Turn a Screen Recording into a GIF
Turn a screen recording into a short GIF for docs, bug reports, READMEs and chat. Keep the span short and the width large enough to read the text.
Choose a video to turn into a GIF
Drop a file here, click to browse, or paste one.
MP4, MOV, WebM, MKV
Your file is opened by this page and processed locally on your device. It is not uploaded.
About
A GIF shows a short piece of a screen without a video player around it, so it works where a screenshot is not enough. A bug report, a README, a pull request or a chat thread can show a click, a menu or an error appearing in a few seconds. Record the screen first with the free screen recorder, then cut that short moment here.
Small text is the hard part. A GIF is smaller than the recording it comes from, and menus or code can become hard to read at a narrow width. The widths run from 240 to 800 pixels, and the tool never makes a GIF wider than your recording. Use 640 or 800 when the text has to be read, and 480 or below when the GIF only needs to show movement.
The GIF is made on your device and the recording is not uploaded. No account is needed and no watermark is added. Captions can add a short label at the top or the bottom, such as a step number, in the classic white text with a black outline.
How to use the Turn a Screen Recording into a GIF
- 1
Open your recording
Drop the screen recording on the page, or click to choose an MP4, MOV, WebM or MKV file.
- 2
Choose a short span
Drag the two white handles on the waveform around the moment that matters. A few seconds is enough for most steps, and a shorter span makes a smaller file.
- 3
Set width and frame rate
Under Size and smoothness, choose 640 or 800 wide when small text must be readable. Use 10 or 15 frames per second for ordinary movement, since lower rates give a smaller file.
- 4
Add a label and download
Under Captions, add a short label if it helps, press Make GIF, then press Download GIF.
What people use it for
A bug report
Show the exact click or error that causes a bug, so the person fixing it sees the problem happen.
A step in a README
Show one setup or usage step in a project README or documentation page, with a caption that names the step.
A pull request comment
Show how a change looks on screen in a pull request or a design review, in place of a long written description.
A reply in a chat
Send a looping GIF of a menu or a setting to a group chat so the people there can see exactly where it is.
Questions
How do I turn a screen recording into a GIF?
Drop the recording on the page, drag the handles around the moment you want, choose a width and frame rate, then press Make GIF and Download GIF. The tool is free and needs no account.
Why is the text in my screen GIF hard to read?
A narrow width shrinks the text. Choose 640 or 800 pixels, and keep the span short so the file stays practical to share.
What width should a GIF for a README be?
There is no single width that suits every README. Choose 640 or 800 when the screen text has to be read, and a smaller width when the GIF only shows movement.
How long should a screen GIF be?
Keep it to a few seconds. A short loop is easier to follow, and a shorter span makes a smaller file. The page allows up to 30 seconds.
Can I record the screen first?
Yes. Record the screen with the free screen recorder, then open the file here to turn it into a GIF.
Are my recordings uploaded?
No. The recording is read and turned into a GIF on your device and is not uploaded.