Make & keep
Choose a Live Photo frame and make a still on iPhone
Select a better expression from the short motion capture, then turn the Live feature off for a still-image copy.
A Live Photo can capture a brief sequence around the shutter press. If the shutter frame caught a blink during a booth-style portrait, Photos lets you choose another key photo from the recorded frames. You can then turn Live off so the selected key photo is shown as a still.
Choose the best frame
Open the Live Photo, tap More, then Duplicate so the moving original stays untouched. Open the duplicate, tap Edit, and tap the Live Photo control. Move the white frame in the filmstrip below the image until the expression or gesture you want appears. Tap Make Key Photo, then Done. If you are not sure, review the short movement first and choose a frame where the face is sharp, eyes are open, and hands are not cut off.
Evidence: Apple user guide
Turn the selected frame into a still
To keep the selected moment as a still, open Edit again, enter the Live controls and tap Live at the top to turn the feature off. The duplicate becomes a still of its key photo, while the original remains a Live Photo in the library. Open each item once to confirm you are sharing the intended one.
Evidence: Apple user guide
Protect a motion copy
Check the portrait-effect caveat before changing the key frame: Apple notes that Live Photos taken on iPhone 15 or later with a portrait effect lose that effect when the key photo changes.
Evidence: Apple user guide
Sources & further reading
Sources for the specific facts and product descriptions above. Our worked examples, interpretations and practical suggestions are original editorial guidance.
- Apple iPhone User Guide — Edit Live PhotosApple user guide