If you’re like me, sometimes the standard iPhone lock screen feels a bit plain. Wouldn’t it be nice to add some motion and life to it with a live wallpaper? The thing is, Apple’s latest iOS versions make it tough to do that. But don’t worry. I found a way around it using a tool called Nugget iOS.
Nugget iOS is a free, open-source tweak that helps you unlock hidden iOS features like wallpapers. You don’t need to jailbreak, install developer profiles, or mess with anything risky. I’ve used it myself to set live wallpapers on my lock screen, and it worked great.
In this guide, I’ll show you exactly how I did it. No tech skills needed. Just follow along.
What You Need Before You Start
Here’s a quick list of what you’ll need before we jump in
- An iPhone running iOS 17 or 18
- TrollStore 2 or any tool that lets you sideload apps like Nugget
- The Nugget app is installed on your phone
- A live wallpaper file in either .mov or .livephoto format
- Around 10 minutes of your time
Nugget iOS wallpapers – Supported Devices
Based on my testing and what the Nugget community has shared, these iPhones support live wallpapers using Nugget
| Device Model | iOS 17 | iOS 18 |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone X | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone XR and XS Series | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone 11 Series | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone SE (2nd Gen) | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone 12 Series | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone 13 Series | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone 14 Series | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone 15 Series | Yes | Yes |
iPads are not supported at the moment, so this guide is for iPhones only.
Installing Nugget (Optional Step)
If you already have Nugget on your phone, you can skip this part and move to the wallpaper setup section. But if you’re starting from scratch, here’s how I installed it
Step 1 – Install TrollStore 2
TrollStore is what I used to sideload the Nugget app. It doesn’t need a jailbreak.
- Go to the TrollStore GitHub page
- Follow the instructions based on your iPhone model
- After installation, open the TrollStore app
Step 2 – Download Nugget IPA
Now, head to the Nugget GitHub page and download the latest Nugget.ipa file. Save it somewhere you can access easily.
Step 3 – Install Nugget Using TrollStore
- Open the TrollStore app
- Tap on the option to install an IPA
- Choose the Nugget.ipa file
- Once installed, Nugget will show up on your home screen like any other app
Setting a Live Wallpaper Using Nugget
Now for the fun part. Here’s how I got my live wallpaper running using Nugget iOS
Step 1 – Open Nugget
Launch the Nugget app from your home screen. You’ll land on the home screen where you can see all tweak options.
Step 2 – Find the Live Wallpaper Setting
- Tap on Visuals
- Then select Live Wallpapers
- Toggle on the option that says Enable Live Wallpapers on Lock Screen
Step 3 – Import Your Live Wallpaper File
Tap on Import and pick a file from your Photos or Files app. Make sure it’s either a .mov or .livephoto file. Nugget will take care of converting it and adding it to the system.
Step 4 – Set the Wallpaper
- Go to your iPhone Settings
- Tap on Wallpaper
- Choose the new live wallpaper Nugget added
- Tap Set and pick Lock Screen
That’s it. Now, when you lock your screen and press on it, your wallpaper should animate.
A Few Things to Keep in Mind
Here’s what I noticed while using Nugget for live wallpapers
- Live wallpapers can drain a little more battery, especially on OLED screens like the ones on iPhone X and newer
- Try to keep your live videos short, around five to ten seconds, so everything runs smoothly
- If the wallpaper doesn’t animate right away, try locking and unlocking the screen again
- Sometimes the tweaks may disappear if TrollStore breaks or if iOS removes background apps. Reinstalling usually fixes it
Common Problems and Fixes
If your wallpaper isn’t animating
- Make sure Low Power Mode is off
- Restart your iPhone and try setting the wallpaper again
- Remember to press and hold the lock screen, not just tap it
If the live wallpaper option isn’t showing in Nugget
- Reopen the Nugget app and refresh the tweaks
- Double-check that your iPhone model is supported
- Try reinstalling Nugget if it disappears after a reboot
If the wallpaper doesn’t change or looks frozen
- Set a regular static wallpaper first
- Then go back and apply the live one again
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to jailbreak your iPhone just to give it a little personality. Nugget iOS makes it simple to bring live wallpapers to life, even on the latest iOS versions. I found the setup easy, and once it was done, the results were pretty cool.
If you want to explore more with Nugget, you can also look into changing app icons, applying system themes, or tweaking gestures. There’s a lot you can do once you get comfortable.
Take your time, test things out, and most importantly, enjoy the new look of your lock screen.