Previously we shared different alternatives to Wallpaper Engine that let you add a video as your desktop wallpaper, but we never explored options to get compatible content. If you've come to the conclusion that your environment can't stay still and you want to download animated wallpaper backgrounds, in this article you'll find several sources that will be very useful.
Videos and Animated GIFs: Your Priority
Why? The reason is simple: While it's tempting to download animated wallpapers from Wallpaper Engine, some of them use the .pkg format and are rendered in real time. That makes converting them to video very complicated at best, and Wallpaper Engine's own documentation recommends using tools like OBS Studio or Screen to Gif to 'record' the animated background. The good news is that many creators prefer to ignore .pkg and offer their backgrounds in an MP4 loop. That's what we're looking for.
Best Animated Wallpapers: Steam
The most obvious first: Wallpaper Engine's Workshop on Steam has an impressive catalog of animated wallpaper backgrounds. Even if we filter content type to 'video' (which you should), the site reports more than half a million entries.
When it comes to downloading the background, you can use AutoWall (which will handle the process automatically), or the Steam Workshop Downloader site, where you just enter the background URL and wait a few seconds. One last suggestion: Try to explore the Wallpaper Engine Workshop in private, because there's a lot of NSFW material. Don't get into trouble!
MyLiveWallpapers
With more than 300 pages of content divided into 14 different categories, MyLiveWallpapers is an excellent stop to get high-quality animated wallpaper backgrounds. The site uses MEGA as a mirror (usually when the video is very large), offers a link for each available video resolution, and we found versions suitable for mobile devices (don't forget to watch battery consumption). It also has its own tool to load animated backgrounds called MLWapp, in case you want to try it.
Wallpaper Waifu
Don't let the name and logo fool you. The site has a significant amount of waifus, but the story doesn't end there. The preview system will help you check if the animated background is what you're looking for, and like MyLiveWallpapers, it also has mobile editions. Now, Wallpaper Waifu's server isn't the fastest in the world, the quality isn't always consistent (some videos suffer too much compression), and to start the download you'll have to do a lot of scrolling (it's the two green buttons that appear below), but it's definitely worth studying its content.
Live Wallpapers 4 Free
Much simpler compared to the rest, but that doesn't make it less interesting. Live Wallpapers 4 Free uses 14 categories to organize its content, includes presets focused on 4K and 2K resolutions (2560 x 1440), and downloads are direct. Personally, I recommend starting with 4K wallpapers. Even if your monitor isn't compatible with that resolution (or rather, doesn't use it natively), I'm sure you'll appreciate the extra quality, and in the process you'll avoid those shorts with excessive compression.
Imgur
A site that often goes unnoticed when downloading animated wallpaper backgrounds is Imgur. Its users often do 'dumps' of GIFs and small MP4 videos that are ideal to use as animated wallpapers. The link we share here is just a simple selection, but don't hesitate to search for more. There are entire galleries dedicated to Star Wars, a lot of DC, and all the pixel art you could want.
Animated Wallpapers: In Summary
Well... I think you're full of options. No matter the theme or resolution, you'll likely find the ideal animated wallpaper backgrounds for your devices. The best part? All of this is free, from the recommended software to the videos. Good luck!
