PicWay isn’t out yet. We’re still finishing the details, and it isn’t on the App Store. Get an email when it’s out

What happens when you save a Live Photo to the Files app?

The short answer

According to CleverFiles, saving a Live Photo to the Files app strips the video and keeps only the still as a regular JPEG file. The original Live Photo stays in your Photos library unchanged, so no storage space is saved unless you delete it afterward.

Last updated:

How to do it

  1. Save the Live Photo to Files

    Open the Live Photo in Photos, tap Share, then choose Save to Files and pick a folder.

  2. Check what you got

    Open the file in the Files app. Per the CleverFiles guide, it’s a regular still JPEG with no motion.

  3. Decide about the original

    The original Live Photo is still in your library. Space is only freed if you delete it, and you can recover it from Recently Deleted for 30 days.

What does the Files copy contain?

CleverFiles says iOS strips the video portion and keeps the still, giving a regular JPEG file (CleverFiles). Apple’s own guide says that if you share a Live Photo by Mail, it’s sent as a still image (Apple).

Does it save space?

No, by itself. The original remains in Photos (CleverFiles). Deleted photos stay in Recently Deleted for 30 days (Apple).

Can I share just the still instead?

Yes. Open the photo, tap Share, and tap LIVE in the upper-left corner to share the still photo and not the Live Photo (Apple).

Can I turn it into a video instead?

Yes. Select a Live Photo in Media Types, tap the More button, and choose Save as Video. The video shows in Recently Saved and the Live Photo stays in the Live Photos album (Apple).