How to Do Live Photos on TikTok

TikTok is best known for short videos, but it also offers creative tools like Live Photos. These are still images that appear animated when set as a wallpaper on iPhone devices. If you’ve ever come across someone’s TikTok that says, “Save as Live Photo,” and wondered how it works, this guide will show you how to do Live Photos on TikTok.

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What Is a Live Photo on TikTok?

A Live Photo on TikTok is not a typical photo. It is actually a short video that TikTok allows users to save in Apple’s Live Photo format. Once saved, this video can be used as an animated wallpaper on iPhones. Android phones do not support Live Photos natively, but some third-party apps may allow similar functionality.

How to Create and Save Live Photos from TikTok

Although TikTok does not let you upload Live Photos directly, it allows you to download videos from TikTok as Live Photos, which can then be set as wallpapers.

Step 1: Find the TikTok You Want to Save

Open TikTok and scroll through your For You Page or search for the video you want to save.
Tap on the Share arrow (usually located on the right-hand side of the screen).

Step 2: Save the Video as a Live Photo

After tapping Share, a menu will appear.
Scroll through the options until you find Live Photo.
Tap Live Photo, and TikTok will process and save it directly to your Photos app as a Live Photo.

Note: The Live Photo option is only available for public videos where the creator has enabled downloads.

How to Set the TikTok Live Photo as Wallpaper (iPhone Only)

Once you’ve saved the Live Photo, follow these steps to set it as your lock screen wallpaper:

Go to the Photos app and find the Live Photo you just saved.
Tap the Share icon at the bottom left.
Select Use as Wallpaper.
Make sure Live Photo is enabled (it should be highlighted).
Tap Set, then choose Set Lock Screen (Live Photos only animate on the lock screen, not home screen).

Tip: To see the animation, press and hold your finger on the lock screen after setting the Live Photo.

For Android Users

Android devices don’t natively support Apple’s Live Photos format. However, you can use third-party apps like TikTok Wall Picture (an app by TikTok itself) to set TikTok videos as animated wallpapers.

Here’s how:

Download the TikTok Wall Picture app from the Google Play Store.
Go back to TikTok and select Share > Live Photo.
The video will automatically be saved as a wallpaper-ready image via the TikTok Wall Picture app.
Follow the app’s prompts to set the video as your live wallpaper.

FAQs

Can I make my own TikTok a Live Photo?

No, you cannot directly turn your own TikTok video into a Live Photo from the TikTok app. However, you can save it and use third-party apps to convert it.