Quick answer: On iOS 17 or later, touch and hold the Lock Screen, tap +, tap Photos, pick a Live Photo, make sure the Live Photo button is on, then tap Add. It plays each time you wake your iPhone.
Set a Live Photo as your wallpaper
- Touch and hold the Lock Screen. Unlock with Face ID or Touch ID, then touch and hold the Lock Screen until the wallpaper gallery opens.
- Add a new wallpaper. Tap the + button, then tap Photos.
- Pick your Live Photo. Choose the Live Photo. Use the Live Photos album to find it faster.
- Turn on Live Photo. Make sure the Live Photo button at the bottom of the screen is on. If it shows “Motion not available”, see the fixes below.
- Add it. Tap Add, then choose Set as Wallpaper Pair or Customize Home Screen.
You can also start from the Photos app: open the Live Photo, tap Share, then tap Use as Wallpaper.
Don’t have a Live Photo yet? Turn any video into one, or start from a GIF or a TikTok.
Fixing “Motion not available”
This message means iOS won’t animate that Live Photo as a wallpaper. Try these, in order:
- Turn off Low Power Mode. iOS disables wallpaper motion while it’s on. Check Settings › Battery.
- Use a shorter clip. Long Live Photos, such as some saved from social apps, often aren’t accepted. Trim to 1–3 seconds.
- Pick a different moment. Clips with very fast motion or big camera shakes are more likely to be rejected. A steadier moment often works.
- Zoom out. Pinching in a lot when positioning the photo can turn motion off. Reset the crop and try again.
- Check Reduce Motion. If Settings › Accessibility › Motion › Reduce Motion is on, turn it off and try again.
- Restart and update. Restart your iPhone and install the latest iOS update.
Apple doesn’t publish the exact rules for which Live Photos can move, so if one clip won’t work, trimming a different few seconds is often the quickest fix.
Which iPhones support it?
Any iPhone that runs iOS 17 or later can use a Live Photo as an animated Lock Screen wallpaper. iOS 16 can set a Live Photo as wallpaper, but it won’t move.
Tips for a wallpaper that looks good
- Leave space for the clock. Choose a clip where the subject sits in the lower two-thirds.
- Pick a calm cover frame. It’s what you see on the Home Screen and after the motion ends.
- Fill the screen. Vertical clips, or clips cropped to 9:16, avoid black bars.
Frequently asked questions
Do Live Photo wallpapers still work?
Yes, on iOS 17 and later. iOS 16 dropped animated Live Photo wallpapers when it introduced the new Lock Screen; iOS 17 brought them back. The Live Photo plays briefly when you wake your iPhone.
Does the Live Photo move on the Home Screen?
No. Only the Lock Screen animates. The Home Screen shows the still cover frame.
Do I need to press and hold the screen?
No. On iOS 17 and later the Live Photo plays on its own when you wake the iPhone.
Does a Live Photo wallpaper drain the battery?
It plays for a moment each time you wake your iPhone, so the impact is small. When Low Power Mode is on, iOS turns the motion off.
Last updated October 31, 2026