iPhone guide
Live wallpaper not moving on iPhone? The fixes
Why an iPhone live wallpaper stops moving and how to fix it: Low Power Mode, Reduce Motion, the Live Photo button, Motion Not Available and how the motion plays since iOS 17.
Work down this list. Most people are fixed by the first three.
1. Know what to expect
Since iOS 17 a Live Photo wallpaper plays once when the phone wakes and then rests on the still. It does not loop, and pressing and holding the Lock Screen no longer plays it (that opens the wallpaper editor). If it plays on wake, it is working.
2. Turn off Low Power Mode
Settings, Battery, Low Power Mode off. In Low Power Mode the wallpaper never moves. Check that the battery icon is not yellow.
3. Check the Live Photo button
Press and hold the Lock Screen, tap Customize, choose Lock Screen, and look at the bottom left. The Live Photo button must be on. If it is crossed out, tap it.
4. Turn off Reduce Motion
Settings, Accessibility, Motion, Reduce Motion off. It can stop wallpaper motion.
5. "Motion Not Available"
iOS shows this when it will not use a clip as wallpaper motion. Apple does not publish the rules. Reported causes are clips that are too long, unusual shapes and heavily processed video. Try these in order:
- Cancel, then add the wallpaper again. It often works on the second try.
- Restart the iPhone and try again.
- Check the photo really is a Live Photo (LIVE shows in the corner in Photos). If not, save the two files together again with the zip guide.
- Pinch the photo less. Heavy zoom and cropping can stop the motion.
Wallmill's Live Photo clips are 3 seconds at 1080 × 1920, the length community testing suggests works best for wallpapers.
6. The Home Screen does not move
That is normal. iOS only moves the Lock Screen. The Home Screen shows the still, or a blurred version of it.