then go to Edit in the top-right to trim the extra starts or ends, and use filters to make the captures more impactful.
Slow key moments to half speed and add effects using free music from iMovie.
Drop the clip in, layer the tracks, and export at a high frame rate. The number and extent of adjustments that can be made seem infinite. CapCut handles text overlays for event labels.
Swipe up on individual photos. Set some of them to loop for endless play, or set them to bounce for back-and-forth motion.
Make sure that all selections carry the LIVE tag so that the save option is not missed.
Keep the Live Photo setting locked, as shaky shots could cause jerky transitions in the video.
Although timestamps dictate the order of shots in the video, grouping them into separate albums could help control their order.
It is ideal to use shots grouped into twenty. Larger batches could slow down the process.
All processes happen offline and are compressed well for chat apps. Shortcuts can be used to automate the whole process: find Live Photos, save them as videos, and send them to a folder.
Also read: How to Convert 2D Photos into 3D Spatial Scenes on Your iPhone
Pull out the phone now. Grab unused Live Photos. Create a video from an unboxing or a trip. Share results to spark reactions. Moments gain life when they move. Guide fits iOS 26 as of February 2026.
1. What is a Live Photo on an iPhone?
A Live Photo captures 1.5 seconds of motion and sound before and after a photo is taken, creating a short, moving image.
2. Can I turn multiple Live Photos into a single video on iPhone?
Yes! iPhones have a built-in feature that lets you combine several Live Photos into a single video directly in the Photos app, without installing any external apps.
3. How do I combine Live Photos into a video?
Open the Photos app → select multiple Live Photos → tap the share button → choose “Save as Video.” The iPhone will merge them into a single playable video.
4. Do I need any apps to merge Live Photos into a video?
No, this feature is built into iOS. No additional apps or software need to be installed.
5. Can I edit the video created from Live Photos?
Yes, the video can be trimmed, filters can be added, or it can be edited like any other video in the Photos app once it is saved