Convert PNG to GIF on Mac.

Local file processing, by renaming the file in Finder. No converter window and no upload queue.

Finder rename

report.pngreport.gif

How the rename works

  1. 1

    Start with report.png

    Put the PNG file in a folder RenameTo watches, such as Desktop or Downloads.

  2. 2

    Rename it to report.gif

    In Finder, change .png to .gif, then press Return. The rename is the command.

  3. 3

    Find the GIF beside it

    RenameTo produces the requested output and keeps a restorable backup of the original.

What happens under the hood

RenameTo reads the PNG with the appropriate local macOS media or document framework, then writes a new GIF beside it. The file itself is not sent to a conversion server.

About the formats

PNG is a lossless image format with transparency, suited to screenshots and graphics. GIF is a broadly supported image format that can contain animation.

Questions, answered

Does my file get uploaded anywhere?

No. File processing happens on your Mac. RenameTo does use the network for license validation, trial activation, and update checks, but your source files are not part of those requests.

What happens to the original PNG file?

RenameTo keeps a backup before processing. Undo restores the original alongside a format-changing output and does not delete that output. If the original name is already occupied, the restored copy gets “(restored)” in its name.

Can I convert a whole folder?

Yes. Rename multiple selected files in Finder and RenameTo queues each supported conversion, with a separate result and backup for every file.

Can I run the same conversion from a script?

Yes. The CLI command is: renameto gif *.png

Related conversions

Convert PNG to AVIF

report.png → report.avif

Convert PNG to BMP

report.png → report.bmp

Convert PNG to HEIC

report.png → report.heic

Convert PNG to ICNS

report.png → report.icns

Convert 3GP to GIF

report.3gp → report.gif

Convert Sony ARW to GIF

report.arw → report.gif

Convert AVI to GIF

report.avi → report.gif

Convert AVIF to GIF

report.avif → report.gif

Looking for another format? Browse every conversion.