Harnessing YouTube Content for Engaging Animation GIFs

How to Convert YouTube Videos to GIFs

Shanoon Cox

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

A GIF adds an extra element to any conversation and makes the reader feel connected to the post. Using GIF can turn useful if done rightly. It narrates a story in a single animated image for social media conversation. In this article, we will brief you about how to convert YouTube to gif, various GIF converters, their uses, and the pros and cons of each converter.

Let’s get started!

How to Convert a YouTube Video into GIFs?

1. YouTube to GIF Directly

Here is a quick way to convert the YouTube video to GIFs without typing a YouTube to GIF website.

Gif.com is a free and easy-to-use video editor available with multiple effects. This converter was created keeping in mind how people spend hours and money on paid platforms.

Follow the below steps to convert a YouTube video into gifs.

1. In the YouTube video page, add gif before youtube.com. For example, I want to convert the YouTube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40fuGLmwHwk to GIFs, here is how it looks like after adding gif at the beginning: https://www.gifyoutube.com/watch?v=40fuGLmwHwk . Press the enter button on your keyboard and you will enter the gifs.com directly.

1. In gifs.com, you can play and pause the YouTube video and drag the bar to select a desired moment for gif. Press the “Create Gif” button on the top right side to convert the specific part of the YouTube video to gif.
2. You will then be directed to the result page to see your GIF created using the YouTube video, and you can change the GIF title and the tag.
3. Lastly, you need to copy the link and share it!

Pros of converting YouTube to GIFs with Gifs.com:

• The interface is easy to use and it provides lots of tools to adjust.
• Simple functionality.

Cons:

• The watermark on your created GIF can be removed only after purchasing the premium version.
• GIFs can be downloaded only by registered users.

2. FreeGifMaker.me

FreeGifMaker is one simple online tool that allows the creation of animated Gifs for free. A minimum of two pictures has to be uploaded out of ten. It takes few seconds and is super easy to make a GIF from a YouTube video. You can use FreeGifMaker.me in some easy steps.

1. Open the website http://freegifmaker.me/youtube-to-gif/ on your desktop.
2. Go to YouTube and copy the video URL you want to create a GIF of and paste it on the website mentioned above.
3. Then click “Load YouTube Video” below the URL and wait for a few seconds while the tool checks the video source.
4. Once the YouTube video is loaded, enter the gif duration, start time, and click on the “Make a GIF button.” It will redirect you to the result page.

• Pros:
• Conversion size is unlimited**.**
• There is no usage of ads.
• Easy to make Gifs.
• Cons:
• The upload speed is slow.
• The converter gives limited options for editing.

3. Wondershare Online UniConverter

Online UniConverter converts video into a high-quality animated GIF and allows editing. It is a simple converter with unique features.

If you want to convert your YouTube video into a GIF, follow the steps.

1. You need to upload your video through the “Choose Files” option. You can also copy the link from YouTube.
2. Wait for some time once you upload the file; you can then set your start time, end time, frame rate according to your needs.
3. Lastly, click on “Create GIF” and download your GIF. You can also save it through the dropdown option available besides “Download.”

• Pros:
• Easy to handle.
• A wide range of customization tools is available.
• Zero ads.
• Cons:
• Upload speed is slow.
• Conversion size is limited.

4. GifRun

It is a video maker that started in 2013, and GifRun converts videos from YouTube, Facebook, and other sources to high-quality GIFs. You can create Gifs free of cost from GifRun.

Here is how you can use Gifrun.

1. Open the website and paste the URL you want to convert into Gif. Later, press “Get Video” option below the URL box.
2. In this step, you can adjust the duration, start time, add text, and also pause and preview the video. Once you’re done altering the video, click “Create GIF.”
3. Lastly, click on the “Download” button beside the add text button, or share the link directly.

• Pros:
• Fast conversion and download.
• There is no upload limit.
• The video preview feature is available.
• Cons:
• UI is ad-infested.
• Supports YouTube videos only.

5. Makeagif

This GIF converter creates high-quality GIFs in no time. You need to paste the URL in Makeagif and nothing much. It can make GIFs from Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and other platforms easily.

