You get 3 free conversions every month. Pro is US$2.99 per month for unlimited conversions, and you can cancel anytime. Local price varies by App Store region.

How to turn any video into a live wallpaper on iPhone

Works on iOS 17 and later · Takes about 3 minutes

Your lock screen can play a real moment you filmed: your dog jumping into a lake, a wave breaking, city lights at night. iOS only accepts Live Photos as animated wallpapers though, not regular videos. Here is how to convert any video into one and set it up.

What you need

An iPhone on iOS 17 or later, a video in your camera roll, and the EasyLive app (free to try, 3 conversions a month). The whole process runs on your phone, nothing gets uploaded.

Here is the whole flow in 15 seconds:

Step by step

Pick a video

Open EasyLive and choose any video from your camera roll. Longer clips are fine, you will trim next.

Trim to the best moment

Drag the frame-level timeline to the exact moment you want, and pick a cover frame. The cover frame is what your lock screen shows when it is not animating, so choose a frame that stands on its own.

Tap Create

EasyLive converts the clip and saves it to your Photos library as a Live Photo. The conversion is passthrough, so there is no quality loss and no watermark.

Set it as your wallpaper

Go to Settings › Wallpaper › Add New Wallpaper › Photos, select your new Live Photo, then set it as your Lock Screen. You can also long-press the lock screen and tap the plus button to get to the same place.

Good to know: iOS plays roughly 1.5 seconds of motion when you wake the screen. That is an Apple limit and it is the same for every app, which is exactly why trimming to the right moment in step 2 matters.

FAQ

Why does my lock screen only play about 1.5 seconds?

That is an Apple limit built into iOS, the same for every app. Pick the moment carefully and it feels intentional rather than cut off.

Does a live wallpaper loop all the time?

No. It plays once each time you wake the screen, then settles on your cover frame, so the battery impact is minimal.

Will converting reduce my video quality?

No. EasyLive uses passthrough conversion, so the video track keeps its original bitrate and sharpness.

Does my video get uploaded anywhere?

No. Everything runs on-device. No upload, no account, no sign-in.

Can I use a video someone sent me?

Yes, as long as it is saved to your Photos library first. Save it from the chat app, then pick it in EasyLive.

Try it with your own video

EasyLive is free to try with 3 conversions a month. On-device, no ads, no account.

iOS 17+ · Pro US$2.99 / month, cancel anytime