How to set a Live Photo as your iPhone wallpaper
Go to Settings, tap Wallpaper, then Add New Wallpaper, Photos and Live Photo, and pick one. With its Live Photo button on, it plays on your Lock Screen whenever you wake your iPhone.
Set a Live Photo as your Lock Screen
- Open Settings and tap Wallpaper.
- Tap Add New Wallpaper, then Photos.
- Tap Live Photo, then tap the Live Photo you want.
- Make sure the Live Photo button is on, so it plays when you wake your iPhone. Pinch and drag with two fingers to place it.
- Tap Add, then Set as Wallpaper Pair. To give the Home Screen a different wallpaper, tap Customize Home Screen instead.
You can also start from the Lock Screen itself: touch and hold it, tap the add button to make a new Lock Screen, and choose a photo.
Switch or remove it later
You can keep several Lock Screens. Press the side button, touch and hold the Lock Screen until Customize appears, then swipe to the one you want and tap it. To delete one, swipe to it, swipe up, tap the Trash button, then Delete This Wallpaper.
You can also link a Lock Screen to a Focus, so your wallpaper switches when that Focus turns on. To browse candidates first, open Photos, tap Collections, scroll to Media Types and tap Live Photos. Touch and hold one to see how it moves.
If it doesn’t move
- Check the Live Photo button. Touch and hold the Lock Screen, tap Customize and make sure the Live Photo button is on.
- Try another Live Photo. Apple says the motion works when the Live Photo can be translated into slow motion, so not every one qualifies.
- Make sure it’s really a Live Photo. Videos and GIFs need converting first; see video to Live Photo and GIF to Live Photo.
- Wake the iPhone to see it. Apple describes Live Photo wallpaper as a Lock Screen feature that plays when you wake your device.
No Live Photo you love?
Any photo can become one. Open Tada, tap Make it Live, pick the photo, choose how it moves and tap Save. It goes to Photos as a real Live Photo, so you can pick it in the steps above. Tada’s Live Photos are about 3 seconds, like the ones your camera takes. Breathe and Puff are free and made on your phone in about a second. As with any Live Photo, if it doesn’t play on the Lock Screen, try a different one.
Questions
Can you set a Live Photo as your wallpaper on iPhone?
Yes. In Settings, tap Wallpaper, Add New Wallpaper, Photos, then Live Photo, and choose one. It plays on the Lock Screen when you wake your iPhone.
Why is my Live Photo wallpaper not moving?
Check that the Live Photo button is on when you customize it. Apple says the motion works with Live Photos that can be translated into slow motion, so if one won’t play, try another.
Can I use a video as a live wallpaper?
Not directly. Apple’s steps use a Live Photo, so turn the video into a Live Photo first with an app such as TikTok or a converter.
Sources: Apple Support: Set a Live Photo as your Lock Screen wallpaper on your iPhone · iPhone User Guide: Create a custom iPhone Lock Screen · iPhone User Guide: Change the wallpaper on iPhone · iPhone User Guide: Locate photos and videos by media type