How to set animated wallpapers in Windows 10. Here are a couple more programs for live wallpapers

If you want to slightly update your beautiful Desktop, then you have come to the right place. The theme of live wallpaper or video wallpaper is quite old and popular, oddly enough. At one time, animated wallpapers were very popular on phones, so-called gifs, and users wanted to see something similar on their computer. If earlier, in order to make video wallpaper on the Desktop, it was necessary to do a lot of manipulations, but now one program called DeskScapes is responsible for all this. In principle, there are other programs for implementing video wallpapers, but this is the most popular, very multifunctional and quite easy to learn.

In order to download this program, you need to go to stardock.com and go to the Software section. Here we see programs from this company, even the famous classic Start menu called Start10 is present here. But we are interested in DeskScapes, so we select it and click on the Get it now button, i.e. Get it now. Next, select the trial version, i.e. you will be able to use the program for 1 month, after which, if you like it, you can buy it. It costs only 5 dollars. But we’ll come back to this at the end, and I’ll tell you my opinion about this program and why 30 days is enough for you. Download and install the program.

So, after installing the program, I hope you know how to do this, you will be asked to enter your email to activate the trial mode, enter your email and confirm it in the email itself, after which you will be able to use the program for free for 30 days without any restrictions.
The program already has some default live wallpapers, and also adds your standard wallpapers from themes, supposedly as a bonus.


To apply video wallpaper, you need to select what you like and click on the Apply to my Desktop button, that is, Apply on my Desktop. After which you will be immersed in the world of animated wallpapers.


Some wallpapers have additional settings. For example, in the wallpaper where the planet is spinning, you can adjust its rotation speed. In wallpaper where insects run, they can be removed, and so on. There are also wallpapers with music, like this wallpaper with a cat. Also, in addition to its own settings, there are also general effect settings. You can make the wallpaper black and white, apply a blur effect, a rainbow and much more. Personally, I prefer not to touch these effects; I like the naturalness of the picture better.


There are also settings for the application itself, where you can set Good quality pictures or High performance, folders in which your video files are stored. In this case, you can use any video files, from the most standard one with the Dream extension, to video in MP4 format, for example, a recorded video from a game. You just need to be careful with the bitrate, otherwise everything will slow down if you have a slow PC. I also advise you to uncheck the Pause dream when windows are maximized setting in the Advanced tab. It stops your screensaver from stopping. Those. when you go full screen windowed mode. It even sounds somehow strange, or even in just full-screen mode, the playback of the video wallpaper pauses and when you return to the Desktop again, this will slightly disorient you. I'm not kidding, it's so annoying that I just want to delete this program. In another case, when you are working with documents and at the same time you do not have a pause on the screensaver when full screen mode and when the Taskbar is visible, you are also annoyed by the constantly changing effects on the Taskbar.


And oddly enough, we come to some conclusion and why I advised using the 30-day version. Everything is very simple, during this time you will definitely understand whether you really need live wallpapers or not. Personally, having enjoyed quite long time, I realized that this doesn’t suit me personally. When using screensavers, there are a lot of irritating factors that distract from work. Where you are used to seeing a static picture, something is constantly happening and it is clear that because of this, video wallpapers have not become so widespread, since too many distracting things appear, and besides, they load the system quite well. Whether you install them or not is up to you, but after a certain period of time, most likely you will realize that you are simply tired of them and perhaps even after the next installation of the system you will not even think about installing DeskScapes. If you show off and give an unusual expensive look to your system, then you can install it, but it is desirable that there is little animation and distractions, but I don’t think this will suit you for work. This was my opinion, if you have your own, then express it in the comments.

Interesting animation on your desktop always looks lively and attractive. In total, installing such an image will take no more than 5-10 minutes. If you have experience installing live wallpaper on previous Windows versions, then you definitely will not notice significant changes during the installation process in this case either.

There are two popular ways to install live wallpaper:

  • Video Wallpaper;
  • Deskscapes 8.

To implement each of them, special applications are required.

Video Wallpaper has its own archive of wallpapers for every taste. The variety of pictures allows you to find the right option based on a variety of requirements. Another advantage of the program is its high installation speed, and, if necessary, even pausing the live wallpaper.

How to use Video Wallpaper?

Step 1. Download the program from the official website and start launching.

In this case, a corresponding shortcut automatically appears on the desktop.

Step 2. The program will look like this:

The default screen is set to wallpaper with a seascape, which you can see in the screenshot. In order to pause the action of these wallpapers, you will need to click on pause on the panel of the program itself.

You will notice that after this manipulation the picture immediately changes to another one, the animation and sound disappear.

Step 3. The full capabilities of Video Wallpaper can only be viewed if you purchase the full version. A few minutes after you start using it, a window like this will open.

If you click on the “Keep as a Trial” button, you will continue to have access to certain features of the program.