The only issue is that it supports one type of conversion with a maximum limit of 25MB.

Here is how you can make your favorite GIF in few steps.

1. Open makeagif.com and paste the YouTube URL in the box available.
2. Once you paste the URL, the website will automatically take you to the edit page to edit GIF length, start time, speed, and add caption and stickers. The next step is to select the category to which the video belongs available on the left side of the screen.
3. After editing, click on “Continue to publishing” then “Create GIF” at the lower right corner of the screen. Voila! Your GIF is ready to use.

• Pros:

1. The UI is user-friendly.
2. Ads are minimal
3. Various GIF conversions are supported.

• Cons:

1. The conversion size is small.
2. Batch conversions are not available.

6. ImgFlip

It is a creative GIF website supporting various videos from other websites such as Vimeo and YouTube. ImgFlip has innovative customization tools for cropping, reshaping, adding text and, a lot more, but you just need to be aware of the ads.

Want to know how to create GIF? Go through these simple steps.

1. You can make GIFs both from Video and Images. To make GIF from a video, paste the YouTube URL in the box at the top, upload the tape from your device’s file.
2. After pasting the URL, you will be given lots of customization options. Choose the effect of your choice for your GIF.
3. Lastly, click on “Generate GIF” available on the right side of the screen. You can now share the GIF via your device or download it.

• Pros:
• Plenty of customization options.
• Fast conversion.
• Easy to upload and use.
• Cons:
• Ads pop up frequently.
• Offline conversion is unavailable.

7. GIPHY

It is a free GIF converter that helps you download free YouTube GIFs. You can also make GIFs from your photos, videos available on your device along with video URLs and images. The only problem is, to use Giphy you first have to log in to the app.

Follow the below steps to create a GIF from YouTube videos with Giphy:

1. Open Giphy on your device and click on “Create” on the top right-side of your screen.
2. Paste the URL in the space given below. A pop-up will tell you to log in. Log in to the website to continue.
3. The video you choose should be less than 15 seconds and under 100MB. You will be given editing options from which you can select the start time and duration of your GIF along with Captions and Tags.
4. In the end, press the “Create GIF” button to make the GIF. When it’s done, you will be redirected to the GIF page. You can then share your GIF on any social media site.

• Pros:
• Ads are absent
• Uploading is fast
• Wide range of free GIFs available
• Cons:
• Not perfect for green hands

8. Imgur

It is one of the best apps that offers tons of images, memes, and GIFs. You can make GIFs of less than 60 seconds with high quality, which you can share anywhere.

Here are three easy steps to make GIFs

1. Visit the page “imgur.com/vidgif” and paste your YouTube URL there.
2. Set a start time by clicking or dragging on the timeline. The total runtime is also adjustable, with 60 seconds as the maximum time for GIFs.
3. Lastly, press on “Create GIF” to see the magic. The GIF is converted from the YouTube video.

• Pros:

1. The users can share the post of their choice
2. Users can save posts.
3. Great collection of short GIFs and videos.

• Cons:

1. During loading, the screen flashes.

9 VEED.IO

Veed is a simple YouTube video converter that makes your work super easy. It converts YouTube videos into GIFs with various editing options like crop, trim, text ads, and many more.

Check out how to use VEED in 3 steps.

1. Start by pasting the URL of your YouTube video into VEED, Your video will be ready to convert into GIF.
2. Now you are all set to edit your video. You have the option to crop and trim the video. You can also include different font styles, colors, and sizes of your choice.
3. Lastly, download the GIF you made in VEED.

• Pros:
• Downloading the software is not mandatory.
• UI is simple and easy to navigate.
• The subtitle option is present.
• Cons:
• It takes a lot of time to upload video.
• Many basic tools.

10. Kapwing

Kapwing is a helpful video converter that can easily turn any video into GIFs with a click. It can also convert different files such as 3GP, GIF, WEBM.

To create beautiful GIFs with this video editor, follow these easy steps.

