Live Photos on Android
Android phones don’t take Apple’s Live Photos, but Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy phones have the same idea under another name: Motion Photos on Pixel and Motion photo on Galaxy. Both save a short moment of movement with the picture.
Turn on Motion Photos on a Google Pixel
- Open the Camera app.
- At the bottom left, tap Settings.
- Set Motion Photos to Auto or On.
These are Google’s steps for Pixel 10 and later. To share the movement as a regular video, for example with a friend on iPhone, tap More, then Export, Video and Export.
Turn on Motion photo on a Samsung Galaxy
- Open the Camera app and tap PHOTO.
- Tap the Motion photo icon at the top of the screen; it looks like a play button. You can also find it by tapping the Quick controls icon (the four dots) and swiping left.
- Take the picture.
- Open it in Gallery and tap View motion photo to play it. The menu in the top right adds effects such as Boomerang and Slow-mo, and can also turn off Motion photo for that picture.
To change how much it records, tap the Quick controls icon, then the Settings icon, then Advanced picture options and Motion photo capture, and choose Before and after shutter or Before shutter only. For comparison, an iPhone Live Photo always records 1.5 seconds before and after the picture.
When an iPhone sends a Live Photo to Android
Apple says devices and services that don’t support Live Photos get a still photo, so a friend on Android usually sees just the picture. A Live Photo sent by Mail always arrives as a still, whoever gets it. To send the movement, turn the Live Photo into a video first: open it in Photos, tap the More button and tap Save as Video, then send the video. Apple suggests exactly this for sharing with people who aren’t on Apple devices. More in how to save a Live Photo as a video.
Moving from iPhone to Android? Google says the Google Photos app on iPhone can back up Live Photos.
Is Tada on Android?
No. Tada is an iPhone app only, for iOS 26 or later; there’s no Android or web version. On iPhone it makes any photo in your camera roll move and saves it as a Live Photo. If you make one for a friend on Android, save it as a video before you send it.
Questions
Can Android phones take Live Photos?
Not Apple’s Live Photos. Google Pixel phones have Motion Photos and Samsung Galaxy phones have Motion photo, which save a short moment of movement with the picture.
Can I see an iPhone Live Photo on Android?
Usually only as a still, because Apple sends a still photo to devices that don’t support Live Photos. Ask the sender to save it as a video in Photos and send that.
Is Tada available on Android?
No. Tada is an iPhone app only.
Sources: Pixel Camera Help: Get a great photo every time with Top Shot (Motion Photos) · Samsung Support (US): Capture group shots with Motion photos on your Galaxy phone · iPhone User Guide: Share photos and videos on iPhone · iPhone User Guide: Edit Live Photos on iPhone · Apple Support: How to turn a Live Photo into a video on your iPhone · Apple Support: Take and edit Live Photos · Google Photos Help: Back up photos & videos (iPhone & iPad)