Quick answer: Open the Live Photo in Photos, tap the LIVE button near the top of the screen, and choose Loop or Bounce. Loop repeats the motion; Bounce plays it forward, then backward. Apple’s wallpaper steps only say a Live Photo plays when you wake your iPhone, so don’t count on a loop on the lock screen.
How do you loop a Live Photo on iPhone?
- Open the Live Photo. In Photos, open Albums, scroll to Media Types, tap Live Photos, then tap the one you want.
- Tap the LIVE button. Tap the LIVE button near the top of the screen. Some versions of Apple’s guide describe swiping up on the photo instead; if you don’t see a LIVE button, try that.
- Choose Loop or Bounce. Pick Loop to repeat the motion, or Bounce to play it forward and then backward. The effect applies right away.
- Switch back any time. To undo it, tap LIVE again and pick Live.
On a Mac, Photos has the same effects in its Live pop-up menu.
What’s the difference between Loop, Bounce and Long Exposure?
| Effect | What it does |
|---|---|
| Loop | Plays the action again and again as a continuous video. |
| Bounce | Plays the action forward, then backward, and repeats. |
| Long Exposure | Blurs the moving parts of the scene to mimic a long exposure from a DSLR. It’s for waterfalls and traffic, not for a repeat. |
Loop and Bounce are playback effects inside Photos. They don’t change how long the Live Photo is; a Live Photo from the camera is still about three seconds. See how long a Live Photo can be.
Will a looped Live Photo loop on my lock screen?
This is the part most guides skip. Apple’s instructions for a Live Photo wallpaper (iOS 17 or later) say the image plays when you wake your iPhone, as long as the play button is on in the wallpaper screen. They don’t mention Loop or Bounce at all. We couldn’t find Apple saying that a Loop or Bounce effect repeats on the lock screen, so don’t promise yourself an endless loop there.
If a wallpaper is the goal, the dependable approach is to build the repeat into the clip itself: pick 1–3 seconds that end close to where they start, so the motion looks smooth when it plays once as you wake your phone. Then test it on your own iPhone. Step-by-step instructions, and fixes for “Motion not available”, are in theLive Photo wallpaper guide.
How do I save or share a looped Live Photo?
- As a video. Open the Live Photo, tap the More button, then tap Save as Video. The new video lands in Recently Saved. Apple doesn’t say whether Loop or Bounce carries over, so play it back before you send it.
- In Mail. A Live Photo shared by Mail is sent as a still image.
- Through other apps. Apple warns that editing a Live Photo in a third-party app can lose any effects you applied, so do the Loop or Bounce step last.
Can I make a Live Photo that repeats from a video or GIF?
Yes, start with the clip. A short, repeating video or GIF makes a good Live Photo, because the motion already fits in 1–3 seconds. The free video to Live Photo tooltrims it in your browser, and AliveShot saves it to Photos. The whole process is covered inhow to turn a video into a Live Photo.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make a Live Photo repeat?
Open it in Photos, tap the LIVE button near the top of the screen and choose Loop. Bounce is similar but plays the motion forward, then backward.
Why don’t I see Loop or Bounce?
The effects belong to Live Photos, so check that the photo has the LIVE badge. If tapping LIVE doesn’t show them, try swiping up on the photo, which is how some versions of Apple’s guide describe it.
Does Loop or Bounce work as a lock screen wallpaper?
Apple’s wallpaper steps only say that a Live Photo plays when you wake your iPhone. They don’t mention Loop or Bounce, so treat the effect as a Photos feature and test your wallpaper on your own phone. More in the wallpaper guide.
Can I turn a looped Live Photo into a video?
You can save any Live Photo as a video: open it, tap the More button, then tap Save as Video. Apple doesn’t say whether Loop or Bounce carries over to that video, so watch the result before you share it.
Will the effect survive if I share the Live Photo?
Not always. Apple notes that Mail sends a Live Photo as a still image, and that editing it in a third-party app can lose the effects you applied.
By the AliveShot team · Last updated