MP4 to GIF Converter
Cut the moment you want from an MP4 video and turn it into an animated GIF. Choose the size and frame rate, check the estimated file size, and download the GIF, all in your browser.
Choose MP4 file
or drop an MP4 file here
MP4 · One video up to 2 GB
Your video stays in your browser
This page converts MP4 videos. For a MOV or WebM video, use the Video to GIF converter.
Clip
Drag the handles or use the arrow keys; hold Shift for 1-second steps. Select the timeline to jump to that moment.
- Size
- Frames
- Length
- File size
This GIF is large. To make it smaller, go back and choose a smaller size or frame rate, or reduce it with Compress GIF.
Convert one MP4 video at a time, up to 2 GB, with no limit on how long the clip is. Your video stays on your device.
Any moment of an MP4, as a GIF
Cut it from a long video
Drag the handles on the timeline or type exact times to take the seconds you want from a long MP4, then play the clip in a loop to check where it starts and ends.
Know the file size first
Each size shows the exact dimensions of the GIF, and its frame count and estimated file size update before you convert, so a GIF that would be too large is caught early.
Converted on your device
Your browser reads the MP4 and writes the GIF on your computer or phone, so even a large video converts without waiting for an upload.
MP4 videos you can convert
MP4 is the format most Android phones, screen recorders, cameras and video downloads save, and M4V files from Apple apps are MP4 too. An MP4 is a container: the picture inside is usually H.264, which every current browser plays, so it opens here straight away. MP4 files with HEVC (H.265) video open where your browser and device support HEVC. Portrait videos stay upright, and a file can be up to 2 GB. Videos from an iPhone camera are usually MOV files; for those, and for WebM, use the Video to GIF converter.
From a long MP4 to a short GIF
An MP4 up to 30 seconds long starts fully selected; a longer one starts with its first 10 seconds, and the clip can be as long as you like. Drag the handles to the moment you want, or type times such as 45 or 2:10.5. To start on a frame you can see, pause the video and select Use current time. Play clip repeats the selection, so you can check the first and last frame before you convert.
Why a small MP4 can make a large GIF
MP4 compresses video very efficiently: it stores a full picture now and then and records only what changes in between. A GIF keeps every frame as its own picture with up to 256 colors, so the same seconds can take many times the space of the MP4. The estimated file size next to Convert to GIF shows what to expect. To keep the GIF small, shorten the clip, choose Standard or Low smoothness, or pick Small or Medium. Screen recordings and scenes with a still background stay much smaller than handheld footage. A finished GIF can be reduced further with Compress GIF.
Settings for a sharp GIF
For the most detail, choose Original, which keeps the MP4's own width up to 1280 px, and Smooth or Very smooth for fast movement. Large, 640 px wide, keeps the text in screen recordings and tutorials readable at a smaller size. Every frame is reduced to 256 colors, the limit of the GIF format, so gradients such as skies may show a fine dot pattern while edges and text stay crisp. Sharper and smoother settings make larger files, and the estimate updates as you change them.
Sound, subtitles and the file name
GIF has no audio track, so the sound of the MP4 is left out. Subtitles that are part of the picture stay in the GIF; subtitle tracks that you switch on and off in a video player are not included. The GIF is named after your video, so screen-recording.mp4 downloads as screen-recording-imagenow.gif. To build a GIF from photos instead, use the GIF Maker.
How to convert MP4 to GIF
- Choose or drop an MP4 file. It opens in the player on this page.
- Set the start and end with the handles, the time fields or Use current time, and select Play clip to check the selection.
- Choose the size, smoothness and repeat, and check the estimated file size.
- Select Convert to GIF, watch the result, then select Download GIF.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert an MP4 to a GIF?
Choose the MP4 above and set where the GIF starts and ends. Pick a size, a smoothness and how often the GIF repeats, then select Convert to GIF. The GIF plays on the page with its size and frame count, and Download GIF saves it.
Can I convert just part of an MP4?
Yes. Drag the start and end handles on the timeline, type the times, or pause the video and select Use current time. Only the selected part becomes the GIF, and Play clip shows it before you convert.
How do I convert MP4 to GIF without losing quality?
Choose Original to keep the width of the video up to 1280 px, and Smooth or Very smooth for fast movement. A GIF holds 256 colors per frame, so gradients may show a fine dot pattern, but edges and text stay sharp. These settings make the largest files, so check the estimated file size before you convert.
Why is the GIF bigger than the MP4?
MP4 records only what changes from one frame to the next, while a GIF stores each frame as a full picture, so a GIF of the same length is usually several times larger. A shorter clip, a smaller size or less smoothness makes it smaller, and Compress GIF can reduce the finished file further.
Is there a limit on the MP4 size or the GIF length?
An MP4 can be up to 2 GB, and the clip can be as long as the video. A long clip at a large size takes longer to convert and makes a big file; when the GIF would be very large, a note offers a smaller size in one step.
Why won't my MP4 open?
Your browser plays the MP4 on this page, so it has to decode the video inside it. MP4 with H.264 works in every current browser, and HEVC (H.265) works where the browser and device support it. A file that was cut off during a download may stop part way through, so use a complete copy, or save the video again as MP4 with H.264.
Can I convert an MP4 to a GIF on my phone?
Yes. Open this page in your phone's browser, tap Choose MP4 file and pick the video from your files or gallery; Download GIF saves the result to your phone. Videos from an iPhone camera are usually MOV files, which the Video to GIF converter takes.
Is my MP4 uploaded?
No. Your browser reads the MP4 and builds the GIF on your device, so the video is not sent anywhere. Reloading or closing the page clears the video and the GIF.