Alex Ruben
How To Enable Live Wallpapers on iPhone iOS 18
Setting a live wallpaper on your iPhone can really make the device feel more alive, literally. But with iOS 18, Apple kinda changed things up a bit, so it’s not just about picking from your Photos anymore. Still, the good news is you can do it by using live photos—either ones you take yourself or download. It’s not rocket science, but there are a few traps, so here’s the scoop.
Step 1: Get a Live Photo—Capture or Download
First thing, you need a live photo. Without that, setting up a live wallpaper is basically impossible. You can snap one yourself or grab a ready-made one off the web.
- To Capture a Live Photo: Open the Camera app. Make sure the toggle for the live photo is on (it’s that concentric circles icon). Take your shot, and it’ll save as a live photo that’s marked properly in your Photos app.
- To Download a Live Photo: Use your browser and search for “live photo wallpaper.” Lots of sites offer free downloads—just make sure it’s a live photo, which you can usually tell because it’ll say “Live” in photo details. Save it to your Photos app, of course. On some phones, this can be a bit of a hassle, because not every download ends up with the live flag—so double-check.
Step 2: Get to Wallpaper Settings
Now that you’ve got your live photo ready, it’s time to set it as wallpaper. But to do that:
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap on Wallpaper.
- Choose Add New Wallpaper.
Because of course, Apple doesn’t make this as straightforward as it should be.
Step 3: Pick Your Live Photo
In the selection screen, you need to find your live photo—so tap on Live Photo. If it doesn’t show up or isn’t marked “Live,” it’s probably not set correctly. Tip: check in Photos that the photo really has that “Lived” icon or label. Also, if the icon for live is crossed-out or says “No,” it won’t animate on your lock screen.
Step 4: Adjust & Set
Once you choose your vibe, move the photo around to get the framing right. Zoom out if necessary—because weird cropping can ruin the whole effect. When you’re happy, tap on Done. Then, hit Set as Wallpaper Pair to make it work for both the lock and home screens. Again, not always foolproof—the timing can be tricky, and sometimes you need to restart because Apple likes to keep you on your toes.
Step 5: Test It Out
Lock your iPhone, then press and hold your lock screen. If all went well, it should animate and come alive. If not, double-check that your photo is properly saved as a live photo and that you selected the right setting.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
This is where it gets weird. Sometimes, even with a perfect live photo, the wallpaper won’t animate. Here’s what you might try:
- Make sure your live photo is actually flagged as “Live” in Photos—check the icon, not just the filename.
- On some devices, turning off and on the live photo toggle in Photos app can help; it’s kinda finicky.
- If it still isn’t working, restart your phone. Yeah, that old trick.
- Also, make sure your iOS version is up to date—because Apple keeps adding patches, and sometimes, older versions play hard to get.
One quirky thing I noticed—sometimes the “Set as Wallpaper” process fails the first time, then works after a reboot. Weird, but it’s iOS in a nutshell.
Conclusion
Figuring out how to set a live wallpaper on iOS 18 isn’t exactly straightforward—Apple’s interface is a bit janky here. Still, if you follow these steps and keep an eye on the live photo status, it’s doable. Just remember to keep your iOS updated because some of these issues get fixed down the line.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use any photo as a live wallpaper?
Nope, only photos that are actually live—meaning they were taken with the live photo feature or downloaded as live. Regular photos won’t animate no matter what.
What if my live wallpaper isn’t working?
Make sure it’s a proper live photo and that your settings are correct. Restarting sometimes helps, too. And check iOS updates—those patches are key.
Any good sites for live wallpapers?
Yeah, just search “live photo wallpaper,” but be picky. Not every download really saves as a live, and some might be junk. Stick to trusted sites or ones with good reviews.
Summary
- Ensure your live photo is saved properly and flagged as live.
- Follow the setup steps carefully—sometimes a reboot helps.
- Test it by pressing and holding your lock screen after setting.
- Keep iOS updated; Apple’s patches can fix lurking bugs.
Hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone. Good luck, and don’t get too frustrated if it takes a couple of tries.