How to Get Animated Wallpapers on iPhone

Many iPhone users want to personalize their devices with animated wallpapers but often find it confusing how to set them up. This guide solves that problem by explaining the types of animated wallpapers available and how to enable them on your iPhone.

Animated wallpapers on iPhone include Live Photos and dynamic wallpapers that bring your home or lock screen to life. Developers and users use these features to enhance the visual appeal and make their devices more engaging.

What types of animated wallpapers are available on iPhone?

iPhones support two main types of animated wallpapers: Live Photos and dynamic wallpapers. Live Photos are short videos captured with your camera that animate when you press the screen. Dynamic wallpapers are built-in animated backgrounds that continuously move without user interaction.

Live Photos require a 3D Touch or Haptic Touch gesture to animate, which means they animate only on the lock screen when pressed. Dynamic wallpapers, on the other hand, are pre-installed animations that loop continuously on both the home and lock screens.

Additionally, iOS supports video wallpapers through third-party apps, but these are not natively supported by the system and require workarounds like converting videos to Live Photos. Understanding these types helps you choose the right animated wallpaper style for your iPhone model and iOS version.

How do you set a Live Photo as an animated wallpaper on iPhone?

To set a Live Photo as an animated wallpaper, you first need a Live Photo saved on your device. Live Photos can be captured with your iPhone camera or downloaded from apps and websites that provide them.

Once you have a Live Photo, open the Settings app, navigate to Wallpaper, then tap Choose a New Wallpaper. Select Live Photos from the options, pick your desired image, and set it as your lock screen wallpaper. The animation will play when you press and hold the lock screen.

Note that Live Photos only animate on the lock screen, not on the home screen. Also, ensure your iPhone supports 3D Touch or Haptic Touch to trigger the animation. This method is straightforward and uses native iOS features without requiring additional apps.

How do you use dynamic wallpapers on iPhone?

Dynamic wallpapers are pre-installed animated backgrounds that continuously move and add subtle motion to your iPhone’s home and lock screens. To use them, open the Settings app and go to Wallpaper, then tap Choose a New Wallpaper.

Select the Dynamic category to view available options. Tap on a dynamic wallpaper to preview it, then tap Set to apply it to your lock screen, home screen, or both. Dynamic wallpapers animate automatically without any user interaction.

Keep in mind that dynamic wallpapers may consume slightly more battery than static ones because of the continuous animation. They are supported on most modern iPhones running recent iOS versions. Using dynamic wallpapers is an easy way to add motion without needing custom images or apps.

What prerequisites are required for animated wallpapers on iPhone?

Compatible iPhone model: Live Photos and dynamic wallpapers require iPhone 6s or later models with 3D Touch or Haptic Touch support for full animation functionality.
Updated iOS version: Ensure your iPhone runs iOS 13 or later for the best animated wallpaper support and features.
Live Photo availability: You need Live Photos saved on your device to set them as animated wallpapers.
Battery considerations: Animated wallpapers may use more battery, so having sufficient charge or power management is important.
Third-party apps (optional): For video wallpapers or custom animations, you may need apps that convert videos to Live Photos.

Step-by-step guide to get animated wallpapers on iPhone

Step 1: Capture or download a Live Photo

Start by capturing a Live Photo using your iPhone camera or download one from a trusted source. Live Photos are essential for animated lock screen wallpapers.

Open Camera app → Select Photo mode → Ensure Live Photo icon is yellow → Capture photo

This command sequence captures a Live Photo. The yellow Live Photo icon indicates the feature is active, and the photo will include a short animation.

Step 2: Open Wallpaper settings

Navigate to your iPhone's wallpaper settings to choose a new wallpaper.

Settings app → Wallpaper → Choose a New Wallpaper

This path opens the wallpaper selection menu where you can pick from dynamic, stills, or your photo library.

Step 3: Select Live Photos or Dynamic wallpaper

Choose the type of animated wallpaper you want. For Live Photos, select the Live Photos album; for dynamic wallpapers, select Dynamic.

Tap 'Live Photos' or 'Dynamic' → Select desired wallpaper

This lets you preview and select the animated wallpaper you want to apply.

Step 4: Set the wallpaper

After selecting, tap Set and choose whether to apply the wallpaper to your lock screen, home screen, or both.

