How to Convert HEIC / Live Photo to MP4 Video
iPhone Live Photos are a unique Apple format: each photo is actually a HEIC still image plus a short MOV video clip (about 1.5 seconds before and after the shutter press). On Apple devices they play seamlessly, but when you AirDrop or export them to Windows, Android, or web services, the motion disappears. Converting the MOV component to MP4 gives you a universal short video clip that plays everywhere.
Export the Live Photo as video from Photos
On iPhone, open the Live Photo in Photos, tap Share → Save as Video. This saves just the motion portion as a .mov file to your Camera Roll, leaving the original Live Photo untouched.
Open AVMint Convert and drop the MOV
Open AVMint on any device that can read that .mov file. Drag or pick it from your Files / Photos.
Convert to MP4 (H.264)
Select MP4 as target format and H.264 as codec for maximum compatibility. Click Convert and the resulting MP4 plays on any device — Windows, Android, smart TVs, and web uploads.
Tip
If you skip the 'Save as Video' step and drop the original HEIC file, AVMint will extract whatever video component is embedded — but the Save as Video workflow gives cleaner results because iOS writes a proper standalone MOV.
Why Live Photos are a pain outside Apple
A Live Photo is not one file — it is a HEIC still image plus an associated .mov video clip, tagged so Apple's Photos app plays them together. This format is patented and bundled only within Apple's ecosystem. When you share via iCloud to another Apple user, the motion survives. When you share to anything else — Windows Photos, Android Gallery, Google Photos (partially), social networks — only the still image comes through. The only reliable workaround is to export the video component separately and convert it to MP4.
Live Photo share compatibility
| MP4 (converted) | Live Photo (original) | |
|---|---|---|
| Plays on Windows / Android | Yes | No — still image only |
| Uploads to social media with motion | Yes | Instagram partially, most others no |
| Plays on smart TVs | Yes | No |
FAQ
Why does the motion disappear when I share Live Photos outside Apple?
Live Photos are a proprietary Apple format with two files (HEIC still + MOV video) bundled into one logical photo. Non-Apple platforms only see the HEIC still image and discard the motion. Converting the MOV to MP4 standalone solves this.
Does the conversion lose quality?
Minimal. Live Photo MOVs are already H.264 in most cases, so converting to MP4 is essentially a remux with no visible quality change. The container changes, the video bitstream does not.
Can I keep the original Live Photo on my iPhone?
Yes. "Save as Video" creates a new .mov file in your Camera Roll without altering the original Live Photo. You keep both — the Live Photo for Apple devices, and the MP4 for sharing with everyone else.
What about HEIC still images? Can AVMint convert those?
AVMint focuses on video and audio. For still HEIC images, use a dedicated image tool — or simply change iPhone Camera settings: Settings → Camera → Formats → "Most Compatible" to record future photos as JPEG.
Related reads
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Convert iPhone Video to MP4 (HEVC → H.264) — Free, In Browser
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How-to
How to Convert MOV to MP4
Convert iPhone MOV videos to universally compatible MP4 format using AVMint — free, no upload required.
Use case
Prepare a Lightweight Product Video for Mercari
Trim and compress a product video into a short, lightweight MP4 in your browser with AVMint.
Sources & references
Files never leave your device
Export the Live Photo as video from Photos