How to Get Live & Animated Wallpapers For Windows 10
By Riley
Published March 20, 2023
How to Get Live & Animated Wallpapers For Windows 10
Inside This Article
Do you want to get animated and live wallpapers that Windows 10 users can apply? We all know that desktop wallpaper images are fairly important to the average user. It might not be necessary, but customizing your wallpapers certainly gives you a sense of fulfillment.
That’s because it not only makes your workspace pretty (therefore, boosting motivation), but it also expresses your identity and creativity. As a result, many folks tend to tailor their wallpaper to their preferences — whatever art, photograph, or scenery they like.
However, did you know you can also get animated wallpapers Windows 10 users can apply to the desktop? Unlike in previous decades, Windows has evolved and now even accepts live wallpapers. What are they and how can you apply them? Let’s find out.
Key Takeaways
- Windows 10 users can get animated and live wallpapers through apps.
- Wallpaper Engine, Stardock DeskScapes 10, and PUSH Video Wallpaper are some apps that can be used to download live wallpaper images on Windows 10.
- Wallpaper Engine allows users to create or import custom-made animated wallpapers and supports the most popular file formats.
- Stardock DeskScapes 10 costs $7.99 and offers seven video clips and live images for customization, while the beta version costs $2.99.
- PUSH Video Wallpaper also offers tools and capabilities for playing animated wallpapers on a loop, with a one-time price of $7.46.
What Is An Animated Wallpaper?
An animated wallpaper acts sort of similarly to dynamic and live wallpaper backgrounds. However, instead of simply moving upon a simple click or scroll, animated wallpapers usually move all the time. Think of them as something like a GIF or short video made into your desktop background playing on a loop.
Therefore, an animated wallpaper is a short animation that plays continuously on your home screen. It makes your screen more dynamic by replacing your standard background’s regular static image. Hence, it’s one way to add more interest to your device and show off to your friends.
With that said, animated wallpapers Windows 10 users apply may refer to both dynamic or fully animated backgrounds. In the proceeding sections, we’ll discuss the different tools for Windows 10 users can employ.
If you're looking for dynamic wallpapers for Mac, head over to our article for the 8 Best Live Mac Wallpaper Apps.
How To Get Animated Wallpapers For Windows 10
Despite the demand for animated wallpapers on Windows 10, unfortunately, Microsoft did not incorporate this feature into their operating system. That being said, there are still ways to get your favorite moving backgrounds - through apps! You can save money by looking at free programs or go all out with one of the paid options available. Either way, you'll be sure to make a splash with an added touch of liveliness and energy that only comes from vibrant animations on your desktop screen!
1. Wallpaper Engine
If you're looking for a unique way to really make your Windows 10 desktop pop, Wallpaper Engine is the perfect solution. Not only can it easily be purchased via Steam at an affordable price of just $5 but users have access to both custom-made and imported animated wallpapers! So no matter if you’re experienced or new to this kind of customization, there's something amazing waiting out there that'll transform your screen in seconds.
Apart from this, Wallpaper Engine also supports native resolutions and the most well-known aspect ratios. Thus, you can easily create or find wallpapers even if you own an unconventionally sized monitor with a wider screen.
In addition, Wallpaper Engine supports animated background images made from still photos, video files, or websites. It also accommodates most of the popular file formats like WMV, WebM, AVI, M4V, MOV, and MP4.
Finally, the app is pretty user-friendly despite being so powerful. You only need to choose from a group of preset live backgrounds or import something you made upon launching it. Afterward, the app lets you edit various elements using the settings.
On the other hand, remember that Wallpaper Engine will run much more smoothly on machines with dedicated graphics cards. It’s not required, but it certainly helps if you don’t want to configure it to run on low-resource computers. Moreover, having a dedicated GPU will make the process much faster and smoother with fewer lags.
2. Stardock DeskScapes 10
Stardock DeskScapes 10 is the perfect way to add some pizzazz and color to your Windows 10 experience. With seven engaging video clips plus live images at your disposal, you can customize any look or feel in just a few clicks - from tranquil blues with soft transitions, to vibrant oranges punctuated by bold accents! So why settle for an ordinary background when you could have something truly extraordinary?
With a few simple clicks, you can give your desktop an instant makeover with our software. From animated wallpapers to screensavers and more, the app has everything you need to spruce up your workspace - or go all out and purchase object Desktop for some truly unique customizations!
Overall, Stardock DeskScapes 10 is a wonderful tool. It costs only $7.99. However, there’s also a cheaper Stardock DeskScapes 11 version in beta that only costs $2.99. Of course, the latter software will have a bit more glitches because it’s still in beta.
Nonetheless, it’s certainly affordable overall. You can also try out Stardock Deskscapes for free using the 30-day free trial.
3. PUSH Video Wallpaper
PUSH Video Wallpaper is another great software for animated wallpapers that users can employ. Likewise, this program is a paid app — though it does come with a free trial. Through the app, you get many of the same tools and capabilities as the previous two programs.
For example, this app allows you to play animated wallpapers on a loop upon opening it. Apart from this, you can also use either a single video or make a playlist of multiple clips. Moreover, the clips you include can even have audio so you’ll get the full context from each.
