Two features make an iPhone lock screen feel alive: depth effect, where your subject overlaps the clock, and motion, where the wallpaper moves. Both are set from the same place.
Turn on the depth effect
- Add a photo wallpaperTouch and hold the lock screen, tap +, and choose Photos.
- Pick a photo with a clear subjectA person, pet or object with space around it works best — iOS needs to separate it from the background.
- Position itDrag so the subject’s top overlaps where the clock sits.
- Enable Depth EffectTap the ••• button in the corner and make sure Depth Effect is on, then tap Add.
Not seeing depth effect? It only appears when the subject actually overlaps the clock and iOS can cut it out cleanly. If the clock covers the face, drag the image down a little.
Set a moving wallpaper
Choose a Live Photo (the ones with the little motion icon) or one of Apple’s dynamic wallpapers when adding a new one. On supported models the wallpaper animates when you tap and hold the lock screen. Note that Low Power Mode pauses motion to save battery.
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Quick answers
Why won’t depth effect turn on? The subject isn’t overlapping the clock, or the photo’s background is too busy for iOS to separate.
Do live wallpapers drain the battery? A little — and Low Power Mode pauses them automatically.