Live Wallpapers for Windows 10 and Windows 11 Desktop

Live wallpapers add a unique, dynamic feel to your desktop. While Windows 10 and Windows 11 don’t natively support animated wallpapers, several third-party apps make it easy to set live wallpapers on your computer.

Popular Apps for Setting Live Wallpapers

  • Lively Wallpaper: a free, open-source app that lets you use GIFs, videos, and web pages as desktop backgrounds. It supports modern web technologies and various video formats. Developer's Website.
  • Wallpaper Engine: a paid app available on Steam that supports multiple types of animated wallpapers, including 3D and 2D animations, websites, and videos. It also lets you create your own wallpapers and share them in the Steam Workshop. Steam Page.
  • Desktop Live Wallpapers: a free app that allows you to set video files as your desktop background. It supports multiple monitors and different DPI settings. Microsoft Store Page.

Setting Up Live Wallpapers with Lively Wallpaper

  1. Download and install Lively Wallpaper from the official website or via the Microsoft Store.
  2. Open the app and choose one of the preloaded wallpapers, or add your own by clicking “Add Wallpaper.”
  3. To set custom wallpapers, you can use local video files, GIFs, or YouTube links.
  4. Adjust wallpaper settings, such as brightness, contrast, and playback speed, in the app’s settings section.

Tips for Using Live Wallpapers

Be mindful of system performance when using live wallpapers. Some apps, like Lively Wallpaper, automatically pause the wallpaper when you open full-screen applications or games to conserve system resources. It's a good idea to explore the app’s settings and select the best options for your computer’s performance.