Make your Windows 10 desktop come alive with vibrant, dynamic animated wallpapers from PUSH Video Wallpaper. Instead of getting stuck in a boring loop of the same backdrop over and over again, enjoy feature-length films or episodes straight from your favorite series right on your screen! With a one-time price tag of just $7.46 - relive some cherished moments today that’ll last all year long નand further!
4. Rainmeter
You can customize your desktop for free on Windows 10! Take advantage of Rainmeter, an open-source personalization program designed to provide a library of animated wallpapers. Spice up and energize your monitor with the perfect new look today!
Through this app, you can customize almost anything you want on your desktop. This not only lets you customize your animated wallpapers but also your dock and widgets. Moreover, the app even provides you with beautiful, coherent themes to apply if you’re running out of creative juice.
When it comes to animated desktop backgrounds that Windows 10 computers use, it only asks you to provide a photo or GIF. Afterward, Rainmeter can apply some dynamic movement to your still photo, thus making it a dynamic wallpaper. If you use a GIF, the app will play it on a loop as your desktop background.
Best of all, apart from being completely free, Rainmeter also isn’t resource-intensive. Hence, even if your PC is lower-end or less powerful, it should run without a hitch.
5. Plastuer
Make your Windows desktop come to life with Plastuer and its wide range of live wallpaper options! This user-friendly application allows you to easily save GIFs from the web or find them in Windows Explorer, so they can be transformed into unique backgrounds. Making these dynamic changes is a breeze – simply paste in the URL or choose the file, pick your display setting, and voila - instant decoration that stands out amongst traditional wallpapers!
Plastuer makes it easy to create personalized and engaging backgrounds with quick access to an extensive library of GIFs. Plus, you have the ability to make playlists that can be looped for continuous entertainment. So don't worry about spending hours searching other sites -- take advantage of this unique program at a low cost!
6. The Desktop Live Wallpaper App
Unleash your creativity and bring color to life with the Desktop Live Wallpaper app on the Microsoft Store! Give any video the power of transformation as a vibrant, interactive wallpaper on up to three different screens. Your PC is sure to stay running smoothly too; this smart technology only plays wallpapers when you’re not using them - conserving battery and CPU resources for more important tasks at hand. Get ready for an innovative experience like no other!
Desktop Live Wallpaper offers a free, convenient way to spruce up your computer's desktop with moving visuals - so long as you’re willing to jump through some hoops. While not natively supporting other file formats save WMV, users can purchase the Pro version for access to an expanded range of media support and features. Either way, adding life and vibrancy has never been easier!
7. VLC Media Player
VLC Media Player might be an unexpected addition to the list. However, this powerful video player also has a hidden ability: that is it can convert videos into wallpapers. All you must do is load up your video in VLC.
Afterward, choose “Video” from the menu and press “Set as wallpaper.” This will prompt the app to set the video to full-screen mode. Then whenever you hit the Windows key, the taskbar, and other apps should open on top of your video.
For a constant, slick background look no further than VLC: the only choice for playing long animations or movies. Choose wisely though – whilst it'll stop and start whenever you want, looping is unfortunately beyond its reach!
Are Live And Animated Wallpapers Available For Windows 10?
If you're looking to really liven up your desktop, VLC is the perfect tool for setting a lasting visual scene. Whether it's an extended animation or movie that needs playing on loop - just make sure your clip is suitably lengthy! Better still, with VLC at hand, moments of eye-catching entertainment are guaranteed each time you power up.
With the right tools, you can effortlessly turn your Windows desktop into a one-of-a-kind design. Thanks to smart programs, adding animated wallpapers and custom icons is just a few clicks away! There are also plenty of widgets available for further personalization - allowing you to jazz up your home screen with more than just static images.
As an added bonus, it doesn’t even have to stop there; some utilities grant users access to revamping their dock or start menu as well. The possibilities are truly endless when it comes to customized desktops – so why not get creative today?
Pros And Cons Of Animated Wallpapers
Although many of us enjoy the liveliness that comes with animated wallpapers, if you take a closer look there are some cons to consider. From potential compatibility issues and battery drain on your device to distracting movement in the background which could cause more stress than relaxation - when it comes down to it, is having an animated wallpaper really worth all these losses? Let’s find out!
Pros
With live wallpapers, you can bring a little extra life to your home screen! Transform any digital surface with the memories of days past or add some inspiring scenes for when motivation flags. Unlock an entire vibrant world beyond static images and give yourself something enjoyable as well as functional in your work environment.
Cons
Live wallpapers may be appealing, but they can have a detrimental effect on your computer's performance. While attractive visuals help brighten up desktops, laptops tend to suffer from battery drain due to the increased energy demands of animated backgrounds. This lag in speed and decreased productivity means that live wallpaper is better suited for desktop than laptop users who require quick and efficient access without interruption or distraction.
Final Word
While the OS doesn’t natively support animated desktop background images, it’s certainly possible to get live backgrounds. Through various third-party apps and programs, you can easily create or apply one without problems.
Some make still images more dynamic while others accept GIFs or videos. The software you use will all depend on your requirements. However, even the free option, Rainmeter, is already powerful enough to handle almost any type you want.