About 3 seconds. An iPhone camera Live Photo captures roughly 1.5 seconds before and after you take the photo. If you make one from a video, keep it between 1 and 3 seconds so it plays reliably as a lock screen wallpaper.
| Type | Typical length |
|---|---|
| iPhone camera Live Photo | About 3 seconds |
| Best for a Lock Screen wallpaper | 1–3 seconds |
| Made from a video in an app | Can be longer, but may not animate as wallpaper |
How long can a Live Photo be?
Live Photos taken with the iPhone camera are about 3 seconds long: roughly 1.5 seconds before and 1.5 seconds after you press the shutter. You can’t make the camera record a longer one.
Can a Live Photo made from a video be longer?
Apps can create longer ones, and they’ll play in Photos, but long Live Photos often won’t animate as a lock screen wallpaper. For a wallpaper, 1–3 seconds is the safe range.
Can I shorten a Live Photo?
Yes. In Photos, open the Live Photo, tap Edit, then tap the Live Photo button. Drag the ends of the frame strip to trim it, and tap Done.
What’s the shortest useful Live Photo?
About 1 second. Anything shorter barely registers as motion.
Related: how to turn a video into a Live Photo and setting a Live Photo wallpaper.
Last updated October 31, 2026