Tutorial

How to Do the Popstar AI Trend, Step by Step

To do the Popstar AI trend, you upload one clear photo to an AI video generator, which puts you in Justin Bieber's role in DJ Khaled and Drake's 2020 'POPSTAR' video. It returns a vertical 9:16 or wide 16:9 clip in minutes that you post on TikTok, Instagram Reels or YouTube Shorts.

Updated

Five steps to your own POPSTAR clip

Plan on about five minutes plus render time. No editing app is needed.

01

Choose a photo that the AI can read

Use a recent, sharp photo of one person, facing the camera, with even light and no sunglasses. A head-and-shoulders crop works best. Skip filters, heavy beauty effects and group shots.

02

Open the generator and upload it

Go to the Popstar AI homepage, tap the upload box and pick your file. JPG, PNG and WEBP all work. Confirm you own the photo or have the person's permission.

03

Set the length and format

Standard clips run 5, 10 or 15 seconds; Extended clips go up to 30. Shorter clips cost fewer credits and fit a TikTok loop; longer ones carry more of the verse. Choose vertical 9:16 for TikTok and Reels, or wide 16:9 like the original.

04

Render and review

Start the render and keep the tab open. When it finishes, watch the clip once with sound on to check the face and lip-sync before you download it.

05

Post it with the right caption

Download the MP4 and upload it to TikTok, Reels or Shorts. Most creators copy the Neymar post and write 'Lil' plus their name.

How to do the Popstar AI trend: photo tips that save credits

Most failed clips come from the photo, not the tool. Faces that are small, turned away, covered by hair or hands, or lit from one side give the AI too little to copy. If the first render looks off, change the photo before you change anything else. In short, this is how to do the Popstar AI trend with one clear photo and no editing skills.

Keep the background simple. A plain wall behind you helps the model tell you apart from the background.

What to do if the clip looks wrong

Check three things in order. First the photo: is the face large, straight-on and sharp? Second the length: very long clips give small errors more time to show. Third the lighting: harsh shadows across the face often turn into flicker.

If a render is blocked by the safety check, you will see a message and you are not charged. Public figures, minors and other people's photos without consent are the usual reasons.

Posting tips for TikTok and Reels

Post the file as it is. Re-cropping a finished video lowers quality, so pick the format that matches the app before you render. Add a short hook caption, keep the original song audio, and use the platform's own AI label if it asks you to mark generated content.

Platforms update their AI rules often, so check the current policy in the app before you post.

06 Β· FAQ

Popstar AI Questions

Popstar AI is a browser tool that turns one photo into a vertical video where you play the popstar in DJ Khaled and Drake's 'POPSTAR' music video. It needs no app, editing skills or prompt.

Choose one sharp photo, upload it on the homepage, pick a length from 5 to 30 seconds, render, and post the MP4. The five steps above walk through each choice and the common mistakes.

It has not been disclosed. News coverage of his October 2, 2026 Instagram post says only that it was made with AI. This tutorial does not rely on any specific tool he may have used.

Not at the moment: there is no free preview or free tier. A 5-second clip costs 7 credits, the finished file has no watermark, and a failed render gives the credits back.

If you want control of clip length and format without a subscription, Popstar AI is built for that. See the Summrs comparison page for a fuller breakdown.

Yes. Your own selfie is the intended input. A friend's photo is fine only with their permission, and photos of celebrities or children are not accepted.

Allow a few minutes. Busy periods can take longer, so leave the tab open and avoid starting a second render for the same photo.

Ready to Star in Your Own POPSTAR Video?

Upload one photo you own, pick your length, and download a vertical or wide clip for TikTok or Reels.