Quick answer: Record your screen from Control Center, then trim the recording to 1–3 seconds and crop it to 9:16 portrait in the free video to Live Photo tool. Open the clip in AliveShot to save it as a Live Photo, then set it as your wallpaper from Settings › Wallpaper.
How do you turn a screen recording into a Live Photo?
- Record the screen. Swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center, tap the gray Record button, and wait for the three-second countdown. Then leave Control Center. If the button is missing, add it to Control Center first.
- Stop and find the recording. Tap the red Screen Recording button at the top of the screen, then tap Stop. The recording is saved to Photos.
- Trim it to 1–3 seconds. Open the free video to Live Photo tool, choose the recording, then set the Start and Length sliders to the 1–3 seconds you want.
- Crop to 9:16 portrait. Leave “Crop to fill the lock screen (9:16)” ticked. Pick a cover frame, then tap Create clip.
- Save it as a Live Photo. Save the clip to your iPhone, open it in AliveShot, and save. It lands in Photos as a Live Photo.
- Set it as your wallpaper. Go to Settings › Wallpaper › Add New Wallpaper › Photos › Live Photo, pick it, keep the play button on, then tap Add.
Prefer to do it all on your phone? AliveShot can pick the recording from your library, let you trim it and choose a cover frame, and save it as a Live Photo. The web tool is handy when you want to crop to 9:16 first, or when the recording is on a computer. It also works with a GIF or any other video.
How do I record a clean screen recording?
A few minutes of setup saves you from trimming around things you didn’t mean to capture.
- Hold the phone upright. A portrait recording already matches the shape of the lock screen.
- Silence notifications first. A banner sliding in halfway through will ruin a wallpaper.
- Hide what you can. Many apps let you hide buttons and controls with a tap or when you pause. Do that before you start recording.
- Leave room for the clock. The time sits at the top of the lock screen, so keep the interesting part in the lower two-thirds.
- Check that the app allows it. Apple notes some apps don’t allow screen recording.
How do I crop out the status bar and buttons?
A screen recording captures whatever is on screen, including the status bar at the top. The free tool’s 9:16 crop is taken from the center of the video. A recording from a tall, modern iPhone is a little narrower than 9:16, so the crop trims a slice off the top and bottom, which can take some of the status bar and bottom controls with it. Check the preview to see what’s left.
The crop isn’t adjustable, so it won’t cut away a menu in the middle of the picture. If something is still in the frame, the cleanest fix is to hide it and record again.
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Status bar still shows in the preview | Re-record with the app in full-screen or hidden-controls mode |
| Black bars on the lock screen | Keep “Crop to fill the lock screen (9:16)” ticked |
| “Motion not available” | Trim to 1–3 seconds; see the fixes |
| A notification appears mid-clip | Trim around it, or record again with notifications silenced |
How long should the clip be?
Aim for 1–3 seconds. The tool’s Length slider runs from 1 to 3 seconds, which also matches the roughly three seconds of a Live Photo from the iPhone camera. Choose a moment with a calm cover frame, because that’s what you see on the Home Screen and when the motion ends. For the wallpaper steps in detail, see theLive Photo wallpaper guide. If your recording comes from an app like Instagram, there’s a guide for Instagram videos too.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a screen recording as a wallpaper directly?
Not as a moving one. A screen recording is a normal video, and the lock screen only animates Live Photos. Convert the recording first, then set the Live Photo as your wallpaper.
How long should the screen recording be?
Record a bit more than you need, then trim it to 1–3 seconds. Short clips are the most reliable as wallpapers; see how long a Live Photo can be.
Is my screen recording uploaded when I use the web tool?
No. The video to Live Photo tool processes the file in your browser, so it never leaves your device. That matters for a screen recording, which can show private messages or notifications.
Why can’t I screen record some apps?
Apple notes that some apps may not allow video or audio recording, and that you can’t record the screen while using screen mirroring. If the recording fails, that’s usually the reason.
Will my screen recording have sound?
Only if you turned the microphone on before recording: touch and hold the Record button in Control Center and tap the Microphone button. The converter has a “Keep sound” option if you want it, and you can untick it for a silent Live Photo.
By the AliveShot team · Last updated