MP4 to GIF
To turn a video into a GIF, drag it, tap Shift and drop it on the GIF planet (it's labeled Make a GIF). PlanetOS saves an animated GIF next to the video.
How to convert MP4 to GIF
- 1
Start dragging the MP4 file, from the desktop or any folder.
- 2
While you're still holding it, tap Shift. A ring of planets opens around the file, one for each format it can become.
- 3
Drop the file on the GIF planet. The GIF copy appears next to the original a moment later.
Keep it short
PlanetOS makes the GIF from the first 15 seconds of the video, at 12 frames per second and up to 480 pixels wide. That keeps the file small enough to share, since GIFs store every frame as a full picture. To start somewhere else, trim the clip first.
Many apps (Slack, Discord, iMessage, most websites) also play short MP4s on a loop, and an MP4 is a tenth of the size. GIF is still the safest choice when you don't know where it'll end up. There's a full walk-through in How to make a GIF from a video.
PlanetOS does all of this on your computer. Your files are never uploaded, and it works without an internet connection.
Questions
Does it work with MOV and other formats?
Yes, any video PlanetOS can open.
Can I turn a GIF back into a video?
Yes, see GIF to MP4.