How to Get Live Wallpapers on Windows 11 (2024)

Quick Links

  • Download Lively Wallpaper From the Microsoft Store

  • Select a Live Wallpaper From Lively Wallpaper's Library

  • Set a Custom Video, YouTube Video, or GIF as a Wallpaper

  • Set an Animated Wallpaper on Multiple Monitors

  • Close Lively Wallpaper

Key Takeaways

  • Lively Wallpaper is a third-party app that allows you to set live wallpapers on Windows 11, it's free and can be downloaded from the Microsoft Store.
  • Lively Wallpaper comes with a library of live wallpapers to choose from, and you can also set custom videos, YouTube videos, or GIFs as wallpapers. You can customize the placement and set wallpapers on multiple monitors.
  • Wallpaper Engine is paid software that allows you to have animated desktops as well. It is available on Steam.

Tired of your still desktop background? You can liven things up by setting a live wallpaper or animated desktop background. Unfortunately, there's no native way to do this in Windows 11, but there's a handy third-party app you can use.

Download Lively Wallpaper From the Microsoft Store

You can set a live desktop background in Windows 11, but to do so, you'll need to use a third-party application.

There are many apps out there that claim to live up to the task at hand, but beware of downloading third-party apps unless you know and trust the developers. Many of these apps may contain viruses that infect your computer.

Our recommended app is Lively Wallpaper, a free and open-source app. You can download Lively Wallpaper from the Microsoft Store. To get this app, click the Windows Search icon in the taskbar, type "Microsoft Store" in the Search box, and then select Microsoft Store from the search results.

How to Get Live Wallpapers on Windows 11 (1)

In Microsoft Store, type "Lively Wallpaper" in the Search bar and then choose the Lively Wallpaper app from the search results.

How to Get Live Wallpapers on Windows 11 (2)

Next, you'll see some information about the application. Click "Get" to the right of this info.

How to Get Live Wallpapers on Windows 11 (3)

Once selected, Lively Wallpaper will begin downloading. After it's installed, you can search for it using Windows Search.

How to Get Live Wallpapers on Windows 11 (4)

Click Lively Wallpaper from the search results to launch the app.

Select a Live Wallpaper From Lively Wallpaper's Library

Lively Wallpaper comes equipped with several live wallpapers for you to choose from. To use one, simply open the app and then select the one you want from the library. In this example, we'll choose Parallax.js.

How to Get Live Wallpapers on Windows 11 (5)

That's all there is to it. The live wallpaper is now set.

Set a Custom Video, YouTube Video, or GIF as a Wallpaper

If you don't find a wallpaper you like from Lively Wallpaper's library, you can set your own using a video or GIF on your PC, or even using a YouTube video.

To get started, open the app and then click the Plus (+) icon in the left-hand pane.

How to Get Live Wallpapers on Windows 11 (6)

On the next screen, if you want to choose a video or GIF from your PC, click "Browse" under Select File.

How to Get Live Wallpapers on Windows 11 (7)

File Explorer will open. Locate the video or GIF you want to use, select it, and then click "Open."

How to Get Live Wallpapers on Windows 11 (8)

Or, if you want to use a YouTube video, enter the URL of the YouTube video in the "Enter URL" text box and then click the right arrow button.

How to Get Live Wallpapers on Windows 11 (9)

Whether you chose a local video or GIF, or a YouTube video, it will appear in the app's library. Click the Library button (three books) in the left-hand pane, and then choose the newly uploaded video or GIF.

How to Get Live Wallpapers on Windows 11 (10)

Once selected, it will appear as your desktop background.

Set an Animated Wallpaper on Multiple Monitors

If you're using multiple monitors, you may notice that the wallpaper you selected is only applied to one screen. To set the live wallpaper on other monitors, open the app and click the Control Panel (monitor) icon in the top-right corner of the window.

How to Get Live Wallpapers on Windows 11 (11)

The app's Control Panel will appear. The default placement method is "Selected Screen Only," which means that the wallpaper you select will only be displayed on the selected screen. To set a wallpaper on the other screen, select it in the Choose Display group.

How to Get Live Wallpapers on Windows 11 (12)

Once selected, go back to the app's library and choose the wallpaper you want to place on the other screen.

You can also change the placement method of the selected wallpaper. That is, you can choose to make the selected wallpaper stretch across all screens or duplicate the same wallpaper on each screen. Just click the bubble next to the option you want to use.

How to Get Live Wallpapers on Windows 11 (13)

Close Lively Wallpaper

If you decide you want to stop using the live wallpaper you set using Lively Wallpaper, open the app and then click the Control Panel (monitor) icon in the top-right corner of the window.

