Animated desktop wallpapers are here to stay. With the right software, any user can inject motion into their screens, but the question is: Which software? Today we're going to review three options for adding a video as a desktop wallpaper, whether local or online, and this includes occasional support for animated GIFs.
Animated Wallpapers: Beyond 'Bliss'
The most famous photo in the world reached that status as a desktop wallpaper, but things have changed a lot since then. For a large number of users, a landscape, a sci-fi design, or beautiful women are no longer enough. Today they want videos, animations, color, and effects. Modern graphics systems can definitely handle the extra load, and the rest is a matter of installing a good program.
As we mentioned previously, Wallpaper Engine is a kind of 'de facto standard' and the first option many users search for on Steam. However, the truth is that alternatives for adding a video as a desktop wallpaper are multiplying, and as if that weren't enough, some are free and open source.
The Best Options to Add a Video as Desktop Wallpaper
AutoWall
We first talked about AutoWall in October 2020, but it has received some very interesting updates since then. One of them enables compatibility with several Wallpaper Engine wallpapers, which we can download and activate directly using the correct Steam Workshop link. The rest remains intact, with support for video (MP4 and MKV are part of the list), animated GIFs, and even complete web pages. Portable, free, and open source.
AwesomeWallpaper
Another software we've already had the pleasure of reviewing. AwesomeWallpaper goes a step further by offering a kind of 'overlay' with system information. Added to that is support for videos, still images, image galleries, web pages (including YouTube embeds), and windows. In the case of videos, AwesomeWallpaper allows playback with volume and features a transparency control. Like AutoWall, AwesomeWallpaper works portably, is open source, and has no cost whatsoever.
Lively Wallpaper
And if for some reason you passed this up, Lively Wallpaper completes our list. Beyond its two initial dependencies (which install almost automatically), Lively Wallpaper comes with a dozen animated wallpapers with interactive profiles, reacting to our clicks or mouse movement. One of those wallpapers is compatible with OpenWeatherMap and presents up-to-date weather data. Its support for URLs lets us use almost anything as an animated background, from YouTube videos to Twitch streams.
In Summary
Three options for adding a video as a desktop wallpaper. Three pieces of software that, in addition to being open and free, work wonderfully, cause no conflicts, and fill our desktops with motion. Choose the one that best suits your needs, and don't hesitate! Animated wallpapers are just a click away. Good luck!
