How to Customize Your iPhone Lock Screen with Animated Backgrounds Using Nugget on iOS 17+ (2025 Guide)

Hey there, iPhone fans! Want to take your lock screen game to the next level with stunning animated backgrounds—like cherry blossoms falling or Mario bouncing around? I’m diving deep into a slick customization trick using the Nugget program, perfect for iOS 17 and above (yes, even iOS 18.4 beta works as of March 31, 2025!). I’ve tested this myself, and trust me—it’s a game-changer for making your iPhone feel uniquely you. In this step-by-step guide, I’ll show you how to set up dynamic wallpapers that shift seamlessly between Always-On Display (AOD), lock, and home screens, complete with cool effects like clouds passing behind the clock. Ready to impress your friends? Let’s get started!

Why Animated Lock Screens Matter in 2025

Apple’s stock lock screen options are gorgeous—think live weather or astronomy wallpapers—but they’re limited. Sure, Live Photos worked in the past, but they were clunky and lacked the fluidity of, say, petals drifting across your screen. With Nugget, a third-party tool, you can unlock a treasure trove of custom animated backgrounds without jailbreaking your iPhone. I’ve seen setups where the clock ducks behind moving clouds or Mario hops naturally across the display—way smoother than Apple’s defaults. Plus, it’s a fun way to flex your creativity while keeping your device fresh. Just a heads-up: this isn’t an official Apple method, so we’ll cover risks and safety tips too.

What You’ll Need Before You Start

Here’s your checklist:

• iPhone running iOS 17 or later: I tested this on iOS 18.4 beta 3, and it’s golden. Older versions like iOS 18.1.1 patched some Nugget features (e.g., camera shutter silencing), but animated wallpapers still work.
• A PC or Mac: Windows or macOS both do the trick.
• Nugget v5.0+: The latest version (5.0.2) is ideal, but I’ll stick with 5.0 for simplicity since some users hit antivirus flags with newer builds.
• USB cable: To connect your iPhone to your computer.
• Backup: Seriously, back up your iPhone via iCloud or iTunes first. Nugget’s safe-ish, but unofficial tools can glitch.

Step 1: Prep Your iPhone

Let’s tweak a few settings to make Nugget play nice:

1. Disable Find My iPhone:
   • Open Settings > tap your Apple ID at the top > Find My > Find My iPhone.
   • Toggle it off. If it’s grayed out, head to Settings > Face ID & Passcode, scroll down, and disable Stolen Device Protection. Note: This might delay deactivation by an hour for security—plan ahead!
2. Unlock Your iPhone: Keep it ready for the next step.

You can re-enable Find My later without issues—I did, and everything stayed smooth.

Step 2: Download and Set Up Nugget

Now, grab the Nugget program:

• Visit the Source: Head to a trusted site like nekojb.com (or check GitHub links in iPhone customization communities). Look for Nugget v5.0 under downloads.
• For Windows:
  • Download the .zip, extract it, and run Nugget.exe. If Windows flags it as a virus, don’t panic—the developer claims it’s clean, and open-source code backs that up. I bypassed it with a quick “Run anyway” click.
• For Mac:
  • Download the .dmg, open it, and drag Nugget to Applications. If it won’t launch, go to System Settings > Privacy & Security, and hit “Open Anyway” when it shows as blocked.
• Connect Your iPhone: Plug it into your computer via USB. Unlock your iPhone, and when “Trust this computer?” pops up, tap Trust and enter your passcode. If it doesn’t connect, hit the refresh button in Nugget.

You’ll see your iPhone listed in the Nugget window—mine showed up as “iPhone 14” instantly.

Step 3: Get Custom Animated Wallpapers

Time to pick your vibe:

• Find Wallpapers: Check out sites like yangjiii.xyz or community hubs (Reddit’s r/iPhone has great threads). You’re looking for .tendies files—think cherry blossoms, Mario animations, or abstract swirls.
• Download: I grabbed a cute bunny-themed one with hopping animations. Click the download button (usually bottom-right) and save it to your computer.

Step 4: Apply the Wallpaper with Nugget

Here’s the magic:

1. Open Nugget: With your iPhone connected, click Poster Board on the left.
2. Import the File:
   • Check the Modify box.
   • Hit Import File, then select your .tendies file. It’ll appear in the list below.
3. Apply Changes:
   • Click Apply on the left, then Apply Changes. Your iPhone will reboot automatically—don’t unplug it!
4. Set It Up:
   • After reboot, long-press your lock screen > tap + (Add New) > scroll to Collections.
   • Your custom wallpaper should be there. If it’s missing, wait a minute—it sometimes lags. Tap it, then Set as Wallpaper Pair.

Boom! My screen now has bunnies hopping across it—super smooth and adorable.

Step 5: Fine-Tune and Manage

• Adjust Settings: Long-press the lock screen again to tweak widgets or fonts if you want. The animation runs behind everything naturally.
• Remove Custom Wallpapers: Reconnect to Nugget, go to Poster Board, hit Clear, and Apply Changes. This wipes all custom backgrounds—even Apple’s defaults—so re-add them via the same import process if needed.
• Post-Update Tip: iOS updates might reset this. Reapply after updating, though my applied wallpaper stuck around post-reboot.

Why Nugget Stands Out

Nugget’s been a quiet hero in the iPhone tweaking scene. It used to unlock features like silent camera shutters (patched in iOS 18.1.1+), but its lock screen powers are still alive in 2025. Unlike jailbreaking, it’s low-risk—no voided warranties—and the animated results beat Apple’s static offerings hands-down. I’ve run it on my iPhone 14 for weeks without crashes, though I’d avoid sketchy sources for files.

Risks and Safety Tips

Let’s be real—this isn’t Apple-approved:

• Potential Bugs: Unofficial tools can misfire. One user on X reported a boot loop (rare, but possible). Backup first!
• Apple Updates: Future patches might block this, like the camera tweak. My iOS 18.4 beta worked, but stay vigilant.
• Trust Factor: Stick to verified Nugget versions (e.g., v5.0 from nekojb). Skip shady downloads—check community feedback first.

Why It’s Worth It

After testing, I’m hooked. The freedom to swap in a Mario-themed lock screen or falling petals beats Apple’s rigid options. It’s quick—5 minutes tops—and the results are buttery smooth. Compared to Live Photos, Nugget’s animations feel alive, not gimmicky. Plus, it’s free (just your time and a download).

Final Thoughts

Customizing your iPhone lock screen with Nugget is a 2025 must-try for anyone craving personality in their tech. From setup to stunning animations, it’s a breeze once you know the steps. Give it a shot—grab a cool .tendies file, fire up Nugget, and watch your screen transform. Got a favorite custom wallpaper? Drop it in the comments! If you found this guide helpful, hit that like button and subscribe for more iPhone hacks. Happy tweaking!