iPad Wallpaper (Live Wallpaper, Setting Up, Live Photos)


Your wallpaper is the first thing you and other people see when you turn on your iPad, computer, or iPhone. Users go to great lengths to customize this display, but the most intriguing is the live version.

So, can the iPad have live wallpaper? The iPad can have live wallpaper, but only via third-party apps since iOS doesn’t natively support this feature. Users can download apps from the App Store to enable live wallpapers, customizing their device’s appearance with dynamic backgrounds.

While Apple’s iOS platform does not include native support for live wallpapers like Android devices do, there are numerous apps available in the App Store that provide this functionality for iPads. These apps offer an extensive range of dynamic and interactive wallpapers, enabling users to customize their devices in line with their individual tastes.

When using these third-party apps, it is important to note that live wallpapers may consume more battery life compared to static wallpapers, as they involve continuous animation and/or movement. Users should also be cautious when downloading wallpaper apps, ensuring they are from reputable developers to avoid potential security risks. By taking these factors into account, iPad users can enjoy live wallpapers, adding a touch of uniqueness and personalization to their devices.

You can only set still pictures from your library as the home or lock screen. However, Apple allows you to place live photos as screen savers. You can convert clips and GIFs in your gallery to live photos using third-party applications and set them. The limitations are that the setting only applies to the screen saver, and the display will only move when you long-press the screen.

The large iPad display will look better with an awesome customized wallpaper, and the only way to stand out is to have a live wallpaper instead of the still pictures most users have. You may have successfully tried setting the live wallpaper with other devices, but is it possible with an iPad? Does it have support from Apple?

iPads do not allow you to set live wallpapers directly. You can only configure pictures from your gallery or downloads, but there is no straightforward way to make the screen live. However, there are some workarounds involving third-party apps that will help you set live videos and GIFS as your lock screen wallpaper. These applications will convert moving images to formats that the iPad can use. Also, there are free and paid jailbreak tools that can help you set live pictures as wallpapers.

At the time of this writing, Apple had not offered official support for live or 3D wallpapers; therefore, there is no way to go to the display settings and pick one for your iPad. You can only select a still photo from your downloads, camera roll, or other files. Luckily, some apps are available to help convert videos and GIFs to wallpapers.

Live photos are not a foreign concept in iPads because the feature has been active for users for a long time now. They are animated forms of the pictures you take on your iPad, and there is a way to set them as wallpapers like you usually would do with regular photos.

If you want to configure this, you will need a video, but you must first convert it to a live image, which will later be your wallpaper. Remember that if successful, this display will only show up on the lock screen and even so, you will have to hold the screen to view the animated version.

It differs from the conventional live wallpapers in Android that don’t need activation to animate and loop automatically. Also, note that this live video setting can only work for the lock screen and not the home screen.

Since there is no support, this is the closest thing to a live wallpaper that you can get unless Apple launches an iPadOS that fully supports it in the future. Besides setting live videos, you can also make some settings to use a GIF.

If you try to set one as your wallpaper through the menu, it will only appear as a still photo version that doesn’t animate. Live photos, however, have the privilege to move on the lock screen. Therefore, you can make your GIF live using a third-party application.

If you want more freedom to customize your live wallpaper, you can also use some jailbreaking tools whose wallpapers come in various designs. Some options are free, but you must pay a small fee for others.

How Do I Set a Live Wallpaper on My iPad?

A live wallpaper is an incredible customization that will automatically give your already sleek iPad a face lift. The previous section explained that Apple currently doesn’t have support for moving wallpapers, but there are some quite similar alternatives. This segment delves deeper into what you need to know if you want to set a live photo as your lock screen.

