Learn how to export a video frame as a photo on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac to capture a moment in the clip without taking a screenshot.
Taking a screenshot is super easy on both iOS and macOS. But doing it to save a scene in the video can also capture other elements like the top status bar, which you’ll have to eventually crop out. Plus, screenshot files can be massive, and their quality may not always match the video.
So, if your goal is to save a single frame from a video, the built-in frame capture feature in iOS 27 and macOS 27 offers a cleaner, more convenient solution.
Note that, for now, this new feature only works in the Apple Photos app. Apps like QuickTime Player, Preview, Files, and Safari are not supported.
Secondly, iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 Golden Gate are currently in beta, with full release expected around September.
iPhone or iPad
- Open the Photos app in iOS 27 and play the video there.
- Pause the video frame at the right time (it also works if you don’t pause it, but pausing helps capture exactly what you want).
- Tap the three-dot menu icon at the top and select Save Video Frame as Photo.
- Go to the main library section, and the most recent image will be the saved video frame.
Mac
- Open the Photos app in macOS 27 Golden Gate and play a video there.
- Pause the video at the right time for precise capture.
- Control-click on the video and select Save Video Frame as Photo. You can also click Image > Save Video Frame as Photo from the top menu bar.
- You’ll find this saved video frame in the Library section of the Photos app.
Even though Apple added this feature recently, it is in no way new or revolutionary. Apps like VLC have had this option for a long time. Just click Video > Snapshot in the VLC menu bar or press the Option + Command + S keys.
Similarly, you can use my favorite Enhancer for YouTube extension to capture a frame of a YouTube video in Google Chrome or Firefox.
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