1. Open Kapwing video editor and upload your video from YouTube.
2. Choose the “Export dropdown” option and choose the format you wish to convert.

You can also preview the GIF and customize it as per your choice.

1. In the final step, export the video by clicking the “Export Video” button. Save and download the newly created GIF and share it anywhere with your friends.

• Pros:
• Great editing tools.
• Easy to use.
• Cons:
• Available only on the website.
• Too many tools for the same purpose.

Final Thoughts

With the increased use of GIFs on social media, you can now easily convert your favorite YouTube videos into GIFs on your own. All you have to do is simply choose the tools mentioned above and share it with your friends.

Shanoon Cox

Shanoon Cox is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Shanoon Cox

Adding Clear Timestamps to Your YouTube Channel’s Live Streams

How to Add Timestamps on YouTube Video Link?

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

It is a well-known fact that internet users have a short interest span, about just eight seconds. This attention span applies to all internet platforms including YouTube. YouTube is the second largest and most visited search engine after Google. It provides users with information through engaging and eye-catchy videos. However, certain videos are longer where only a particular section of the video holds the important information. Viewers tend to skip the long videos and if you do not want this to happen to you, you can link to that specific part on your video adding value for your channel viewers with a link known as the YouTube Timestamp link.

When you have a Timestamp link on your video, you can help your viewers directly reach the specific time in the video. This helps avoid the viewers from losing interest or to search for the key part in your video themselves.

Here in this article, we will explain Timestamp links, how to add Timestamp to YouTube video links, and what are the benefits of Timestamp.

• Part 1: YouTube Timestamp Links Introduction
• Part 2: Adding a Timestamp to YouTube Video Link on Desktop
• Part 3: How to Share Specific Parts of YouTube Video
• part 4: Getting YouTube Timestamp Link on Mobile
• Part 5: FAQ About YouTube Timestamps

Part 1: What is YouTube Timestamp Links

In this fast-paced world where viewers have limited time at hand, YouTube Timestamp links are extremely helpful. These links are anchor text or video hyperlinks found either in the description beneath the video or at the video link end.

The Timestamps links allow you to put a link to a key moment in your YouTube video allowing the viewers and subscribers to view the video at the precise time specified. Your YouTube video maybe half an hour long or maybe your users do not have the time now or forget to later watch your video, but when you add Timestamp to the YouTube link, you provide them ways to get to the content quickly enhancing the user experience.

In addition to this, you can even provide a reference in minutes and hours where necessary. The YouTube Timestamp link acts as a guide that directs viewers to the part of the video, which is most relevant to them without having to watch the entire video.

Part 2: How to Add a Timestamp to YouTube Video Link on Desktop?

In the following section, I will show you how to add timestamp to YouTube video link in several ways.

Use YouTube’s Share Feature

Using YouTube’s share feature is the simplest way to add Timestamp to YouTube videos. Here are easy steps to follow to do this.

1. Open the YouTube video on your desktop that you want to share.
2. Play the video or navigate the timeline and stop at the key moment you wish to apply the timestamp to.
3. Now click on the Share button, a pop-up will appear. Under the URL, you will see a small box indicating Start at. The Timestamp is generated automatically, but you can adjust it.

1. Copy the updated URL with Timestamp to share the video or click on the social sharing icons to do so.
2. When your viewers click on this URL, the video will begin at the specified Timestamp.

Use the Browser URL to add Timestamp manually

You can add Timestamp manually as well. Follow the step-by-step guide below to add a Timestamp manually.

1. Open your YouTube video in a browser on your desktop and then find the URL in the browser’s address bar.
2. Enter the specific time you want the viewers to watch the video from at the end of the video URL.

You can add time manually in two ways depending on the URL.

?t=As or

&t=As

“youtu.be/” Format

If your YouTube video link is a youtu.be format, then just add ?t=As at the end of the video link. The A denotes the seconds at which you want the viewer to watch your video. The time can also be specified in minutes and seconds and when you want to do that just add ?t=AmBs. For instance, ?t=2m40s.