To set a live wallpaper on your iPad, you’ll need to use a third-party app, as iOS doesn’t natively support this feature. Follow these steps to set a live wallpaper:

  1. Download a live wallpaper app by visiting the App Store and search for live wallpaper apps. Some popular options include Live Wallpapers for Me, intoLive, and Live Wallpaper Maker 4K. Install the app of your choice.
  2. Choose a live wallpaper by opening the app and browse through the available wallpapers. Select one that appeals to you and suits your preferences.
  3. Save the wallpaper and depending on the app, you might need to save the live wallpaper to your Photos app. Follow the app’s instructions to do so.
  4. Set the wallpaper by going  to your iPad’s Settings app, and tap “Wallpaper.” Tap “Choose a New Wallpaper,” and select the live wallpaper you saved earlier from your Photos app.
  5. Enable Live Photo, after selecting the wallpaper, make sure “Live Photo” is enabled. You can also adjust the positioning of the wallpaper if necessary.
  6. Set the wallpaper by tapping “Set,” and choosing whether you want to set the live wallpaper on the lock screen, home screen, or both.
  7. Now, your live wallpaper should be set. When you view your lock screen, you will need to press the screen and hold, to see the live wallpaper animate.

Keep in mind that live wallpapers only animate on the lock screen, and they may consume more battery life than static wallpapers.

Although there is no live wallpaper support for iPads, you can use live photos and GIFs for the lock screen. You can take a clip from your tablet, convert it to a live image through the “Video to Live” app, then save it and set it as the wallpaper.

Alternatively, you can do the same for your GIFs by transforming them using “GIF Convert” from the App Store. However, note that animated wallpapers can only work on the lock screen; otherwise, you will get a still photo when you use them on the home screen. Also, they don’t automatically activate and loop; you must long-press the screen saver for the images to move.

There are three primary workarounds to help you set your iPad’s wallpaper to move. Although there is no direct way to select a live looping lock screen, using live videos, GIFs and jailbreaks come pretty close. While the first two are the safest bypasses, they will only work through a third-party converter application; if you don’t mind the hassle, look at the stepwise guide below.

  1. Using Live Photos

You must have once bumped into the live photos feature on your iPad. They are lively variations of still images that you usually take using your camera. Now, Apple lets you set them as wallpapers, assuming they are regular pictures from your gallery. You will take a video first, then make it a live photo and set it as the wallpaper. The most crucial step here is to transform your video using a free application.

Go to the App Store and find “Video to Live” from Pixster Studios that transforms any clip into a live wallpaper and download, allow the permissions, and launch to start running it. To start, open your library and select the video that you want to set as a live photo, then crop it by dragging it out to choose the part you want to appear in the wallpaper. There should be a download button below to confirm the conversion.

You can re-watch the cropped-out video and, if satisfied, save it to your gallery. The process is now complete, and the last step is the setup. Navigate the Settings on your iPad and scroll to find “Wallpaper” then click “Choose New Wallpaper”. The system will bring up options from your library, allowing you to choose the live photo. Complete this process by clicking on “set”; remember that this can only work on the lock screen, and you must long-press the screen to activate it.

  1. Using a GIF

If you try setting a GIF as wallpaper as you do with other pictures, you will only get a still photo that will not animate. The only way to turn this around is by converting the GIF to live images that the iPad can accept as the lock screen. Any exciting GIF in your library can turn into a moving wallpaper that animates when you hold it, but first, there is the conversion process.

The third-party app you will need is the “GIF Convert” by PicCollage, from the App Store. It transforms GIFs to live photos for your iPhone and iPad. After launching it, you will go to your gallery to pick the GIF you want, click download at the bottom and allow conversion.

Next, choose “Live Photo” when saving it and ensure that it converts to the best quality by configuring it to “High” then save it to your iPad’s library. You can go to the Settings, tap “Wallpaper,” and set the now live photo to finalize the setup.

  1. Using Jailbreak Tweaks

The last option is for jailbroken devices. Since there is no Apple support, such gadgets make it easier to complete otherwise impossible settings like live wallpapers. There are free and cheap options in the market to try out, and each has a unique way to animate your wallpaper. However, this will not work with intact iPads, unless you take the bold jailbreak move. You can try several tweaks, with the most preferred versions being free.

For instance, you can go for DoABarrelWall, which allows you to choose several images at a go that randomly reshuffle, appearing like live wallpapers. Another fan favorite is the ButterFlyEffect, where butterflies flap their wings between apps on the home screen. Unless you have a jailbroken iPad, these tweaks may not work for you, and you would be safer going for the previous two methods.

Does Live Wallpaper Work on iPad?

