Windows 11 live wallpapers

How to set live desktop wallpapers on Windows 11

Yes, you can set live wallpapers on Windows 11, but you need to use a third-party app.

  • To set live wallpapers on Windows 11, install “Lively Wallpaper,” open the app, click on “Library,” right-click the live wallpaper, and choose “Set as Wallpaper.”

On Windows 11, you can set live wallpapers with animations on the desktop, but not officially. You can use a live background on Windows 11 similar to those animated wallpapers on Android with the “Lively Wallpaper” app available through the Microsoft Store.

What’s Lively Wallpaper?

Lively Wallpaper is an open-source application that allows you to set videos, webpages, and GIF images as desktop wallpapers and screensavers. The application offers a library with many live wallpapers you can choose from to set as background on Windows 11, but you can always add custom ones.

In addition, the app offers a feature that uses AI to convert a static image into a dynamic wallpaper that adds depth effects as you move the mouse around the desktop.

This guide will teach you how to set animated wallpapers on Windows 11.

Set live desktop wallpaper on Windows 11

If you want to set live wallpapers on Windows 11, you must install the app and select the animation.

Install Lively Wallpaper app on Windows 11

To install the Lively Wallpaper app, use these steps:

  1. Open Lively Wallpaper app on the Microsoft Store.

  2. Click the Get in Store app button.

    Lively Wallpaper install

  3. Click the Install button.

Once you complete the steps, you can use the app to set living wallpapers on your desktop.

Alternatively, you can install the app from Command Prompt (admin) using the winget install --id 9NTM2QC6QWS7 command with the Windows Package Manager.

Choose and set live wallpaper

To set a live wallpaper as a background on the Windows 11 desktop, use these steps:

  1. Open Lively Wallpaper app.

  2. Click on Library.

  3. Choose one of the animated wallpapers.

  4. Click the menu (three-dotted) button and select the “Set as Wallpaper” option.

    Set live wallpaper on Windows 11

  5. (Optional) Click the Customize option from the context menu to adjust the settings depending on the wallpaper features, such as color, quality, animation speed, and more.

    Lively Wallpaper customization

After you complete the steps, the live wallpaper will apply to the desktop. Also, depending on the animation, you may get some interactions. For example, if you set the “Fluids” option, the desktop will react to the system volume and cursor. And the “Periodic Table” option highlights each element, and you move the cursor over the table.

Create custom live wallpaper

The Lively Wallpaper app also allows you to create custom moving backgrounds using video and GIF files locally stored on your computer. Or you can use videos from YouTube or other sources and even websites.

To create a custom live wallpaper, use these steps:

  1. Open Lively Wallpaper app.

  2. Click on Library.

  3. Click the Add wallpaper button from the top-right.

    Lively add wallpaper option

  4. Select the option to add a new wallpaper: 

    • The “Choose a file” option allows you to load animation files (such as GIF or video) locally stored on your computer. 
    • The “Enter URL” option allows you to provide the link with the video (for example, a YouTube video or website).

    Create a custom wallpaper

  5. Continue with the on-screen directions (if applicable).

  6. (Optional) Click the menu (three-dotted) button and select the “Set as Wallpaper” option.

  7. Click the Customize option from the context menu to adjust the available settings.

Once you complete the steps, the live wallpaper will apply to the desktop.

You can always delete any of the wallpaper by clicking the menu (three-dotted) button in the item and selecting the “Delete” option and the “OK” button.

Create custom depth wallpaper

In addition, the app also offers an option to create moving wallpapers using AI to convert an image into a dynamic image that uses depth effects. This feature is similar to the “Depth Effects” feature that Microsoft is working to bring to Windows 11.

To create a custom live wallpaper, use these steps:

  1. Open Lively Wallpaper app.

  2. Click on Library.

  3. Click the Add wallpaper button from the top-right.

    Lively add wallpaper option

  4. Click the Advanced setting.

    Lively  Advanced option

  5. Click the Download button to get the required package. (You only have to do this once.)

    AI Depth Wallpaper package download

  6. Click the Depth Wallpaper.

    Depth Wallpaper option

  7. Choose the image to process and add the depth effects with AI.

    Quick tip: It’s best to select an image so the app can easily detect its elements.
  8. Click the Open button.

  9. Click the Continue button.

After you complete the steps, the wallpaper will apply, and you can move the mouse around the desktop to experience the depth effect.

Configure live wallpaper on multiple monitors

Lively Wallpapers includes support to set the same different backgrounds on all your monitors.

To apply a wallpaper on multiple monitors, use these steps:

  1. Open Lively Wallpaper app.

  2. Click on Library.

  3. Click the Active Wallpapers button from the top-right.

    Lively Active wallpaper option

  4. Choose the placement method, including:

    • Selected screen only: The background image will apply to the currently selected monitor.
    • Span across screens: The same background span across monitors.
    • Duplicate same wallpaper: The same image will apply to all displays.

    Lively multi-monitor settings

  5. Check the “Always pick screen when choosing wallpaper” option so that when you click the image, you will get the option to choose the display. (This feature only works when the “Selected screen only” option is selected.)

  6. Click the OK button.

  7. Click the menu (three-dotted) button and select the “Set as Wallpaper” option.

Once you complete the steps, the wallpaper will apply to the different screens, depending on your configuration.

Configure Lively Wallpaper as screensaver on Windows 11

To set a live wallpaper as a screensaver on Windows 11, use these steps:

  1. Open Lively Wallpaper app.

  2. Click on Library.

  3. Click the Active Wallpapers button from the top-right.

    Lively Active wallpaper option

  4. Click the Screensaver tab.

  5. Click the “One time setup required to run screensaver” option.

    Lively Screensaver settings

    Quick note: This action will open the web browser on the Lively GitHub page. On that page, continue with the “Windows Screensaver file” steps under the “Setup instructions” section. This requires downloading and extracting a “.zip” file into the C:\Windows\ folder, and then right-clicking the “.scr” file and choosing the “Install” option.
  6. Choose the Lively option from the “Screen saver” settings.

    Windows 11 screensaver settings

  7. Click the OK button.

  8. Click the Wallpaper tab.

  9. Click the Screensaver tab to refresh the screen and have access to the feature.

  10. Click the OK button.

After you complete the steps, the running wallpaper will become the screensaver on Windows 11.

Other details about Lively Wallpaper

The app also has a “Gallery” section but doesn’t offer anything at this time. On the “Settings” page (click the gear button on the top-right), you can control the startup behavior and rules to minimize performance impact, and there’s even an option to control the Taskbar theme to make it blurry, fully transparent and more from the “System” tab.

The “General” tab includes the settings to control the app at startup and theme colors. You will also find the path where the app saves the wallpaper files, and you can also choose the option to prevent animation previews within the app.

Lively general settings
Lively general settings

In the “Performance” tab, since these wallpapers are animated images, they will require extra system resources, and on this page, you can control the wallpaper playback and how the app should behave on laptops or when using specific features. For example, Lively will pause automatically when using an app or game on full screen or accessing the device through a Remote Desktop session. Finally, you can also set a rule to stop the animation when running on battery.

Lively Wallpaper settings
Lively Performance settings

In the “Wallpaper” tab, you can choose the default settings when applying new wallpaper, such as fit and input for interaction, and you can choose the plugins to play video, display the web page, or GIF image on the screen.

Lively wallpaper settings
Lively wallpaper settings

The “System” tab includes log and debug files. You can learn more about this project on GitHub.

Update February 5, 2024: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect changes to the process as well as highlight more features.

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].