How to set a video as your mobile wallpaper: the ultimate guide and tips

Smartphone customization has evolved to become a top priority for users who want their device to reflect their style and preferences. Knowing how to customize your smartphone is becoming increasingly popular. How to set a video as wallpaper on your mobile, making the visual experience on the home and/or lock screen truly unique and dynamic. Although the default option on most phones is to use still images, the technology of the live wallpapers or animated backgrounds has allowed personal videos or favorite content to take that place, bringing the interface to life.

However, it is essential to know that Setting videos as wallpaper can affect performance and battery life., since a continuously playing video consumes significantly more resources than a still photo. However, if this isn't a concern for you or you can control it with certain recommendations, you can completely transform the look of your device.

Next, we explain to you with great level of detail how to set a video as wallpaper on all major mobile operating systems: Android (including methods for Samsung and other manufacturers), iOS, and some additional alternatives like animated backgrounds from GIFs or videos from specific apps. We'll also show you the pros and cons, optimization tips, and essential resources to help you customize your smartphone to the max, showing off your style. animated wallpapers that few users use due to lack of knowledge.

Why set a video as wallpaper? Advantages and considerations

Live wallpapers have ceased to be a mere curiosity and have become a real trend. Among the and advantages The main ones are:

• Full customization: Choose your own video, personal memories, favorite music clips, or even downloaded animations.
• Impressive visual impact: An animated background is much more attractive and eye-catching, capturing attention and setting your phone apart from the rest.
• Motivation and entertainment: Play joyful moments, inspiring messages, or clips from your favorite shows or artists every time you unlock your phone.

However not everything is positive; before taking the plunge, you should take two key aspects into account:

• Battery consumption: Animated backgrounds, especially if the video is long or high quality, can significantly reduce device battery life.
• Potential performance impact: On low-end or older models, an animated background may slow down certain actions or make the system feel less fluid.

If you decide to move forward, we'll guide you through the best method and app for your brand, model, and operating system, always prioritizing experience and efficiency.

How to Set a Video as Wallpaper on Android (All Brands)

The Android ecosystem is very diverse, but in general, the functionality of setting videos as wallpaper It is not included as standard in most brands (with exceptions like Samsung). To achieve this, the most universal and simple way is to resort to Play Store-specific apps that allow you to upload any video you want and turn it into an animated wallpaper, both on the home screen and the lock screen.

The methods usually coincide in the basic steps:

1. Download an app compatible with your version of Android.
2. Select the video from the gallery or files.
3. Crop, adjust audio, orientation, and scale if necessary.
4. Set the video as wallpaper (home screen, lock screen, or both).

Next, we present the best apps to put videos in the background, their advantages, limitations and how to get the most out of them.

Best apps to set a video as wallpaper on Android

There are numerous apps on Google Play, but the most recommended for their simplicity, compatibility, and customization options are:

Videos Live Wallpaper

Video Live Wallpaper is the preferred app for most experienced users due to its Ease of use, full functionality, and freeThis application allows you to:

• trim the video to the desired fragment and adjust it perfectly to any mobile screen, regardless of the aspect ratio or size.
• Choose any video file saved on your phone.
• Mute or keep the video sound as you prefer.
• Maintain the original aspect ratio or adapt it to the entire screen (avoiding distorted or cut videos).
• View a preview before applying the final change.
• Change settings at any time without having to repeat the entire process.

Steps to follow with Video Live Wallpaper:

1. Download the app from Google Play.
2. Open the app and tap Choose Video.
3. Select the video you want (it can be one you recorded, downloaded from WhatsApp, Giphy, TikTok, etc.).
4. Crop the part of the video you want to display in the background.
5. Choose whether you want the sound to be on or off.
6. Click the image button in the top bar to preview your background.
7. If you agree, click on Apply. If not, use Settings to modify any parameter again.

This app is highly recommended because allows for precise adjustment and is free of chargeWhile its editing options aren't as advanced as an editing suite, it perfectly serves the purpose of personalizing your phone with short videos and ensuring a smooth experience even on modest devices.

VideoWall – Video Wallpaper

VideoWall is another very simple and effective option for setting videos as wallpaper on Android. It works simply:

• Allows you to select a video from your device's memory and apply it as an animated wallpaper in just a few steps.
• The selection and application process is quick and requires virtually no advanced configuration.
• Unlike Video Live Wallpaper, Cropping or appearance adjustment features require a small fee.
• If your video needs to be pre-cropped, you can use additional editors like InShot or Videoshop before applying it.

Basic steps to use VideoWall:

1. Download the app from Google Play.
2. Open VideoWall and select Pick Video.
3. Choose the video from your gallery.
4. Confirm pre-trimming if you've done so, or select the portion of the video to use (if you've purchased the feature).
5. Click on apply as wallpaper.

VideoWall is especially useful for those looking for a streamlined process without many options, although for more advanced customization, Video Live Wallpaper is still preferable.

Video (.GIF;.MP4) to Wallpaper

• Download and install the app from the Google Play Store.
• Press the (+) button to add a new animated background.
• Give the new background a name and select the file (GIF or MP4).
• Crop and adjust if necessary, then press OK to save.
• Use Apply to apply the background to the system. The app will ask you to confirm that you want to use it as the source of the system's animated background.
• You can choose whether to use the live wallpaper only on the home screen, the lock screen, or both.

This option offers a great Versatility for those who also want to experiment with animated GIFs, achieving even more original and fun customizations.

