Without ruining the handy home screen widgets you can create with apps like Widgetsmith on your iPhone, many customizations start with eye-catching wallpapers. However, some users prefer to use a live wallpaper app on their iPhone to apply a live wallpaper instead of a static background that can be animated on the lock screen by simply pressing it. It adds a new dimension to the iPhone lock screen. If you’re like me, there’s a good chance you’re looking for an easy way to set a GIF as live wallpaper on your iPhone. So, if that’s the case, let me set it up for you right away!
iPhone: How to set GIF as live wallpaper
When you set Live Photo (3-second motion image) as your iPhone’s wallpaper, it will show an animation on the lock screen when you long-press it. However, this is not the case with GIFs because iOS automatically converts them into still images before setting them as wallpaper. That’s why we start by using a third-party app to convert GIFs to live wallpapers to keep the animations.
Another thing worth remembering is device compatibility. Live Photo is supported on iPhone 6s and later, iPad 5 and later, iPad Air 3 and later, iPad mini 5 and later, and iPad Pro 2016 and later. So, before proceeding, make sure your device is compatible with this feature.
Directory
- Use apps on iPhone to convert GIFs to live wallpapers
- Use GIPHY to set GIFs as live wallpaper on iPhone
iPhone set GIF as live wallpaper tutorial: Convert GIF to live wallpaper with App
1. First, head to the App Store and install PicCollage’s Convert – GIF & Live Wallpaper app (free) on your iPhone. After that, launch the app, move to the GIF tab, and import the desired GIF from your photo library.
2. Next, use the trimming tool to remove any unwanted parts and tap on the download button at the bottom right corner of the screen.
3. Next, from the pop-up window that appears, select the “Live Photo” option under the “Save As” section. Then, select the “High Resolution” option and hit the “Save” button. This step will convert your GIF into a Live Photo, which you can then use as a wallpaper on your iPhone.
3. How do I set a GIF as live wallpaper on my iPhone? Next, open the Photos app on your iPhone and navigate to the Live Photo you just saved. Alternatively, go to the Albums tab -> Live Photo Album. Then, tap the share button in the bottom left corner and select “Use as wallpaper” in the share sheet.
4. On the next screen, tap the “Settings” button in the bottom right corner of the screen, then select “Set as lock screen”, “Set as home screen”, or “Set as both” depending on your preference.
So, yes, there you have it! Going forward, when you long-press the iPhone screen, the GIF you apply as a live wallpaper will animate on the lock screen. See what the animated wallpaper looks like on the lock screen here:
Use GIPHY to set GIFs as live wallpaper on iPhone
Set GIF as Live Wallpaper for iPhone Tutorial: If you like GIFs, you’ll want to have a wide variety of animated images at your disposal. This way, you can explore popular GIFs and set your preferred GIF as live wallpaper on your iPhone instantly.
For this exact purpose, please look at “GIPHY”. In addition to providing a large number of GIFs, the app also lets you convert animated images into live photos. This means that you can use it as a live wallpaper on your device. Since the app is available for free, you don’t need to spend any money to customize your iOS lock/home screen.
1. To get started, download the GIPHY app (free) on your iPhone (supported by iOS 13 and later). After that, launch the app and find the GIF you want to set as the live wallpaper on your iOS device. To make sure the wallpaper looks cool, I recommend choosing a vertical GIF.
2. Once you have found the GIF you want, open it and tap on the three-dot icon in the top right corner of the screen.
3. Next, select the “Convert to Live Photo” option from the pop-up menu.
4. Next, you have two options:
- Save as Live Photo (full screen): It crops the GIF to make sure it covers the entire display of your iPhone.
- Save as Live Photo (for screen): When you convert it to a Live Photo, it will add a back bar to the GIF to cover the screen.
5. Now, select the preferred option and tap “Save to Camera Roll” in the pop-up menu.
6. How do I set a GIF as live wallpaper on my iPhone? Next, open the Photos app and navigate to the Live Photo you just saved (Albums tab -> Live Photos) and tap the Share button. After that, select “Use as wallpaper” in the sharing table.
6. Now, tap on “Settings” at the bottom right corner of the screen and choose to set it as your lock screen, home screen, or set your home screen and lock screen wallpaper at the same time.
Nothing more! You have successfully set a funny GIF as your live wallpaper on your iOS device. The Stock Photos app also provides an intuitive way to convert Live Photos to GIFs. I hope it adds a similar tool to convert GIFs sooner.
iPhone set GIF as live wallpaper tutorial
So, this concludes our guide on how to use animated images as live wallpapers. Now that you know how this trick works, you can make the most of it to personalize your device. After all, your iPhone deserves a more vivid lock screen wallpaper. Brilliant tricks to change the wallpaper of your iPad or iPhone with just one tap, and you can easily switch to your favorite wallpaper. By the way, do you have any questions or feedback to share about this guide? If yes, be sure to let us know in the comments section below.
