How to convert Live Photos to still photos
Updated: November 2026
A Live Photo records 1.5 seconds before and after you press the shutter, and keeps that short video next to the photo. That's what makes it move, and why it takes more space than a still photo.
Turning Live off doesn't save space
In Photos, you can open a Live Photo, tap Edit and turn off Live. That only hides the motion: it's an edit you can undo, so the video is kept and uses the same space as before.
Convert one photo
- Open the Live Photo in Photos.
- Tap the More button (•••), then Duplicate.
- Choose Duplicate as Still Photo.
- Check the copy, then delete the original Live Photo.
The copy is a new photo, so check it's in the albums you want before deleting the original.
Convert many at once with Shiny
- Open Shiny and tap Live Photos. Filter by age, for example older than a year.
- Select the photos you don't need moving and tap Convert to still.
- Shiny saves each one as a still at full quality, with its date, location, favourite and albums, and moves the original to Recently Deleted.
You lose the motion and any Loop, Bounce or Long Exposure effect, and the new photos aren't in Memories, Featured Photos or shared albums. Edited Live Photos, Loop and Bounce, and photos stored only in iCloud are left alone. The space comes back once Recently Deleted is emptied.
Stop taking Live Photos
In the Camera app, tap the Live button so it's crossed out. To keep it off next time you open Camera, go to Settings › Camera › Preserve Settings and turn on Live Photo; otherwise Camera turns Live back on.