Step 4. To select an image option other than the default one, click on the next button.

Here is a fairly large collection, which is divided into categories:

  • sea;
  • abstraction;
  • dawn;
  • space and so on.

Overall, Video Wallpaper is convenient and functional program, even if you are using the trial version.

How to set live wallpaper using DeskScapes 8?

Like the previous program, DeskScapes 8 is paid. In free mode, it will be available only for 30 days.

How to use DeskScapes 8?

Step 1. Download the program from the official website.

You should be careful, since you can find similar, at first glance, files with viruses on the Internet.

Step 2., which you usually work with. Here are the three most common options: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer.

Downloading DeskScapes 8 will take a little longer than downloading Video Wallpaper.

Step 3. Before installation, as usual, you must accept the terms of the Agreement.

Note! The program will ask you to additionally install a tool called Fences. This is where the image archive is located.

Step 4. Fences is also a paid resource, the user will be immediately informed about this.

Step 5. If you want to use the trial version, you will need to confirm your intention with a letter in your email inbox.

Step 6. Then you should return to the program itself and start working.

If to your email address If an email has already been sent from Fences, DeskScapes 8 will also send a confirmation request to the specified address.

Step 7 As a result, the program panel will look like this.

In order to install wallpaper, you need to select any option you like from the list, and then click the “Apply to my desktop” button.

As a result, the desktop will look like this.

In conclusion, if we compare the two programs described above - Video Wallpaper and DeskScapes 8, the latter is considered more difficult to install. Nevertheless, it was her trial version offers more features, unlike Video Wallpaper.

Video - How to install live wallpaper on your desktop for Windows 10

There are many ways to customize your computer to make it look more unique. There are a variety of tools for this, from complex changes to your desktop using widgets and docks. Although Windows does not natively support live wallpapers, there are several programs that can help eliminate this shortcoming.

Before we continue, it's important to make sure you understand the implications of installing a live wallpaper on your desktop beyond the pretty animations. If you have a laptop, then its battery life will be shorter, and if you have a weak computer, then its performance will decrease. This is because such programs use 6 to 10 percent of the processor's processing power. If you have one of the latest Intel processors, then there will be no problem, but if you have a 2010 laptop, then you will face all the listed problems. So let's get started!

Wallpaper Engine

Wallpaper Engine is one of the most best programs to install live wallpapers, which are now available for Windows 10. Yes, it is paid, but it costs only 99 rubles. Immediately after installation, thousands of options become available to you, which are included in 1 click - you do not need to download anything separately in the browser. In order not to get lost among this variety, you can use filters, categories and sorting by popularity, novelty and other parameters.

Installation is very simple - select the option you like and click OK to activate. To access even more options, click the Workshop tab. Here you will find many options, ranging from regular videos to interactive wallpapers that respond to cursor movements and mouse clicks. After selecting the ones you like, click the “Subscribe” button to install them. You can also create your own using the built-in editor.

Another important argument in favor of Wallpaper Engine is that it stops working during games. This frees up RAM and processor power so that gaming performance does not suffer. In order not to load the system, you can limit the frame rate from 10 to 25. The user can independently control a number of important parameters: playback speed, volume, color palette Images. There is a function that allows you to make the taskbar transparent so that the wallpaper fits as seamlessly as possible into the overall design of the system.

Supports 3D/2D images, has a large selection from the DevaintArt online gallery. Like Wallpaper Engine, it allows you to use websites, videos, and interactive wallpapers. There is a built-in editor that allows you to create your own live wallpaper, including using static images.

RainWallpaper also boasts minimal CPU usage and random access memory. This means that using the program will not have a significant impact on system performance. To free up even more valuable resources, RainWallpaper has a pause feature when a game or full-screen application is running. But it’s worth noting that there are much fewer settings here than in Wallpaper Engine.

A good, but also paid program. Can work with MPEG, MPG, WMV and AVI formats. This means that you will not be able to use MP4 files, but this problem can be easily solved using some free format converter. There is support for multiple monitors. The preview feature will show you what your desktop will look like with the selected wallpaper.

After installing the program, open the settings window. Drag the selected video into this window, select it and click the Apply button. You probably thought it couldn't be that simple, but it really works like that! After installing DeskScapes, within 30 days you will be able to use free version. If you want to use the full version, you will have to pay 600 rubles.

Reddit user created free program to set a video as wallpaper on your desktop, instead of a static picture. After unpacking the archive, double-click on the VideoPaper.exe file - the corresponding shortcut will appear in the panel Windows tasks. Now right-click on the shortcut and select Settings from the drop-down list to go to settings.

After that, click the Create Video Panel button, which will create new profile settings, and then select the video you want to use as wallpaper using the Set Video button. All is ready! Although the program is small and weighs only 761 KB, it does its job perfectly without requiring any special knowledge from the user.

