Use this video to GIF converter to turn a short moment from your own video into a looping animated image. Choose a clip, adjust dimensions and frame rate, preview the animation and download a real GIF.
Turn a video clip into a GIF
Video up to 50 MB and 5 minutes. Export a 0.5–15 second clip. Your video stays on your device. GIF has no sound.
Aspect ratio stays the same; smaller videos are not enlarged. Keep this tab visible. Supported video formats depend on your browser.
Open-source notices
GIF encoding uses gifenc 1.0.3 by Matt DesLauriers, MIT licence. Encoder source. Full licence retained in the worker source.
How to convert a video to GIF
- Choose a video from your device, up to 50 MB and 5 minutes.
- Watch the preview and enter start and end times in seconds. You can also pause at a moment and use the Set start or Set end button.
- Choose a clip between 0.5 and 15 seconds.
- Start with 480 px, 10 fps and 256 colours. Choose smaller settings if the file is too large.
- Click Create GIF and keep the tab visible.
- Check the looping preview, then download the GIF.
Make a GIF from the part you actually need
You might want a two-second reaction, a short product demonstration or one step from a screen recording. There is no need to turn the whole video into an animation. Entering 4.50 as the start and 7.50 as the end selects a three-second section.
At 10 fps, a three-second selection creates 30 sampled frames. The converter keeps the source’s aspect ratio. A 1920 × 1080 video becomes 480 × 270 at the 480 px setting. A smaller video is not enlarged. Portrait videos remain portrait rather than being forced into a landscape canvas.
Size, frame rate and colours
Dimensions control how many pixels each frame contains. Frame rate controls how many moments are sampled per second. A higher rate can look smoother, while fewer frames usually make a lighter download. Fast action can still look choppy at low frame rates.
The colours setting limits the palette in each frame to 64, 128 or 256 colours. Photos, gradients and complex backgrounds can lose colour detail or show banding. Fewer colours may reduce size, but the exact result depends on the clip. This version does not apply dithering.
GIF size is not guaranteed to be smaller than MP4. For a simple animation, try 320 px and 5 fps. For clearer movement, try 480 px and 10 fps. Reserve 640 px and 20 fps for short clips where the extra size is worthwhile. The maximum GIF output is 50 MB.
MP4 to GIF and other video formats
MP4, WebM and MOV filenames can be selected, but actual support depends on the video codec and your browser. A file extension alone does not tell the browser how to decode the video. A common H.264 MP4 is a useful format to try if another source fails.
The GIF contains sampled video frames, no sound. It loops continuously. Start and end selection is based on browser video seeking, so this is not a frame-accurate editing tool. GIF delays are stored in hundredths of a second, and playback can vary between apps.
Privacy and processing limits
Your chosen video is processed in this browser and is not uploaded to a conversion server. The encoder is included with the tool; conversion does not need a third-party conversion API. Your source file stays unchanged. The download is available until you change the file or options, or close the page.
This version accepts one non-empty video up to 50 MB, 5 minutes and 24 million source pixels per frame. The export range is 0.5–15 seconds, with up to 300 sampled frames and a longest side of 640 px. A phone may still struggle with a large or complex source. Start with a shorter selection.
Common problems
If the video does not load, it may be damaged or use an unsupported codec. Try another playable MP4 in an up-to-date browser. If creation times out, shorten the clip or lower its dimensions and frame rate. Keep the tab visible while frames are captured.
If the GIF is too large, reduce duration first, then dimensions, frame rate or colours. If text is hard to read, try a slightly larger size and a shorter clip. Check the downloaded animation in the app where you will use it; some services resize GIFs or convert them to video.
Cancel discards the unfinished animation and lets you start again. Changing any option removes the previous download so you cannot accidentally save a GIF made with old settings.
Frequently asked questions
How can I convert MP4 to GIF?
Choose your MP4, select a short section, set size and frame rate, then create and download the GIF. Your browser must be able to decode the video.
Can I choose only part of a video?
Yes. Enter start and end times or use the preview buttons. Select a section between 0.5 and 15 seconds.
Will my GIF have sound?
No. GIF is an animated image format. This tool exports video frames without audio.
Are my videos uploaded?
No. The selected video and GIF processing stay on your device in this browser.
Why is the GIF larger than my MP4?
GIF can be less efficient for photographic motion. Use a shorter selection, smaller dimensions, fewer frames or fewer colours.
Can I convert a portrait video to GIF?
Yes. The converter preserves aspect ratio and does not upscale small videos.
Why will my MOV file not open?
Your browser may not support its video codec. A MOV filename does not guarantee compatibility. Try a playable H.264 MP4 instead.
More file tools
Explore the English tools hub for more image, PDF and text utilities.