Live wallpapers vs. video wallpapers
- Live wallpapers are small apps that draw animated or interactive backgrounds — they can react to touch, the time of day, or the weather.
- Video wallpapers play a short clip on loop. Samsung phones can do this out of the box; other phones need an app.
Set a video wallpaper on a Samsung Galaxy
- Open Settings → Wallpaper and style → Change wallpapers.
- Tap Gallery and select a video.
- Trim it to the part you want — Samsung limits Lock screen videos to a short clip, about 15 seconds.
- Tap Done. The video plays each time you wake the phone.
Video wallpapers work on the Lock screen only. Short, slow clips with a stable camera look best and loop more smoothly.
Use live wallpapers on a Google Pixel
- Touch and hold the Home screen and tap Wallpaper & style.
- Tap More wallpapers and open Live wallpapers.
- Preview one, then tap Set wallpaper and choose the screens to apply it to.
Pixel doesn’t play your own videos as a wallpaper out of the box, so use a live wallpaper app for that.
Use a live wallpaper app
Live wallpaper apps work on any Android phone and usually support both the Home and Lock screens.
- Install a live or video wallpaper app from Google Play — our best wallpaper apps for Android list includes a few.
- Choose an animation, or import your own video.
- Tap Set wallpaper. Android opens its live wallpaper preview, where you confirm the screens to use.
To change it later, go back to your normal wallpaper menu and pick a different image or live wallpaper.
Keep battery drain low
- Choose darker animations — on AMOLED screens, black pixels are turned off.
- Prefer slow, subtle motion over busy, full-screen animation.
- Use a video on the Lock screen only, where it plays briefly, and a still image on the Home screen.
- Switch back to a still wallpaper on days when you need every bit of battery.
A sharp still alternative
If you want a wallpaper that looks stunning without the battery cost, a high-resolution still image is hard to beat. ON Lock Screen for Android has thousands of 4K and 8K wallpapers — browse space, cyberpunk, and abstract styles for the same eye-catching look.
Frequently asked questions
Can I set a video as my wallpaper on Android?
On Samsung Galaxy phones, yes — choose a short video from Gallery as your Lock screen wallpaper. On Pixel and most other phones, you need a video wallpaper app from Google Play.
Why can’t I set a video on my Samsung Home screen?
Samsung’s built-in video wallpaper works on the Lock screen only. For a moving Home screen, use a live wallpaper app.
Do live wallpapers drain the battery?
They use more power than a still image because the screen and processor keep working. The difference is small on modern phones, but a still wallpaper is the better choice if battery life matters most.
Can I use a GIF as my wallpaper?
Android doesn’t support GIF wallpapers directly. Convert the GIF to a short MP4 video and set it with Samsung’s video wallpaper or a live wallpaper app.