Practical guide
LIVP to MP4: convert a .livp file in your browser
A .livp file looks like a single photo, but it is really a small package holding two files: a still image and a short video. Here is what is inside it and how to turn it into an MP4 you can share anywhere.
Updated September 5, 2026 · 7 minute read
What is a LIVP file?
A LIVP file is the package form of an iPhone Live Photo. Apple defines a Live Photo as two resources that belong together: a still image and a short paired video clip. When those two parts travel together as one file, that file usually has the .livp extension.
Technically, a .livp file is a ZIP archive. Open one up and you will normally find a still image in HEIC or JPEG form plus a short MOV video clip of the same scene. This matches how Apple documents Live Photo exports: the still picture is one resource, and the motion and audio live in the paired video resource.
People usually end up with .livp files when they move original photo data off an iPhone. When you share photos from an iPhone with All Photos Data turned on, Apple's guide says the original file travels with its edit history and metadata, and Live Photos can arrive on another device as these .livp packages rather than as ordinary pictures.
How to convert a LIVP file to MP4
You do not need to unpack anything by hand. The converter on this site accepts a .livp file directly and works out the two parts for you. Everything happens inside your browser tab, so the file is not uploaded to a server.
- Open the Live Photo converter and choose the single .livp file.
- The converter checks the package, unpacks it in memory, and finds the still image and the MOV clip inside.
- Press the convert button. The tool merges the motion clip into an MP4 video.
- Preview the result, then download the MP4. If the clip has audio you do not want, tick the remove-audio option before converting.
- The whole run usually takes a few seconds, since Live Photo clips are only a couple of seconds long.
What MP4 do you get from a LIVP conversion?
The converter first tries to produce an MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio, the combination that plays almost everywhere. If your browser cannot decode the original clip, it instead repackages the original video stream into an MP4 container and labels the result clearly as a source-codec MP4 rather than pretending it is a universal file.
The result card always shows the actual video and audio codecs of the finished file, so you can tell exactly what you downloaded. That matters because an MP4 extension alone does not guarantee that every app will play the video inside it.
Why a HEIC or JPEG alone is not enough
A common mistake is selecting only the still image and expecting motion to appear. The still picture is just one half of the Live Photo; the movement and sound are stored in the paired MOV clip. A converter cannot invent motion that is not in the file you gave it.
If you only have the still image, look for the matching MOV clip, the original .livp package, or use the iPhone's own Save as Video option described in our iPhone guide.
How you end up with a .livp file
The package form usually appears when original photo data leaves the Apple ecosystem. Apple's sharing guide documents the All Photos Data option, which sends the original file with its edit history and metadata, and Live Photos sent that way can arrive on another device as .livp packages rather than as plain pictures.
Backups and manual exports behave similarly: wherever the goal is preserving the original pair of files, they tend to travel together in this package. Ordinary sharing paths, by contrast, often deliver only the still image, which is why many people discover .livp files without ever having seen the term.
Unpacking a .livp manually
Because the format is a ZIP archive, some operating systems will open a .livp file after you rename its extension to .zip. Inside you should find the still image and the MOV clip as separate files.
The manual route works in a pinch, but it is easy to grab the wrong file, and the MOV you extract is still an HEVC clip that may not play everywhere. Letting the converter unpack the package directly avoids both problems and produces a checked, labeled MP4.
LIVP troubleshooting
- A message that the file is not a valid ZIP/LIVP archive means the package is damaged or was renamed from another format. Try exporting it again from the source device.
- Files that arrived through a messaging app may have been re-compressed, which can strip the video part. Ask for the original export instead.
- If the package opens but the video looks edited or shortened, the motion clip inside may have been trimmed before it was shared.
- As a manual fallback, some operating systems can treat a .livp file like a ZIP archive, letting you pull out the MOV clip directly and convert that.
Does converting change the original .livp file?
No. The converter reads a copy of the file in browser memory and writes a new MP4 for you to download. The .livp package on your device stays exactly as it was, with both the still image and the video intact.
That also means you can convert the same package twice with different settings, for example once with audio and once muted, without going back to your phone.
Frequently asked questions
Is a LIVP file a video or a photo?
Both. A .livp file is a ZIP-style package that contains a still image and a short paired video clip. Together they form one iPhone Live Photo.
Can I convert LIVP to MP4 without installing software?
Yes. This converter runs entirely in your web browser on Windows, Mac, Android, or iPhone, and no app installation is needed.
Why did my MP4 still contain HEVC video?
Some browsers cannot decode HEVC well enough to re-encode it. In that case the converter keeps the original video stream inside an MP4 container and labels the result as a source-codec MP4 so you know what you have.
Can I remove the sound from the video?
Yes. If the motion clip has an audio track, the converter shows a remove-audio option before you start the conversion.