How to set a live wallpaper on iPhone
Updated 2026-06-19
A live wallpaper turns your iPhone lock screen into a moving moment — press and hold and it plays, just like a Live Photo. Here's exactly how to set one, and how to get a fresh feed of 4K live wallpapers for free.
- 1
Save your Live Photo
In the 2Live app, open a wallpaper and tap “Save to Photo Library.” This is the only way to get the Live Photo — it's created and saved inside the app. Every wallpaper is free and 4K.
- 2
Open the Settings app
On your iPhone, open Settings and scroll down to Wallpaper.
- 3
Add a new wallpaper
Tap “Add New Wallpaper” to start a fresh lock screen.
- 4
Choose Photos as the source
Tap “Photos,” then switch to your library or the Live Photos album.
- 5
Find your Live Photo
Pick the one with the “LIVE” badge in the top-left corner — that badge means the motion is attached.
- 6
Position and preview
Drag to position the image, then press and hold to preview the animation.
- 7
Set it as your lock screen
Tap “Set as Wallpaper Pair” (or “Set as Lock Screen”) and make sure “Live” is enabled. Press and hold the lock screen anytime to watch it play.
Which iPhones support live wallpapers?
Live Photo lock-screen wallpapers work on iPhone models with iOS 16 or later — including the iPhone 15, 16 and 17 lineups. The motion plays when you press and hold the lock screen.
Note that live wallpapers play on the lock screen, not the home screen. The home screen uses the still frame of your Live Photo.
Frequently asked questions
Are live wallpapers free?
Yes. Every wallpaper in the 2Live For You feed is free to download in 4K, with a fresh set curated each week.
Do live wallpapers drain battery?
Minimal impact — the motion only plays when you actively press and hold the lock screen, not continuously, so day-to-day battery use is about the same as a still wallpaper.
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