How to set your pet video as a live wallpaper

Step 1: make the video phone-shaped

Phone screens are tall (9:16). In My videos, click Phone wallpaper 9:16 under any finished video. It makes a 1080×1920 version with your whole pet visible and a soft blurred fill above and below, and loops it a few times so the wallpaper lasts longer. Don't have a video yet? Make one free, or use the free wallpaper maker for any short video.

Samsung Galaxy

1. Touch and hold the Lock screen, then tap Wallpapers (on some versions you go to Settings → Wallpaper and style).
2. Choose Gallery and pick your pet video.
3. Trim it if asked (Samsung limits video wallpapers to about 15 seconds), then tap Done.

Menus vary slightly by One UI version.

Other Android phones

Many Android phones (Pixel included) don't support video lock screens out of the box. A video-wallpaper app from the Play Store can play your pet video as a live wallpaper. Pick one with good reviews that doesn't ask for unnecessary permissions.

iPhone

iPhone can't use a normal video as a wallpaper. It uses Live Photos instead:

1. Convert your pet video to a Live Photo with a converter app (for example intoLive) and save it to Photos.
2. Open the Live Photo in Photos, tap Share → Use as Wallpaper.
3. Make sure the Live Photo option is on, then set it as your Lock Screen.

Apple has changed Live Photo wallpaper behaviour between iOS versions. On some versions it animates when you press the lock screen, on newer ones when you wake the phone. Only the Lock Screen animates; the Home Screen stays still.

Tips

• Calm, Memorial and Sleepy moods make the most restful wallpapers. Happy and Excited are livelier.
• Keep your pet's face in the middle third of the frame, so the clock doesn't cover it.
• Video wallpapers use a little more battery than still ones.