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How to face swap a video with AI (and do it responsibly)

Put yourself into a TikTok or Reel with AI: the steps, what makes a good source clip, what it costs, and the consent rules that matter.

8 November 2026 · 8 min read

The trend is everywhere: a viral clip plays exactly as before, but the person in it is now you. Modern AI face swap models replace the people in a video while keeping the scene, the camera moves and the original sound. Here’s how to do it well, what it costs, and the rules you shouldn’t break.

Two kinds of video face swap

TypeWhat it doesBest for
Recast (replace in place)Swaps the people in the clip and keeps the scene and audioTrends, skits, reaction clips
Motion transferYour photo performs the clip’s movementDances, single-person moves

Step by step

  1. Pick the clip. 5–30 seconds, one or two clearly visible people, no single shot longer than about 15 seconds.
  2. Take a good selfie. Front-facing, even light, no sunglasses, face filling a good part of the frame.
  3. Confirm consent. Only your own face, or someone who has agreed. No minors, no public figures.
  4. Check the price, then run it. A swap takes a few minutes.
  5. Finish it: trim, reframe to 9:16, add captions.

In Claude or ChatGPT

Prompt[attach selfie] Put me in this TikTok instead of the dancer: [link]. Use 768p and the first 6 seconds. Show me the price first.

The assistant imports the clip, checks its shots, quotes the credits and waits for your yes. The result shows in the chat and is saved to your library with an “AI-generated” label.

What it costs

Face swaps are priced per second: on Typeshoot, 60 credits a second at 768p and 90 at 1080p (motion transfer is 34). A 5-second test at 768p is 300 credits; start there before doing a longer clip.

Getting a better result

  • Choose clips where the face is large and well lit; tiny or turned-away faces swap poorly.
  • Avoid fast cuts in the first try; a single continuous shot is most stable.
  • Match roughly: similar hair length and face shape look more natural.
  • Use 768p for tests and 1080p for the version you post.

The rules: consent, labels and copyright

Putting someone into a video without their consent can be illegal, and sexual or deceptive deepfakes are illegal in many countries. Use your own face or people who said yes.
  • Consent: Typeshoot asks you to confirm it before every swap.
  • No minors or public figures, in any context.
  • Label it: TikTok, YouTube and Instagram require labels for realistic AI-altered video. Typeshoot marks swaps visibly and in the file’s metadata.
  • The source clip belongs to its creator. Personal, transformative use is one thing; passing their performance off as yours is another.

See our acceptable use policy for the full list.

Try a face swap on a 5-second clip

Typeshoot adds image, video, voice and editing tools to Claude, ChatGPT and other assistants. 100 free credits to start, no card needed.

Get 100 free credits

Frequently asked questions

Is it legal to face swap a video?

Swapping in your own face, or someone who agreed, for personal or creative use is generally fine. Using someone else’s face without consent, minors, sexual content or content meant to deceive can be illegal and breaks most platforms’ rules.

How long can the video be?

Most face swap models work on 5–30 second clips, with each continuous shot under about 15 seconds. Longer videos can be trimmed first.

Does it keep the original audio?

Recast-style swaps keep the scene and the original sound and only replace the people.

How much does a face swap cost?

With Typeshoot, 60 credits per second at 768p or 90 at 1080p, so a 5-second test is 300 credits.

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