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
Download a live wallpaper
Open the 2Live app and tap any wallpaper in the For You feed to save it to your Photos as a Live Photo. Every wallpaper is free and 4K.
- 2
Open Settings → Wallpaper
On your iPhone, open Settings, tap Wallpaper, then tap Add New Wallpaper.
- 3
Choose your Live Photo
Pick Photos, switch to the Live Photos album, and select the wallpaper you saved. Make sure the Live Photo toggle (the circular icon) is turned on.
- 4
Set it as your lock screen
Tap Add, then Set as Wallpaper Pair. Press and hold the lock screen to watch it come alive.
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.
Related collections
Get thousands of free 4K live wallpapers
Download 2Live free