Wallpapers are an excellent way to keep your lock and home screen vibrant and unique. They are fun, unpredictable, and easy to customize. They may be effective for other devices like Android but is it possible to set one on your iPad? 

Live wallpapers can work on iPads, but with some caveats. The iPad’s iOS does not natively support live wallpapers like Android devices do, so you will need to rely on third-party apps to enable live wallpapers on your iPad. There are numerous apps available on the App Store that offer a variety of live wallpapers for iPads, allowing you to personalize your device’s appearance with dynamic backgrounds.

However, it’s important to note that live wallpapers will only animate on the lock screen, not on the home screen. Additionally, live wallpapers tend to consume more battery life than static wallpapers due to their continuous animation or movement. To minimize any potential battery drain, consider using a live wallpaper sparingly or for shorter periods.

As long as you choose a reputable live wallpaper app from the App Store and keep these considerations in mind, you can enjoy live wallpapers on your iPad.

Live Wallpapers are not available on iPads, but Apple’s select iPhone users enjoy the feature. The tablets’ hardware doesn’t support or activate a moving wallpaper since they don’t have a 3D touchscreen.

Luckily, thanks to third-party applications, there are some alternative ways to set your wallpaper to move. You can convert your video into a live photo and use it as your tablet’s lock screen wallpaper. There are many app-conversion tools, but the most preferred is the Pixster Studio software.

iPads cannot run live wallpapers unless Apple introduces the 3D touchscreen technology allowing them to manage movement on the screen. Otherwise, only the latest iPhones fully support it.

For now, iPad users will stick to the wallpapers from Apple or use non-animated screensavers. If you don’t want to use a still photo for the lock screen, there are some effective bypasses to spruce up the screen.

One way to set live wallpaper on your iPad tablet is to use apps like the options from Pixster Studio. The program lets you bypass the restrictions in a few simple steps. First, download and launch the converter app via the App Store.

Afterward, you can navigate to the tablet’s library through the software and pick the video you need to set as your wallpaper and adjust its edges. After cropping the video, click the download button on the screen.

Your live photo will be ready, and you can set it to the lock or home screen through the wallpaper Settings. Click “Choose New Wallpaper” then select the live photo you created using the application.

Before you make final settings, you can check the clip when you long-press it, and if you’re content, tap Set to fix it as your tablet’s wallpaper. However, note that the live photo will not function flawlessly like the iPhone version because you need to hold and long-press it; else, it will remain still.

If you’d love to spruce up your iPad lock screen with amazing videos, this is the best place to start. Your best bet is to use third-party applications, which you must also choose carefully to avoid malicious software. The live photo will add aesthetic value to the iPad if you find the right tools, unlike the conventional still wallpaper pictures.

The feature helps you customize the gadget to make it stand out from any other user, such that it is easy to tell your iPad apart by looking at the lock screen. Using live photos is also an excellent way to help you remember a special memory because it will keep replaying the video whenever you long-press the lock screen. However, on the downside, applying live wallpapers can cause your battery to deplete faster.

Additionally, the animation reduces the RAM space, causing issues with memory loss, especially when browsing. If your iPad uses an AMOLED display, you can reduce the high-power uptake by darkening the live video. Sadly, you cannot change power consumption in LCD iPads even by dimming the wallpaper. Lastly, if the setting interferes with the RAM, you can continuously refresh the web browser or the iPad’s background apps.

Wrap Up

If you want a better look for your lock and home screen, you will opt for the live wallpaper. The only challenge is that the iPadOS doesn’t support it, but there are similar ways to get a moving wallpaper using third-party applications.

Apple allows you to set live photos on display; therefore, you can convert clips and GIFs for your iPad to have moving screensavers.

You can use “Video to Live” from Pixster Studios and “GIF Convert” from PicCollage to transform your videos and GIFs into wallpapers. However, note that they will only animate on the screen saver and will not move unless you long-press the screen. Alternatively, you can use jailbreak tools like Eneko, ButterFlyEffect and DoABarrelWall to bypass hardware restrictions and set live wallpaper on your iPad.

Bal Kang

Bal Kang is a technology expert based in the UK, with experience across a number of technology areas from phones, tablets, computers to gaming.

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