What is a live wallpaper on iPhone?
A live wallpaper is a short, looping animation that plays on your Lock Screen. On iOS 17 and later, you set one from a Live Photo: the motion plays each time you wake your iPhone, then settles on a still frame.
Apple removed the old press-and-hold live wallpapers years ago, and brought motion back to the Lock Screen through Live Photos. That's the format DailyThemes uses. Every live wallpaper in the app is exported as a Live Photo, sized and framed for your screen, so the clock and widgets sit on a calm part of the image instead of on top of the subject.
How to set a live wallpaper from DailyThemes
Save it from DailyThemes, then set it from Photos. The whole thing takes about ten seconds.
- In DailyThemes, open a live wallpaper and tap Save. It's saved to Photos as a Live Photo.
- Open Photos. Your new Live Photo is the newest one at the bottom of Library; LIVE shows at the top when you open it.
- Tap Share, scroll down and tap Use as Wallpaper. Keep Live turned on at the bottom-left.
- Tap Add, then Set as Wallpaper Pair, or customize the Home Screen separately.
Why doesn't the app set it for me? iOS doesn't allow any App Store app to change your wallpaper directly. DailyThemes does the heavy lifting (sizing, framing, saving) and shows you exactly where to tap.
Live wallpapers vs still wallpapers
Both are great; they suit different moods. Here's how they compare on iPhone:
| Live wallpaper | Still wallpaper | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it moves | Lock Screen, when you wake the phone | Never |
| Home Screen | Shows the still frame | Shows the image |
| File type | Live Photo | Photo (JPEG/HEIC) |
| Low Power Mode | Pauses motion, shows still frame | No change |
| Depth effect behind the clock | Depends on the image | Depends on the image |
| Best for | A small moment of motion | Maximum sharpness and calm |
What kinds of live wallpapers are there?
The live gallery leans cozy and atmospheric: falling snow over a cabin, auroras drifting across a night sky, gold dust, embers, frost spreading across glass. New ones are added regularly, and some days the Daily Drop is a live one. In December, The Season adds Christmas live wallpapers behind the advent doors.
Can I turn my own video into a live wallpaper?
Yes. The DailyThemes Maker converts a video, a Live Photo or a still photo into a looping live wallpaper.
Trim to the best few seconds, add an effect, and export as a Live Photo ready for your Lock Screen: 1080p on the free plan, 4K with Pro. See how the live wallpaper maker works.
Tips for live wallpapers that look great
- Keep motion slow. Gentle loops feel premium; fast motion feels busy every time you pick up your phone.
- Watch the clock area. Wallpapers in DailyThemes keep the top third calm so the time stays readable.
- Match the Home Screen. Use the still frame on your Home Screen and pair it with a theme pack so icons and widgets pick up its colors.
Frequently asked questions
Do live wallpapers work on iOS 17 and iOS 18?
Yes. From iOS 17, a Live Photo set as your Lock Screen wallpaper plays its motion when you wake your iPhone. DailyThemes saves every live wallpaper in that format.
Why is my live wallpaper not moving?
Check that Live was on when you set it (bottom-left in the wallpaper editor), and that Low Power Mode is off. Low Power Mode pauses motion and shows the still frame.
Do live wallpapers drain the battery?
The motion only plays briefly when you wake the phone, then stops on a still frame, so the effect on battery is small.
Do live wallpapers move on the Home Screen?
No. iOS plays Live Photo motion on the Lock Screen only. Your Home Screen shows the still frame.
Do live wallpapers work on iPad?
They play each time you wake your iPad on supported models. If Live is greyed out, iPadOS sets the still poster frame instead.
Are the live wallpapers free?
Some are free, and the Daily Drop is free for 24 hours whenever it's a live one. DailyThemes Pro unlocks every premium live wallpaper.