Twitter Launches Support for Live Photos, Can Now Be Uploaded as GIFs

Twitter on Wednesday announced support for Apple’s Live Photos. The Live Photos can now be uploaded to Twitter and shared as GIFs.

Apple first introduced Live Photos in 2015, alongside the released of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. While Facebook does offer support for the format, most social networks do not, and Live Photos cannot be played on their platforms.

Live Photos add movement to still photos, capturing a few seconds before and after the shot is taken, enabling movement.

While Live Photos are primarily intended for viewing on iPhones, apps are available to convert them to GIF or video formats.



Uploading a Live Photo to Twitter as part of a tweet converts the Live Photo into a GIF, which displays the animation. Users simply select a Live Photo in the Twitter app in iOS and then tap the GIF button to upload.

A Live Photo can still be uploaded as a still photo by not tapping the GIF button, which will upload it as a still photo.

Twitter says Live Photos support is rolling out today, so if it’s not yet available in your are, it should be shortly.

Chris Hauk

Chris is a Senior Editor at Mactrast. He lives somewhere in the deep Southern part of America, and yes, he has to pump in both sunshine and the Internet.