“youtube.com/” Format

When your YouTube video link has a youtube.com format, the adjustment starts with an ampersand. &t=As or &t=AmBs is what you can use. If you are looking to add the Timestamp at 2m40s, just add “&t=2m40s at the end of the video URL.

Whenever anybody uses the URL with Timestamp, the video will start from the specified time.

However, when adding a Timestamp manually, always leave include whole numbers. For example, if the time starts at 4m, use 4 and not 04.

Copy video URL at current time

You can use YouTube’s built-in feature to share the key parts of your YouTube video. Follow the steps here.

1. Visit YouTube and open the video you want to add Timestamp link to.
2. Play the video or navigate the timeline to reach the specific part you like to use in Timestamp.
3. Now either press Ctrl + click or right-click anywhere on the video. A pop-up opens where you can see various texts, click on the Copy video URL at current time and share the link.

1. Anyone who clicks on this link will be instantly transported to the exact segment of your YouTube video.

Part 3: How to Share Specific Parts of Videos with Vibby and Get YouTube Link with Timestamp

The above-mentioned methods to add and send YouTube link with timestamp are quick and easy, but they have a few limitations. If you need more control and share highlighted parts of YouTube video without cutting the video, you need to use a third-party tool known as Vibby.

Vibby allows you to not only share specific parts of videos from YouTube but other platforms as well like Vimeo and Twitch. With the tool, you can clip multiple sections of the video and share them with others.

1. To get started, signup either with mail, Google, Twitter, Facebook, or Twitch account.
2. Once signed in, go to Create vib at the top left corner and then paste the URL of the YouTube video you would like to share and then click on the Start button.

1. Your video will load in the Vibby editor, now click on Highlight the parts to share.
2. Here you will see the Start highlight button, jump 5-sec option, option to switch between HD and SD video quality, and volume control button. Navigate to the part you want to share and click on Start highlight.

1. When you reach the end of the part, click on Finish highlight. Repeat the process to highlight multiple parts of the video. All the highlighted parts will appear in a list on the right side of the screen.
2. Add a description to each part and format it, you have the option to preview before hitting the Save vib button.
3. Name the vib and assign a category and then publish it to Vibby or make it a private vib.
4. You get a dedicated link to your vib with the ability to embed it on your website or blog.

In this way, you can share the highlights of the YouTube video or Vimeo video easily.

Part 4: How to Get YouTube Timestamp Link on iPhone and Android?

Linking to specific YouTube Timestamp Link is straightforward on both iPhone and Android.

1. Go to YouTube and select the video you want to share.
2. Move through the progress bar of the video to reach the key part and click on the Share button.
3. A pop-up menu appears, highlight the URL and click on the Copy button.
4. Paste the URL and manually add the Timestamp using the steps mentioned in add a Timestamp manually.

Part 5: Is Timestamp Beneficial for your Video?

Timestamping your YouTube videos may decrease the watch time, but it enhances the user experience, and they want to see more of your videos. Apart from this, adding Timestamps to your videos make your videos discoverable through Google search. YouTube and Google will reward you for the videos in form of a high search engine ranking.

Bonus: How to Add YouTube Timestamp Link in YouTube Video Description

Adding a YouTube Timestamp link in your video description is easy. Here are the steps to do so.

1. Go to your YouTube channel and select the video you want to add Timestamp to and then navigate to the description below it.
2. Edit the description by clicking on the Edit Video button.
3. You are redirected to the Video Details page. Here write 0:00 at the first part of the timecode, and then continue with the time of the key part of the video you want to add the Timestamp to in 2:40 format. You can add more Timestamp as well and then click on the Save button.

1. Reload the video page and you will see auto-generated Timestamp Links at the specific time you provided in the description.

Note: You need to add at least three timestamps which are 10 seconds or longer in order to add timestamps successfully.

Conclusion

As much as possible YouTubers want to make videos short and to the point. However, if a video needs to be longer, you can still help users navigate through to find what is important to them by adding Timestamp to YouTube link or Timestamp the YouTube descriptions. This can help your viewers jump straight to the interesting part in the video, rather than viewing the entire video saving their time and boost user experience.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett