You cannot make a video a live photo using a built-in feature on either iOS or Android, but third-party apps provide a reliable workaround to make a video a live photo for your wallpaper.
Can you make a video a live photo?
Neither Apple nor Google includes a native tool to convert a standard video into a Live Photo. On iPhone, Apple only documents the reverse process, saving a Live Photo as a video. On Android, Live Photos (often called Motion Photos) are not a standard system feature, so you need a third-party app to create them from video clips. The apps below are free and widely used, but because third-party tools update frequently, the exact steps may change over time.
How to make a video a live photo on iPhone
The intoLive app is a popular free option for converting videos into Live Photos on iOS. Follow these steps:
- Download intoLive from the App Store. The app is free, with a premium version that unlocks longer clips and additional editing features.
- Open intoLive and grant it access to your photo library. You will see all your videos and photos.
- Select the video you want to convert. The app will open the video editing screen.
- Use the slider at the bottom of the screen to trim your video to a five-second snippet. The free version creates five-second live photos; the pro version maximum is 30 seconds.
- Apply optional effects such as filters or speed changes by tapping the icons below the slider. Some effects are limited to the pro version.
- Tap the “Make” button in the top-right corner and choose a repetition option (No repeat, Loop, or Back and forth).
- The file will appear in your Photos app and can be set as a lock screen or home screen wallpaper.
Once saved, you can use the Live Photo as a wallpaper by going to Settings > Wallpaper > Choose a New Wallpaper and selecting the Live Photo from your library.
How to make a video a live photo on Android
Android does not support Live Photos natively, but the TurnLive app (also known as TurnLive: Live Wallpapers) lets you turn a video into a live wallpaper. Note that these live wallpapers only animate when applied to your home or lock screen; they do not play in your gallery or when shared. TurnLive live wallpapers do not move or animate when shared via text, and they cannot be viewed moving in the gallery like on iPhone.
- Install TurnLive from the Google Play Store. The app is free, with premium features available for purchase.
- Open TurnLive and accept the terms of service. Tap the “Live Photo” icon (three circles) at the bottom of the screen.
- Select “Video to Live Wallpaper” and grant the app permission to access your photos and media.
- Choose a video from your gallery and tap “Done.”
- The app will ask you to pick a cover frame. Select one snapshot from the video and tap “Next.”
- The video editor requires tapping each edge multiple times before it's selected, and moving the snippet requires manually dragging each edge.
- Optionally apply filters or adjust speed using the controls below the slider.
- Go to “My Wallpapers” and tap the download icon on your new live photo. The app will ask to clear your current wallpaper, tap “Clear” and grant the necessary permissions.
- A black screen labeled “DayTime LWP” will appear. Tap “Set wallpaper” and choose whether to apply it to your home screen, lock screen, or both.
What to do if the app steps change
Third-party apps update frequently, and the steps above may become outdated. If intoLive or TurnLive no longer works as described, search the App Store or Google Play for current “video to live photo” converter apps. Look for apps with recent updates, high ratings, and clear descriptions of their conversion features. The same general process, select a video, trim it, apply effects, and save or set as wallpaper, applies to most converters.
How to turn a live photo back into a video
Apple provides an official method to convert a Live Photo into a standard video. Open the Photos app, select the Live Photo, tap the More button (three dots) in the top-right corner, and choose Save as Video. The video will be saved to your library and can be shared or edited like any other clip. This is useful if you want to share a Live Photo on platforms that do not support the format. Alternatively, the Lively app can convert a Live Photo to video by selecting the 'Movie' tab, editing length, toggling sound, and tapping 'Export Movie'.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a live photo wallpaper drain my battery?
Live photo wallpapers use slightly more battery than static images because the phone must process the motion each time you wake the screen. The impact is minimal on modern devices, but you may notice a small reduction in battery life if you use a long or complex live wallpaper.
Can I use a live photo as a wallpaper on both the lock screen and home screen?
On iPhone, you can set a Live Photo as both the lock screen and home screen wallpaper. On Android, the TurnLive app lets you choose which screen the live wallpaper applies to during the setup process.
Why does my live photo not move on the lock screen?
On iPhone, you must press and hold the lock screen to play the Live Photo. On Android, the wallpaper should animate automatically when you wake the device, but some launchers or system settings may disable live wallpapers. Check your device’s wallpaper settings to ensure live wallpaper is enabled.
Are there any file size limits for video to live photo conversion?
Most free apps, including intoLive and TurnLive, limit the output to five seconds. The original video file can be any length, but the app will only convert a short snippet. Premium versions of these apps may support longer clips, typically up to thirty seconds.
Can I share a live photo with someone who has an Android phone?
Live Photos created on iPhone are not directly viewable on Android devices. If you share the file, the recipient will see a still image. To share the motion, convert the Live Photo to a video using the method described above and send the video file instead.
For the wider topic, see photo editing and collage apps.
