How to send Live Photos on WhatsApp
For years, sending a Live Photo on WhatsApp silently flattened it into a still image. That changed in late 2025: WhatsApp now delivers Live Photos with their full motion and sound. Here is how it works, and how to send any video as a Live Photo too.
Sending a Live Photo you already have
Update WhatsApp
Live Photo support arrived in late 2025, so make sure WhatsApp is up to date from the App Store. On older versions, Live Photos still send as stills.
Attach it like any photo
Open a chat, tap the attach button, and pick a Live Photo from your library. Live Photos are sent live by default, and a Live badge appears on them in the picker. Tap the badge if you would rather send a still.
Send it
Your friend gets the photo with motion and sound. On iPhone they can press and hold it to play, just like in the Photos app.
Sending a normal video as a Live Photo
WhatsApp only treats actual Live Photos in your library as live. A regular video always sends as a video file. If you want a clip to land as a Live Photo (press and hold to play, with the clean photo-style bubble), convert it first:
Convert the video
Open EasyLive, pick the video, trim to the moment you want, and tap Create. It saves to your Photos library as a real Live Photo, with no quality loss and no watermark.
Send it in WhatsApp
Back in your chat, attach the new Live Photo from your library. The Live badge confirms it will send with motion.
FAQ
I do not see the Live badge. Why?
Either WhatsApp is not updated yet, the feature has not reached your account (it rolled out gradually), or the photo you picked is not actually a Live Photo. Check it in the Photos app first: a real Live Photo shows a Live badge in the top corner.
Does the sound send too?
Yes, Live Photos on WhatsApp carry both motion and audio.
Can I also use the converted Live Photo as a wallpaper?
Yes. The same Live Photo works as an animated lock screen wallpaper on iOS 17+. See our guide: How to turn any video into a live wallpaper.
Turn any video into a Live Photo
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
Related guides: How to turn any video into a live wallpaper · Where can you actually use Live Photos?