How to Get Live Wallpapers on iPhone

There are 4 ways to get live wallpapers on iPhone: use Apple's built-in presets (free, limited to ~20 images), use Lockimate to animate any photo (first free), use intoLive to convert a video clip, or download pre-made Live Photos from wallpaper apps.

All 4 methods require an iPhone XS or newer running iOS 16 or later. Live Photo wallpapers do not work on older devices, on iPad, or on iPhones still running iOS 15. Once you have one, see how to have a live wallpaper on iPhone for the exact setup steps.

Method 1: Apple's Built-In Live Photo Presets

Apple ships roughly 20 live wallpapers with iOS 16 and later. These are real Live Photos from Apple's own library — they animate on raise-to-wake with no setup beyond choosing them.

Steps:

Open Settings → Wallpaper
Tap Add New Wallpaper
Scroll to Live Photos or Weather & Astronomy
Pick any image — a preview shows the animation
Tap Add → Set as Both (or Lock Screen only)

The animation starts automatically. No additional toggle needed.

Pros: Free, instant, no apps required, guaranteed to work.
Cons: You're locked to Apple's selection. You cannot use your own photos. The library has not been significantly expanded since iOS 16 launch.

Stuck choosing from Apple's ~20 stock presets? Use a photo that actually means something to you instead — Lockimate animates it into a native Live Photo in about a minute.

Use my photo instead

Method 2: Lockimate — Animate Any Photo

Lockimate takes a still photo from your camera roll and uses AI to generate 1.5 seconds of looping motion, then saves it as a native Live Photo. Your first wallpaper is free.

Steps:

Download Lockimate from the App Store
Tap Choose Photo and select any image
Pick a vibe: Warm, Playful, Cinematic, or Lively
Tap Generate — processing takes 30–60 seconds
Tap Save to Camera Roll
Long-press your lock screen → Customize → Add New Wallpaper → Photos
Select the saved Live Photo and tap the Live badge in the top-left to confirm motion is on
Tap Done

Pros: Works with any photo, native Live Photo output, no workarounds required, animates on raise-to-wake.
Cons: Generation requires an internet connection. Pro ($3.99/month) required after the first free wallpaper.

The key advantage over every other third-party method: Lockimate writes a real Apple Live Photo (.heic + .mov). iOS treats it identically to a Live Photo taken with the camera, which means it survives iOS updates and doesn't require any app to stay installed. For the full creation walkthrough, see how to make a live wallpaper for iPhone.

Method 3: intoLive — Convert a Video You Already Have

intoLive converts an existing video clip from your camera roll into a Live Photo. It does not generate animation — you need to supply the video.

Steps:

Download intoLive (free with in-app purchases) from the App Store
Select a video from your camera roll — the app trims it to 1.5–3 seconds
Tap Convert → Save to Camera Roll as Live Photo
Set it as your lock screen wallpaper the same way as any Live Photo

Pros: Works with any video you already have, good for existing footage like a vacation clip or a video of your pet.
Cons: You must already have the video. The free tier limits resolution to 1080p and includes a watermark on some exports. Conversion quality depends on the source video.

Method 4: Wallpaper Apps With Pre-Made Live Photos

Several apps distribute pre-made Live Photo wallpapers you can download and set directly. Popular options include Vellum (iOS), Walli, and Live Wallpapers HD — compared in the best live wallpaper apps of 2026 roundup.

Steps:

Download a wallpaper app (Vellum, Walli, or similar)
Browse the live wallpaper category — look for the Live Photo badge, not video loops
Download your chosen wallpaper
The app typically prompts you to save to Camera Roll or set directly
If saved to Camera Roll, set it as lock screen via Settings → Wallpaper

Pros: No generation time, large libraries, some are free.
Cons: You're choosing from premade content, not your own photos. Quality varies significantly. Some apps label video loops as "live wallpapers" — these cannot be set as native lock screen wallpapers without workarounds.

Comparison: All 4 Methods

Method	Cost	Use Your Own Photo	Lock Screen Native	Setup Time
Apple presets	Free	No	Yes	Under 1 minute
Lockimate	Free (1st); Pro after	Yes	Yes	60–90 seconds
intoLive	Free tier; $2.99+ for full	Yes (video only)	Yes	2–4 minutes
Wallpaper apps	Free to $4.99/month	No	Only if true Live Photo	2–5 minutes

iOS and Device Requirements

Live Photo wallpapers are supported on:

iPhone XS, XS Max (iOS 16+)
iPhone XR (iOS 16+)
iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max (iOS 16+)
iPhone 12 series (iOS 16+)
iPhone 13 series (iOS 16+)
iPhone 14 series (iOS 16+)
iPhone 15 series (iOS 16+)
iPhone 16 series (iOS 18+)
iPhone SE 3rd generation (iOS 16+)

Not supported: iPhone SE 1st and 2nd generation, iPhone X, iPhone 8 and earlier, any iPad model.

FAQ

Can I use a GIF as a live wallpaper?

No. iOS does not support GIFs as live wallpapers. If an app claims to set a GIF as your wallpaper, it's either converting it to a Live Photo first (which some apps do automatically) or using a non-native method that may break after an iOS update. Lockimate generates a proper Live Photo, not a GIF.

Why does my live wallpaper not animate on the lock screen?

3 common causes: (1) Your device is iPhone X or older — Live Photo wallpapers require iPhone XS or newer. (2) You set it as a Home Screen wallpaper, not a Lock Screen wallpaper — Live Photos only animate on the lock screen. (3) The file saved as a still photo rather than a Live Photo — open Photos, find the image, and check for the Live badge in the top-left corner. If the badge is missing, re-save from the source app.

Does Low Power Mode affect live wallpaper animation?

Yes. iOS automatically disables Live Photo wallpaper animation when Low Power Mode is active to preserve battery. This is an iOS-level restriction. Disable Low Power Mode (Settings → Battery → Low Power Mode) to restore animation.

Are live wallpapers available on iPad?

No. As of iPadOS 17, Apple has not extended Live Photo wallpaper support to iPad. You can set a still photo from a Live Photo as your iPad wallpaper, but it will not animate.