How to set a live wallpaper on Windows 11
Windows 11 has no built-in live wallpaper feature, so you set one with a free app such as Lively Wallpaper: install the app, add your downloaded MP4 or WebM loop, and apply it as your desktop background. The loop then animates behind your desktop icons.
Unlike a static image, a Windows 11 desktop can't play video as a wallpaper on its own. The standard, no-cost solution is Lively Wallpaper, a free open-source app available in the Microsoft Store. The steps below set a downloaded loop as your animated background.
Steps
- 1
Download the live wallpaper
Open the live wallpaper on LWP.gg and download the MP4 or WebM loop to your PC.
- 2
Install a live-wallpaper app
Open the Microsoft Store, search for Lively Wallpaper, and install it (it's free). Other apps such as Wallpaper Engine work the same way.
- 3
Add your loop
In Lively Wallpaper, click the + (Add Wallpaper) button and select the MP4 or WebM file you downloaded.
- 4
Set it as your background
Click the loop in Lively to apply it. If you have multiple monitors, choose which display it should animate on. The loop now plays behind your desktop icons.
Questions answered.
Does Windows 11 support live wallpapers natively?
No. Windows 11 only supports still images, slideshows, and solid colors as wallpapers out of the box. To play an animated video loop you need a free third-party app such as Lively Wallpaper.
Is Lively Wallpaper free?
Yes. Lively Wallpaper is a free, open-source app available in the Microsoft Store. It plays MP4 and WebM video loops, GIFs, and web pages as your Windows desktop background.
Do live wallpapers slow down Windows 11?
A short looping clip uses some GPU and CPU, but most live-wallpaper apps pause playback automatically when an app is running full-screen or on battery power, keeping the performance cost low.
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