TikTok Video Wallpaper by TikTok

If you are a TikTok user, there is a way to use videos directly from the platform as an animated wallpaper thanks to the plugin TikTok Video Wallpaper by TikTok. Simply:

• When viewing a video on TikTok, tap Share and then Set as wallpaper.
• The application will prompt you to install the specific plugin, if you don't have it.
• You can turn off the audio before applying the video if you don't want sound.
• The plugin allows you to set it on your home or lock screen.

This is a very simple and popular option among young users, although the videos are usually limited in length to avoid excessive resource consumption.

How to set a video as wallpaper on a Samsung phone

Samsung is the exception to the Android rule and integrates the function of using videos as wallpaper directly into your Gallery app, without the need to install additional apps. This method is simple, fast, and fully adapted to the brand's One UI customization layer.

Steps to set a video as a background on Samsung:

1. Open your Samsung Gallery and select the video you want.
2. Click on the three vertical dots (Menu) in the top right corner.
3. Choose Set as wallpaper (Set as Wallpaper o Set as wallpaper).
4. Sign in Edit If the video is longer than 15 seconds, Samsung allows you to easily trim the video and reduce it to a time frame shorter than that limit. If it's shorter, you can apply it directly.
5. press Apply and select whether you want the background on the home screen, lock screen, or both.

Specific recommendations for Samsung:

• Videos can be used as lock screen or call screen wallpaper, but not always for the home screen if they exceed length or size limits.
• Editing is very intuitive; you can crop precisely using the cropping bar and see the result in a preview before applying it.
• If the clip is longer than 15 seconds, the system will force you to trim the fragment that interests you most.

This native Samsung functionality is especially useful and robust, and is one of the brand's greatest differentiators.

How to set a video as wallpaper on iOS (iPhone)

iPhone users should know that, unlike Android, The iOS system does not allow you to directly set videos as wallpaper.However, it does have the function Live Photo, which allows you to set a short animated image (similar to a short video) as a background on the lock screen (not the home screen). Apple removed the animated background feature in recent versions of the operating system; therefore, only iPhones with previous versions or compatible devices can take advantage of it natively; others will need third-party apps.

Basic steps to use Live Photos as wallpaper on iPhone:

1. Opens Settings and select Wallpaper.
2. Click on Choose a new wallpaper.
3. In the section live Photos, select the animated image or Live Photo you prefer.
4. Adjust the position, duration and framing as desired.
5. Press on Establish and choose whether you want it as a lock screen background, home screen background, or both (it will be displayed statically on home screens).

If your iPhone has a newer version or does not have animated backgrounds, the solution is to use third-party applications:

• IntoLive: It's the most popular way to convert videos into iOS-compatible Live Photos. You can edit, crop, and apply filters, save the result as a Live Photo, and then configure it from Settings.
• LiveGif Discover Converter: Turn videos or GIFs into Live Photos ready to use as animated wallpaper.
• PicPlayPostMovie: Versatile app for editing and converting clips or sequences into Live Photos.

These steps apply to most modern iPhones, though there are exceptions: the iPhone XR, iPhone SE 1st and 2nd generation, and some older models don't support Live Photos as live wallpapers. However, The process is usually free, although some apps may offer in-app purchases. for premium features.

Set animated GIFs as wallpaper

In addition to videos, a growing trend is to use Animated gifs as wallpaper. On Android, GIF Live Wallpaper is the reference:

• Download it from the Google Play Store and select the desired GIF from your gallery.
• You can modify size, orientation, playback speed and loop mode.
• Press on Set as wallpaper and choose home screen, lock screen or both.

On iOS, you can convert GIFs to Live Photos using Giphy or similar apps and then follow the method explained in the iPhone section. Remember to select the option Fullscreen (Full Screen) to avoid deformations.

Tips for optimizing the use of videos as wallpaper

• Choose short videos: A 5-10 second clip is sufficient and much more energy efficient.
• Reduce the resolution if necessary: 4K or Full HD videos take up a lot of memory and battery; 720p is usually more than enough.
• Turn off the sound: This way you'll avoid distractions and save battery life.
• Avoid heavy apps: If your phone is old or low-end, trim the video first and use lightweight apps.
• Try the previews: This way you'll see if the video fits as you expect and you can crop or reorient it before applying.
• Please note duration limitations: Samsung typically allows videos up to 15 seconds long, while other apps can extend them longer.

Frequently Asked Questions About Live Wallpapers

• Can I put any video from my gallery? Yes, as long as the app supports it and the format is compatible. The most common formats are MP4 and GIF.
• Will the animated video be displayed on the lock and home screen? It depends on the app and the model. Some apps let you choose which screen to apply it to, while on Samsung or iOS, it's only available on the lock screen.
• Is it necessary to root my phone? No, all the options shown here work without root or superuser permissions.
• Does it affect privacy? No, but it's recommended to use your own or legally downloaded videos, and make sure the apps you select don't access sensitive information.

Personalizing your phone with a video as your wallpaper is one of the most innovative and engaging ways to express your personality. Whether on Android, Samsung, or iOS, there are multiple alternatives and apps that make the process easier, adapting to all experience levels and any type of user. Despite the natural limitations in terms of duration or resource consumption, the results are worth it and will make your device unique. If you have questions or suggestions for new apps or tricks to take advantage of animated backgrounds, share your experience and help the community continue to discover new ways to personalize.