The Windows 10 desktop doesn't have to stay static. Users are looking for ways to inject color and movement into their screens, and proof is found in programs like Wallpaper Engine, which remains in Steam's Top 20. However, if you prefer a free and open source alternative, you definitely should check out Lively Wallpaper. In addition to offering an excellent series of animated wallpapers for Windows 10, Lively Wallpaper also supports videos and animated GIFs, multiplying its potential.
The era of the 'animated desktop'
The concept is hardly new, but early attempts to animate the Windows desktop were never quite clean, or placed too much pressure on system performance. Today, the story is different. With a small fraction of a GPU's power, users can deploy fabulous animated wallpapers for Windows 10 without sacrificing responsiveness.
The de facto standard these days is Wallpaper Engine, and with an average price of around four euros (varies by region), it has become one of the most popular apps on Steam. However, there is life beyond its borders, and one of the best examples is Lively Wallpaper, which is not only free but also has an open source profile.
How to install animated wallpapers for Windows 10
Installing Lively Wallpaper has two dependencies (.NET Core and the Visual C++ redistributable), but all it requires is confirming both times, and the installer will take care of the rest. Out of the box, Lively Wallpaper offers a dozen animated wallpapers, and I must admit they are of very good quality. As if that weren't enough, some of these wallpapers are interactive, responding to mouse movements and window drags.
When you right-click on an animated wallpaper, you can access the Customize Wallpaper section and manipulate different effects or reactions of the wallpaper. Here you will also need to enter additional information, for example, an OpenWeatherMap key and your geographic location to receive updated weather data.
To add more animated wallpapers, you have two options: locally via a file, or with a URL address. That means Lively Wallpaper can turn web pages, online games, chat sessions, streams, YouTube videos, animated GIFs, entire movies, and much more into animated wallpapers. Another possibility that the developer is working on is integrating emulators, but we'll have to wait a little longer. Lively Wallpaper's last suggestion is to visit its official profile on Reddit, where users share a large number of animations and videos ready to use.
In summary
Lively Wallpaper is an excellent ally when it comes to installing animated wallpapers for Windows 10. The software is stable, and if you're concerned about performance, you should know that the wallpapers pause when a full-screen application takes over (e.g., a game). Download a copy, and give it a try!
Official site and download: Click here
