Guide
Tiny Desk AI iPhone: make and save your video
Updated 2026-10-30
On iPhone, the workflow works in the browser: choose your photos, generate the band performance, then download the MP4. Tiny Desk Tools produces an approximately 18-second vertical video, so you can prepare a short post without installing an editing app first.
Before you start on your phone
Gather the photos you want to use before opening the cast editor. Choose consenting adults, one clear face per image and a simple front-facing view. A recent portrait with even light is easier to judge on a small screen than a heavily filtered image or a face cropped out of a group photograph. Decide who sings lead, plays keys, takes the sax position or joins the backing row.
Use a stable connection and leave enough storage for the finished file. Keep the email address you will sign in with handy, since the account connects your purchases and generated videos. You do not need to expose your whole photo library to describe the cast: choose the specific images requested by the browser picker. Take a moment to inspect each selected face before moving on.
Three steps from Photos to performance
- Open the generator and cast the band. In Safari, go to the home page and tap Create my video. Tap a band position, choose the intended photo and repeat for the people you want to include. The five-position layout lets you check the cast visually instead of relying on the order in which images happened to upload.
- Sign in and submit one generation. Check the adult-parody declaration, inspect the price and buy the appropriate credit pack if needed. Submit the video after reviewing the cast. Generation takes several minutes and can take longer when the model is busy; closing a browser tab does not turn a submitted background job into an instant failure.
- Download both versions and inspect them. Return to the same account to check progress. Once finished, save the song version and the silent copy. Watch the complete clip with sound before sharing it, including the close-up and sax section. Review the output rather than judging only its first frame.
If a session appears stuck, first check whether the photo upload or the generation is the part still running. Reloading and repeatedly submitting can create confusion about which job you are viewing. The full walkthrough explains the standard flow, while the friends guide helps you plan a larger cast.
Three phone mockups showing Pick faces, Confirm cast, and Download MP4 on tinydesktools.com in Safari.
Find the MP4 after Safari downloads it
Apple's download-location guide explains that downloaded items can be found in the Files app's Downloads folder. Safari also shows a Downloads control that lets you check the current transfer. A downloaded video is not necessarily already in Photos; locate and open the file before assuming it disappeared.
When the file is available, use the sharing options offered by iOS or the upload picker in your destination app. If you want a copy in Photos, inspect the video's Share sheet for the available save action. App names and controls can change between versions, so follow the file you actually downloaded rather than a screenshot from an older tutorial. Keep the original MP4 as your master copy.
Prepare a vertical post without inventing extra resolution
The native Tiny Desk Tools file is 720 × 1280, already a 9:16 portrait frame. A 1080 × 1920 canvas is a common editing choice for a full-screen vertical post, but upscaling does not recover new facial detail. If an editor is necessary for captions, preserve the aspect ratio, avoid stretching the image and export only once after your final changes.
| Destination | Practical canvas | Duration choice |
|---|---|---|
| TikTok | 9:16; optional 1080 × 1920 editing canvas | Keep the complete approximately 18-second joke |
| Instagram Reels | 9:16 portrait composition | Keep the reaction and final band shot together |
| YouTube Shorts | Vertical frame; preserve the supplied 9:16 ratio | The supplied clip is comfortably short |
These are composition suggestions, not a promise about every account's upload options. TikTok's official production guide recommends vertical framing and keeping important text clear of interface controls. YouTube's Shorts guidance explains its vertical-video and duration rules. Check the upload preview in each app, because buttons and captions cover different parts of the frame.
Finish the joke before you post
Write a short caption that makes the AI parody clear, check that everyone is happy with the result and avoid placing essential text over a face. Keep the first musical beat and final reaction intact instead of adding a long introduction. For a phone-first project, simple sharing is usually more useful than repeatedly exporting the same clip through several apps. Read the template guide if you want to understand which moments the prepared cut includes.
iPhone questions
Do I need to install an iPhone app?
No dedicated Tiny Desk Tools app is required. Use the website in your browser, select photos, sign in and generate. Social platforms may still require their own app for uploading or adding a sound from their licensed music library.
Where is the downloaded video on my phone?
Safari downloads normally appear in the Downloads folder in Files. Open Safari’s Downloads control to check progress or locate the item. Your configured download location can differ; if necessary, search Files for the downloaded MP4 before starting another generation.
Is the generated file 1080 × 1920?
No. The current output is 720 × 1280, a 9:16 vertical MP4. A 1080 × 1920 editing canvas is an optional publishing workflow. Enlarging the file does not create native 1080p detail, and you can normally keep the supplied vertical file for review and sharing.
Can I close Safari while it renders?
The job runs in the background after submission. Sign back in to the same account to see progress and download the result. Do not submit a second job merely because the browser moved away from the page; inspect your account first.
What should I do if the platform mutes the song?
Keep the silent download. Where available and permitted, upload it and select an appropriate sound from the platform’s own library. The generation purchase is separate from music rights; a song appearing in a library does not automatically authorize every commercial use.