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Are you tired of looking at a static, boring desktop background every day? If you’ve ever wanted to bring your screen to life, setting a live wallpaper on Windows is the perfect way to do it. In my previous tutorial, I showed Mac users how to achieve this effect, but I received a flood of comments asking for a Windows version.
In this guide, I will share the absolute easiest method for setting a live wallpaper on Windows using a free, open-source application. No complicated software or registry hacks are required—just a few clicks, and your desktop will be glowing with motion.
If you are a MAC user, follow this guide: Live Wallpaper on Mac
What You Will Need
For this demonstration, I am using a custom Harry Potter-themed video clip. If you would like to use the exact same video, you can download it using the link below:
📥 Download Harry Potter Live Wallpaper video: Google Drive Link
📥 Download Virat Kohli Live Wallpaper video: Google Drive Link
📥 Download Spiderman Live Wallpaper video: Google Drive Link
Of course, feel free to use any MP4, MOV, or GIF file you have saved on your PC.
Step 1: Download the Right Application
To set a live wallpaper on Windows, you don’t need to browse shady third-party websites. The safest way is to use the official Microsoft Store.
- Click the Start menu, then type “Microsoft Store”.
- Open the Microsoft Store application.
- In the top search bar, type “Lively Wallpapers”.
- You will see several options pop up. Make sure you select the one labeled “Lively Wallpapers” and developed by rocksdanister (this is the original, trusted open-source project). You can also follow this direct link.
- Click on the Install button and wait for the download to complete.
- Once installed, click the Open button to launch the application.
Step 2: Add Your Custom Video
When you open Lively Wallpapers, you will be greeted by a clean dashboard showing a few pre-saved, default wallpapers. However, since we want a custom look, here is how to upload your own video to get a live wallpaper on Windows:
- Click the plus (+) sign located in the top panel of the dashboard.
- A new window will appear. Click on “Choose a file”.
- Browse your computer and select the video you wish to use (I will select the Harry Potter video).
- Click Open.
- You will now have the option to customize the Wallpaper name and add a short description. You can leave these as the default or personalize them.
- Click Okay.
And that’s it! As soon as you click Okay, the video will instantly be applied as your new animated background. You have successfully set your very own live wallpaper on Windows, hassle-free.
Step 3: Customizing Your Live Wallpaper Settings
Now that your background is animated, let’s explore a few brilliant settings that set this app apart. Here are the key tweaks you can make to perfect your live wallpaper on Windows experience:
- Adjust the Volume: If your video has audio, use the volume slider in the app to set the volume, or mute it entirely if it’s distracting.
- Run After Restart: If you want your animated background to start automatically when you boot your PC, toggle on the “Run at startup” option.
- Set as Screensaver: You can also use this video as your screensaver. Just navigate to the Screensaver tab, set your preferred inactivity time (e.g., 5 minutes), and the video will play automatically when your PC is idle.
- Performance Tab: If you are using a laptop or a system with limited battery life, head over to the Performance tab. You can adjust settings here to pause the wallpaper while gaming or using battery power to save resources.
- Lock Screen Behavior: You can force the wallpaper to restart from the beginning every time you log back in from the lock screen.
- Display Rules: You can also set specific rules for when applications are in full-screen mode, ensuring your games or movies are not interrupted.
Complete Video Tutorial:
Conclusion
As you can see, setting up a live wallpaper on Windows is incredibly simple and takes less than five minutes. With the Lively Wallpapers app, you can transform your dull desktop into an immersive, cinematic experience using any video you like. Whether you are a Harry Potter fan or want a beautiful animated landscape, this method works flawlessly.
I hope you enjoyed this guide! If you found it helpful, feel free to share it with your friends. Do you have a favorite video you are using for your background? Let me know in the comments below. Happy customizing!