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In the app's Control Panel, click "Close Wallpapers" in the bottom-right corner of the window.

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The wallpaper will be removed.

There are also other options if you're willing to spend a few dollars — Wallpaper Engine is available on Steam and extremely popular.

Not interested in using a third-party app? While there's no native way to use live wallpapers with Windows 11, Microsoft did a great job providing a ton of beautiful wallpapers for its OS — and changing the desktop background is easy.

  • Windows
  • Windows 11
  • Features

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How to Get Live Wallpapers on Windows 11 (2024)

FAQs

How do I get more wallpapers on Windows 11? ›

Select Start , then select Settings > Personalization > Themes. Choose from a default theme or select Get more themes from Microsoft Store if you want to download new themes with desktop backgrounds that feature cute critters, breathtaking landscapes, and other smile-inducing options.

How do I get more live wallpapers? ›

Open Google Play or Amazon Apps and Games and search for “live wallpapers.” Install the live wallpaper of your choice. From your home screen, click Wallpapers → Live Wallpapers. Tap the name of the live wallpaper and click Apply.

How do I get new wallpapers for Windows 11 everyday? ›

Change your desktop background image
  1. Select Start > Settings > Personalization > Background.
  2. In the list next to Personalize your background, select Picture, Solid color, Slideshow, or Windows Spotlight (to see a new image from around the world every day).

How to set live wallpaper in Windows 11 without apps? ›

To configure a live wallpaper, select the ellipsis on the individual tile.
  1. Select About to check the source files on its GitHub page.
  2. Select Preview to get an idea of the animation's appearance before you set it as a wallpaper.
  3. Open Customize to tweak the options for your wallpaper choice. The options differ for each.
Mar 13, 2024

How to use wallpaper alive? ›

Open Wallpaper Alive by pressing the arrow on your taskbar and make a rightklick at the WA sign and press Edit Wallpaper. Press Upload File than chose the Picture / Video you want as Wallpaper, press OPEN and press Save Changes. Press Steam Workshop, chose your Wallpaper and subscribe to it.

How do I trigger a live photo wallpaper? ›

How to make a live wallpaper
  1. Go into your Settings app.
  2. Choose Wallpaper. Go into the wallpaper section of your settings. ...
  3. Tap Choose a New Wallpaper. Tap "Choose a New Wallpaper." ...
  4. Choose a live photo to use. ...
  5. Tap Set, and then choose Set Lock Screen, Set Home Screen, or Set Both for your new wallpaper.
Oct 20, 2022

Do live wallpapers drain data? ›

Things that are live use more power than things that are static. Perhaps your question is how much does that wallpaper use compared to other things that run on your phone. Yes, dynamic wallpapers drain the battery faster than static wallpapers. Also, a photo used as a wallpaper uses more memory than a solid colour.

How to set online wallpaper in Windows 11? ›

How do I change my Windows 11 wallpaper?
  1. Click the on-screen Windows button or press the Windows button on your keyboard.
  2. Click Settings.
  3. Go to Personalization.
  4. Choose Background.
  5. Select an already available image or click Browse to search for an image you've saved to your PC.
May 29, 2022

Where are Windows 11 wallpapers stores? ›

Right-click desktop > Personalize > Background. Select a single picture, a color, or a folder of photos. Default Windows 11 wallpapers are stored in C:\Windows\Web\.

How do I put live wallpapers on Windows? ›

Using Desktop Live Wallpapers

To open the Microsoft Store, you can either click the shopping bag icon in the taskbar or click the Start logo and look through the Start menu. First, click the search bar that's at the top of your screen, then type in "Desktop Live Wallpapers" and press Enter on your keyboard.

Can you put live wallpaper on lock screen Windows 11? ›

To avoid screen burn-in on that monitor, you cannot set a live wallpaper in the Windows 11 lock screen, you can set the lock screen to a slideshow of photos you have stored on your PC, or you can use one of the old animated screensavers, they should still work in Windows 11, they are accessible from Settings - ...

Does Windows 11 allow GIF wallpapers? ›

Setting GIFs as wallpapers on Windows 11 is a new feature, adding a fresh layer of customization to your desktop experience. It's an exciting addition that allows you to infuse personality and entertainment into your everyday computer use.

How do I get live tiles on Windows 11? ›

How to Create Live Tiles in Windows 11
  1. Click the All Apps tab and find the app you want to create a Live Tile for.
  2. Right-click on it and select Create a Widget. ...
  3. Repeat this process to create any Live Tiles you want to display.
  4. The tiles can be positioned anywhere, either individually or as a group.
Oct 6, 2022

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