ScreenGIFRecord with the tool built into your device, open the recording in ScreenGIF, crop away everything unrelated, trim the exact action, start with Smart resolution and 15 FPS, preview, then save or share the GIF.
1. Record only what you need
Open the screen or app you want to demonstrate before starting the system screen recorder. Pause briefly before the action and after it finishes; these clean edges make trimming easier. Avoid notifications or unrelated personal information.
2. Choose the finished recording
Stop recording and wait until the system has saved the video. Open ScreenGIF and choose that recording. ScreenGIF reads the file locally and does not upload it to Chang Studio.
3. Crop the frame around the action
Remove status bars, navigation areas, empty margins, and anything that does not help explain the action. A smaller crop does two jobs at once: it directs attention and reduces the number of pixels in every GIF frame.
Use Free when the content has no fixed shape. Use 1:1 for compact messages, 4:3 or 3:4 for documentation, 16:9 for wide demonstrations, and 9:16 for a vertical phone workflow. After choosing a ratio, you can still resize the crop while keeping that shape.
4. Trim to one useful moment
Move the left handle to the first meaningful frame and the right handle to the last. A GIF that shows one task clearly is easier to understand and dramatically smaller than a long recording with setup and waiting time.
5. Start with practical GIF settings
| Setting | Good starting point | Change it when… |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | Smart | Small text needs more pixels, or the destination requires a smaller file. |
| Frame rate | 15 FPS | 10 FPS is acceptable for size, or fast motion genuinely benefits from 30 FPS. |
| Playback speed | 1× | The action needs to be deliberately slowed down or accelerated. |
| Watermark | None | The GIF needs a label, source, or attribution. |
6. Preview before saving
Watch the full loop at least once. Check that the first frame makes sense, the final frame does not linger, text remains readable, and the estimated size fits the destination. Save the GIF when you want a local copy; use Share when you want to send it directly to another app or service.
Platform notes
- iPhone and iPad: record from Control Center, then select the recording from Photos. Saving a finished GIF adds it to Photos.
- Mac: use the macOS screenshot toolbar or another recorder, then drag or choose the file in ScreenGIF. Saving opens the standard file dialog.
- Android: use the recorder provided by your device, then select the saved video. Exact gallery and permission wording varies by manufacturer.
If a demonstration needs multiple unrelated steps, create separate GIFs. Short, single-purpose animations are easier to scan in bug reports, documents, chats, and product pages.
Next steps
If the result is too large, read how to reduce GIF file size. If motion feels wrong, compare 10, 15, and 30 FPS.