Video Screensaver

And as a bonus - another program that can use video as a screen saver. If you're wondering how to do this, then read on.

It would be difficult to find best app for this purpose than that which is called . It makes it possible to use video of most modern formats, with different sizes and resolutions.

After you download the program, look in the folder for a file called VideoScreensaver.ico. Right-click on it and select “Install” from the menu that appears. Now open your screensaver settings by clicking the Start button and select the “Change screensaver” option.

Select VideoScreensaver from the drop-down menu, then click on Settings, select the screensaver from the folder that appears and click OK. Ready!

7Fon is a service that will help you easily find beautiful wallpapers for your desktop background. We have collected here more than 140 thousand pictures from all over the Internet, we carefully check each one before adding it to the site. More than a hundred new wallpapers appear on our resource every day. And if we find a better copy of the picture, we replace it. All this guarantees screensavers of excellent quality.

Ease of choosing wallpaper

The highlight of our site is a fast and convenient intelligent image search system.

Searching images by color is a unique feature on 7Fon. To search for photos a certain color, click on the colored circle in the search bar at the top of the page. Next, using a convenient palette, select the desired shade and click “Search”. As a result, our smart algorithm will automatically select wallpapers in which this color predominates. Be sure to use this tool - we tried :)

And of course, there is a text search for desktop wallpapers. We assign tags to each picture, which makes searching easier. By the way, we implemented it in 7 languages, including Ukrainian and Russian. Enter into the search field what should be shown in the picture, the language will be automatically detected.

Selecting screensaver size and editing

On the picture page, there are dozens of resolutions of the most popular monitors. You can download the wallpaper in original size or select the one you want before downloading. Using the crop frame, the image can be pre-cropped.

Another feature of ours is photo editing using an online editor. To the left of the “Download” button there is a button with a palette, this is where this monster is hiding. In terms of its capabilities, it is very similar to Photoshop - your imagination will have plenty of room to run wild!

Wallpaper for phone

Using the QR code, you can download the wallpaper to your phone. This is very convenient, because by finding a picture from your computer and then scanning the QR code, you can instantly download it to your smartphone or tablet for a screensaver on your home screen.

We are sure that 7Fon will become indispensable for you when you decide to download wallpapers for your desktop!

Setting a background image on your desktop operating system- a process that does not cause difficulties even for not very experienced users. However, according to Windows default Only supports static images; animated formats will not be played. Therefore, if you decide to install live wallpapers instead of boring static ones, you will need to use alternative options.

Since the OS does not know how to play animation on the desktop through built-in tools, you will need to resort to using third party programs, allowing you to easily install live wallpapers. As a rule, such software is paid, but has a trial period. Let's look at the main ways to solve the problem.

Method 1: Video Wallpaper

A popular program for installing live wallpapers with simple interface And good choice backgrounds. Supports video with sound. The application is paid and costs about $5, the trial period of 30 days allows you to get acquainted with all functionality. A translucent inscription will serve as a reminder of the need to purchase. "TRIAL VERSION" in the lower left corner of the screen.

  1. Install and open the program in the usual way. Immediately after launch, the standard background will change to an animated one; this is an example of how the program works.
  2. Open the Video Wallpaper working window. A playlist with 4 templates will be displayed, which you can delete or simply create your own. We'll look at creating a new playlist.
  3. For it, you need to manually download animated files from the program website. You can also set your own wallpaper - to do this, you must have video files whose resolution matches the screen resolution (for example, 1920x1080).

    To download the animation, click on the button with three dots. The official website of the program will open, where you can choose your favorite wallpaper on different themes: sea, sunset, nature, abstraction, space, aquarium.

  4. Click on the option you like and save it. You can create a separate folder and upload several images there at once, so that you can alternate them later.
  5. Return to the program and click on the button with the sheet icon. Select "New" to create a new playlist, or "Folder" to immediately specify the folder with the wallpaper you downloaded.
  6. To add a new file to the created playlist, click on the plus button.
  7. Using Explorer, specify the path to the folder where the downloaded file is stored.
  8. If there are several files, after a short period of time it will automatically switch to new file. To change this or turn it off altogether, configure the transition interval. Click on the clock button and select the appropriate time period.

    Options are offered, ranging from 30 seconds to disabling this function.

Managing the program is as easy as a player. To do this, there are buttons for switching to the previous and next video, pausing the animation and stopping completely with switching to a static desktop.

Method 2: Deskscapes

The program is from the famous company Stardock, which produces software for customizing Windows. Offers a 30-day trial period, full version costs $6. The application does not have a Russian language and a slightly complicated method for installing new wallpapers, however, this does not interfere with the use of DeskScapes.

Unlike Video Wallpaper, there is no “TRIAL VERSION” inscription and periodically pop-up prompts for activation; in addition, there is the addition of effects and adjustment of the position of the picture. Compared to competing software, DeskScapes does not have wallpapers with sound, but this feature is unlikely to be in demand among users.