Tap 'Set' → Choose 'Set Lock Screen', 'Set Home Screen', or 'Set Both'

This applies the animated wallpaper to your chosen screen(s). Live Photos animate on lock screen only; dynamic wallpapers animate on both.

Step 5: Test the animated wallpaper

Lock your iPhone and press firmly (3D Touch) or long-press (Haptic Touch) on the lock screen to see the Live Photo animate. Dynamic wallpapers animate automatically.

Lock screen → Press and hold (Live Photo animation)

This confirms your animated wallpaper is working as expected.

What are common animated wallpaper errors and how do you fix them?

Live Photo not animating: This happens if you set a Live Photo as home screen wallpaper or your device lacks 3D/Haptic Touch. Fix by setting it only on the lock screen and ensuring your iPhone supports the feature.
Dynamic wallpaper not animating: Could be due to low power mode being enabled. Disable low power mode in Settings to restore animation.
Wallpaper resets after restart: Sometimes iOS resets wallpapers after updates or restarts. Reapply the wallpaper manually in settings.
Battery drains quickly: Animated wallpapers consume more battery. Switch to static wallpapers or reduce brightness to conserve power.
Third-party Live Photo conversion issues: Some apps may produce incompatible Live Photos. Use trusted apps and verify the Live Photo animates before setting it.

What are best practices when using animated wallpapers on iPhone?

Use Live Photos on lock screen only: Live Photos animate only on the lock screen, so avoid setting them as home screen wallpapers to prevent confusion.
Monitor battery usage: Animated wallpapers can increase battery drain; use them sparingly and disable when battery is low.
Choose subtle animations: Select wallpapers with gentle motion to avoid distraction and improve readability of icons and widgets.
Keep iOS updated: Regular updates improve wallpaper performance and fix bugs related to animations.
Backup custom Live Photos: Save your favorite Live Photos to iCloud or local storage to avoid losing them during device resets.

How do you create custom animated wallpapers for iPhone?

Creating custom animated wallpapers involves converting videos or GIFs into Live Photos that iOS supports. You can use third-party apps like "intoLive" or "VideoToLive" to convert your media files into Live Photos.

After conversion, save the Live Photo to your Photos app. Then follow the standard steps to set it as your lock screen wallpaper. This method allows you to personalize your iPhone with unique animations beyond the default options.

Be mindful of video length and resolution; shorter clips with moderate resolution work best for smooth playback and battery efficiency.

Can you use video wallpapers directly on iPhone?

iOS does not natively support setting videos as wallpapers directly. However, you can convert videos into Live Photos using third-party apps, then set those Live Photos as animated lock screen wallpapers.

This workaround is popular but has limitations: animations only play on the lock screen and require pressing the screen. Continuous video playback as wallpaper is not supported without jailbreaking or unsupported hacks.

For developers, this means relying on Live Photo format for animated wallpapers and educating users about iOS limitations.

Conclusion

Animated wallpapers on iPhone enhance your device’s look by adding motion through Live Photos or dynamic wallpapers. These features personalize your lock and home screens with engaging visuals that react to touch or animate continuously.

Developers and users should use Live Photos for animated lock screen wallpapers and dynamic wallpapers for subtle, always-on motion. Understanding prerequisites, setup steps, and troubleshooting ensures a smooth experience with animated wallpapers on iPhone.

FAQ

Can I use animated wallpapers on all iPhone models?

Animated wallpapers require iPhone 6s or later models with 3D Touch or Haptic Touch. Older models do not support Live Photo animations or dynamic wallpapers fully.

Do animated wallpapers affect iPhone battery life?

Yes, animated wallpapers consume more battery than static ones due to continuous or triggered animations. Use them sparingly and monitor battery usage.

Can I set Live Photos as home screen wallpapers?

Live Photos animate only on the lock screen. Setting them as home screen wallpapers will display a still image without animation.

Are there apps to create custom animated wallpapers?

Yes, apps like "intoLive" convert videos or GIFs into Live Photos, enabling custom animated wallpapers on iPhone lock screens.

Why does my dynamic wallpaper stop animating?

Dynamic wallpapers may stop animating if Low Power Mode is enabled or due to software glitches. Disabling Low Power Mode or restarting your iPhone usually fixes this.