Start with the machine in front of you. If the goal is to run a gif maker on this Windows PC today, use an install path. If the goal is to decide between this project and EZGIF, ShareX, or LICEcap, use a compare guide. If the goal is to stop encoding only in a browser, use the migrate notes. If the goal is one job such as webcam or export, use a howto. Home keeps the command at the gif maker home.
When a guide names a command, that command was checked against microsoft/winget-pkgs and the ScreenToGif README on 2026-09-02. Release numbers are not typed here. The current release is injected at build from GitHub. If a filename on GitHub Releases does not match the pattern in releases, wait and read the official list. If a search result wants a helper from Softonic or CNET, stop and use download safely instead.
How to pick a guide
Name the operating system and the next action in one sentence. Install on this Windows PC. See how this project differs from EZGIF. Stop uploading clips to a browser encoder. Record a webcam take. If you can say that sentence, open the matching URL below. If you cannot, read the section intros, then pick the shortest match. One official channel is enough. Mixing winget and a portable folder on the same PC is how two copies fight.
A useful second test: is the job live capture, a file you already have, or a scale pass. Live capture is this project. A file in the browser may be EZGIF at ezgif.com. Scale of a live window is a tighter record. The compare guides say that without inventing a rank.
Keep these URLs indexed
These paths already exist and stay indexed. They cover the daily command, GitHub, Windows, a safe fetch, winget, EZGIF, convert, make, and resize.
- Home, definition, winget command, Windows steps.
- Releases, which Setup MSI or portable zip to take.
- Windows, .NET 9 Desktop Runtime, MSI, winget.
- GitHub, repo NickeManarin/ScreenToGif, MS-PL.
- Download safely, GitHub or winget, skip wrappers.
- How to install winget, App Installer, then the package id.
- Versus EZGIF, web encoder versus Windows recorder.
- Gif converter, video to gif on this PC.
- Make a gif, screen, webcam, or sketchboard.
- Gif resizer, tighter region or a web scaler.
winget install -e --id NickeManarin.ScreenToGifInstall, compare, migrate, and howto
Each title is its own URL. Install guides assume Windows. Compare guides link the vendor site they checked on 2026-09-02. Migrate means download the gif you already made, then record new clips. There is no file importer. Howto pages walk one job.
- Install a gif maker on Windows
- Gif maker portable or setup
- Gif maker vs ShareX
- Gif maker vs LICEcap
- Switch from browser gif tools
- Is a gif maker safe
- Gif maker webcam
- Gif maker FFmpeg
- Record a gif on Windows
- Export gif, apng, video
- Gif maker light or full
Cluster notes next to the guides
Supporting cluster URLs sit beside that list. Releases answers which file. This computer is the requirements map, including .NET 9 Desktop Runtime. Web encoders is the migrate page for browser tools. Legal pages are separate.
| If you have | Open | Official path |
|---|---|---|
| A Windows 10 or 11 PC | Windows install or winget | winget id, or x64 setup from GitHub |
| A choice between zip and MSI | portable or setup | Full MSI is the default take |
| EZGIF already in the browser | versus EZGIF or move off web encoders | ezgif.com for EZGIF; winget for this project |
| Need the current asset name | releases | Setup MSI, portable, light, MSIX |
| This computer, mixed questions | this computer | .NET 9 Desktop Runtime, App Installer, architecture |
| Need runtime detail | this computer | Microsoft .NET 9 Desktop Runtime or above |
Publisher notes: about. Editorial practice: editorial policy. Contact, privacy, and advertising disclosure complete the legal set.
Commands those guides share
Windows install is one line. GitHub Releases is the file host for the same product. The README does not list brew, snap, flatpak, apt, Docker, Mac, or Android packages. These notes do not add unofficial install slugs for those. After install, first hour is a short recording of a throwaway window, then an export you can play. Webcam, FFmpeg, record, and export have their own howtos. Light versus full sits on its own URL.
Brand homepage remains screentogif.com. Files still come from GitHub. Issues: ScreenToGif issues. Wiki: wiki.
Install by operating system
Step-by-step installs with the exact command or file for each system.
- Install on Windows Install a free gif maker on Windows with the official winget command or the GitHub x64 setup MSI. Local capture, MS-PL, current release.
- Portable or setup Choose the gif maker setup MSI or the portable zip on GitHub Releases. Winget wraps the full x64 MSI. Light files sit on the same tag.
Comparisons
This app against the other tools people ask about.
Switch and import
Move existing files into this tool.
Setup and security
Extension, CLI, self-hosting and how the security model works.
- Is it safe A Windows gif maker is safe when the file comes from GitHub Releases or winget. Skip Softonic and CNET. The license is MS-PL on LICENSE.txt in the repo. No account.
- Webcam capture Record a webcam clip with a Windows gif maker, then edit and export a gif. README names webcam next to screen and sketchboard capture.
- FFmpeg Point a Windows gif maker at FFmpeg to export MP4 or WebM and to import video. Gif and APNG can still save without that encoder.
- Record on Windows Record a selected Windows screen area with a gif maker, edit frames, and export a gif. Pick screen, webcam, or sketchboard, then stop.
- Export gif, APNG, video Export gif, APNG, video, PSD, or PNG from a Windows gif maker. Video needs FFmpeg. Files stay on the PC you used. No account required.
- Light or full Pick light or full gif maker files on GitHub Releases. Full x64 setup MSI is the default. Light omits the bundled .NET runtime bits.
Frequently asked questions
Where should I start with these gif maker guides?
Install on Windows if the PC is in front of you. Compare vs EZGIF if you already encode in a browser. Download-safe if a search result looks like a wrapper. Home keeps the winget command.
Are these gif maker guides a second download?
No. They are install and compare notes. The app still comes from GitHub Releases or winget id NickeManarin.ScreenToGif.
Do the guides cover Mac or Android?
No. Assets on the current GitHub tag are Windows MSI, zip, and MSIX. README does not list a Mac package or an Android package. Stay on the Windows paths above.