  1. Download and install the program. At the installation stage, do not forget to uncheck the option to install other developer products. In addition, you will need to indicate your email address for verification and follow the link from the letter sent to this mailbox - without such manipulations the application will not install. If a Russian domain is specified, the letter may arrive with a slight delay.
  2. After installation, the application will be built into context menu, called by right-clicking on the desktop. Select an item "Configure Deskscapes".
  3. A window will open with a set of standard wallpapers. By default, they are mixed with static ones, and you can distinguish them by the film icon or filter them by unchecking the item "Show Wallpapers".
  4. The selection of animations here is small, therefore, as in the previous option, the user is invited to download more wallpapers from the program’s trusted website, where additional files for Stardock products are posted. To do this, click on the link "Download more backgrounds from WinCustomize...".
  5. As you can see, there are over fifty pages of options. Select the appropriate image and open it. Make sure the animation settings are right for you, then click the green button "Download".
  6. You can find out where you want to place the animated wallpaper by opening the DeskScapes window again, right-clicking on any video file and selecting "Open folder".
  7. Transfer the downloaded file to the folder that opens in Explorer.
  8. Open the program window again and press the key F5 on the keyboard to update the list of animated wallpapers. Those live wallpapers that you downloaded and placed in the appropriate folder will appear in the list. All you have to do is select them with the left mouse button and click on "Apply to my desktop".

    Please note that if suddenly the picture does not fit in size, you can select the format to stretch across the screen and apply effects to the image.

  9. You can stop the animation by right-clicking on the desktop and selecting "Pause Deskscapes". It is resumed in exactly the same way, only the item will already be called "Resume Deskscapes".

It is worth noting that some users may experience a black screen instead of setting wallpaper, or may not change the screensaver at all. In most cases, restarting the PC or setting special startup parameters helps. For the second option, follow these steps:

Method 3: Wallpaper Engine

If the previous two programs are almost universal, this one is more narrowly focused and is intended only for users of the Steam gaming platform. In addition to games, their store has long been selling various applications, including a program with a large set of high-quality static and animated images.

It costs 100 rubles, and for this money the buyer receives convenient application with Russian language support, image quality adjustment, automatic change color scheme(for taskbar, start menu and frame Windows windows) to match the color of the picture. It is possible to set wallpaper with sound and other functions. There is no trial period.

  1. Buy and download the program, install it.
  2. During the installation phase, you will be asked to make some settings. They can always be changed later by clicking in the interface installed application to the gear icon.

    The first step is choosing the interface language. Set the one you want and click on the second point.

    Specify the playback quality of the animated screensaver. Please note that the higher the quality, the more resources the PC consumes.

    If you want the color of windows (as well as the taskbar and Start menu) to be automatically selected along with the wallpaper, leave the checkbox active "Adjusting window color". To have the program run when your computer starts, check the box next to "Autostart" and press the button "Set priority".

    In the last step, leave a check mark next to "View Wallpaper Now" to open the program and press "All is ready".

  3. Once launched, you can immediately start installing wallpaper. To do this, click on the picture you like - it will immediately be applied as a background. On the right, if desired, change the color of the windows and adjust the playback speed. Click "OK" to finish the job.
  4. As you can see, the selection of standard images is very small. Therefore, users prefer to download and install images manually. There are 4 options for this:
  5. As mentioned earlier, we will use the first option for downloading. We go to the Workshop by clicking on the corresponding button. On the right side we use filters: "Type" it should be "Scene" or "Video".

    Wallpaper type "Video", playing instead of the screensaver, will naturally consume a large amount of resources than "Scene".

    Additionally, you can select the category that interests you so as not to view wallpapers on all topics in a row.

  6. Select the appropriate image, open it and copy the URL.
  7. Open, paste the link and click the button "Download".
  8. A preview will appear with information about the downloaded file. If this is him, click on "Download from online Steam Client".
  9. A download link will appear, click on it. Unzip the downloaded file.

    You can place it in the folder: /WallpaperEngine/projects/myprojects

    Or, if you plan to store your wallpaper in any other folder, expand Wallpaper Engine and click "Open file".

    Using System Explorer, specify the path to the file and install it using the method described in step 3.

It is worth noting that in some cases the file may not be added correctly, and when you try to set it as a background, the program crashes. However, after a restart, the animated image will appear and can be customized like any other image.

We looked at 3 ways to install live wallpaper on the desktop in Windows 10. The instructions are also suitable for earlier versions of this OS, but on weak computers, animation can lead to slowdowns and a lack of resources for other tasks. In addition, all the programs reviewed and their other analogues are mostly paid, and Wallpaper Engine does not have a trial period at all. Therefore, for the desire to have beautiful design Windows will have to pay.