It used to be simple setting blithe backgrounds on a Windows desktop. With Windows 10, it isn't so simple anymore---only information technology'due south still possible. Desire to liven upwardly your Windows 10 desktop with some animated backgrounds? Here's how to set an animated wallpaper in Windows 10.

Why You Should Prepare a Moving Wallpaper in Windows 10

If you've used alive wallpaper on a smart Television receiver, phone, or tablet, you'll know the impact information technology can have. Instead of a banal photo of some distant location you lot've never visited, it suddenly looks more interesting. Your smartphone gives you something that moves---perhaps heavenly bodies in slow move, or fish swimming.

They're not for everyone, but blithe backgrounds are visually rich and always look amazing.

However, they tin can also bear witness a bit of a trouble. While your desktop PC might non be affected, live wallpapers tin evidence to be a headache on battery powered devices.

Constant animation of the background is a noticeable drain on the ability jail cell, leading to reduced performance and battery life. For Windows 10 blithe wallpaper and live backgrounds, ensure your laptop is plugged in or you lot're using a desktop computer.

In this guide, we'll show you how to set live wallpaper in Windows 10.

You take four main ways to go live wallpapers and animated backgrounds on Windows ten. Each of these options lets y'all add your own backgrounds or those fabricated past others.

  1. Wallpaper Engine
  2. Stardock DeskScapes 10
  3. PUSH Video Wallpaper
  4. Rainmeter
  5. Plastuer

Let's look at each of these options in plough.

one. Wallpaper Engine for Windows x

Past default, Windows 10 is less customizable than earlier versions. Beyond themes and backgrounds that sync to your Microsoft account, the desktop options have been greatly reduced.

Then, what can you exercise? Well, it's worth starting off with Wallpaper Engine on Steam. Bachelor for under $v, this tool lets y'all create your ain animated backgrounds for Windows x. Y'all can fifty-fifty import more backgrounds from other Steam users.

Wallpaper Engine features back up for pop aspect ratios and native resolutions. A moving background for Windows x tin be made from static images, websites, and video files. Supported video formats include MP4, WebM, AVI, M4V, MOV, and WMV.

The options with this tool are considerable, and using it is simple. Once launched, you simply select from a predetermined group of alive desktop backgrounds, or import your own. Diverse elements can be edited using the settings dialog, which is found in the system tray.

While Wallpaper Engine runs better nether a dedicated graphics carte du jour (GPU), this isn't necessary. It tin be configured to run on low resource devices if needed. For the best results, though, animate your Windows backgrounds with Wallpaper Engine on a powerful desktop PC.

Download: Wallpaper Engine ($5)

2. Stardock DeskScapes 10 for Windows

Another selection for Windows 10 users is Stardock DeskScapes. This solution is available for just $vii.99, which too comes with a 30-solar day trial.

Post-obit installation (exist sure not to install actress software), click Start 30-day trial and enter an email address to proceed. You'll and so need to validate the 30-solar day license by clicking an email link.

With this done, switch dorsum to the app and choose from vii video backgrounds and many stunning, static images. Often these images can be adjusted using the DeskScapes settings; Color, Effects, and Adjust will allow you tweak them. Video background options are listed nether Settings.

When you're happy with the results, hit Apply to my desktop. You can also use DeskScapes 10 images and videos equally screensavers. If you lot're looking for further Windows desktop customizations, meanwhile, Stardock DeskScapes too has the Object Desktop variant for $29.99. This includes a number of tools, including the popular Windows Start carte replacement, Start10.

Download: Stardock DeskScapes x for Windows 10 ($7.99, 30-24-hour interval complimentary trial available)

3. PUSH Video Wallpaper for Windows 10

Your tertiary selection is PUSH Video Wallpaper, once again a paid solution with a complimentary trial. This launches with blithe wallpaper played on a loop upon launch.

The Push Video Wallpaper interface tin can be opened from the organization tray. Here, you can add together a single video on a loop or create a playlist of videos. These will play in the specified society, and the volume for the clips can likewise be adjusted.

Unlike Stardock DeskScapes ten, the Button Video Wallpaper lets y'all run characteristic-length videos as your desktop groundwork. Alternatively, you lot can just enjoy a subtle, looped clip. Any your preferred type of live wallpaper, if you have a suitable clip, Button Video Wallpaper volition run it.

Download: PUSH Video Wallpaper ($9.99, gratis trial available)

4. Create a Windows Animated Wallpaper With Rainmeter

Rainmeter is the premium desktop theme editor for Windows 10, capable of everything from widgets and docks to stunning themes.

Unsurprisingly, information technology likewise supports blithe wallpaper. All you lot need is a striking paradigm or a small GIF. With Rainmeter you can add the impression of movement to an prototype; alternatively, use all or part of a GIF. Rainmeter is extremely configurable and customizable, so the results of your background wallpaper GIF are completely within your control.

5. Make Your Own Windows 10 Moving Wallpaper With Plasteur

For an easy fashion to plow a GIF into a desktop wallpaper on Windows 10, why non consider Plasteur?

Simpler than Rainmeter, this tool is focused on turning custom made or downloaded GIFs into animated PC wallpaper.

To use a GIF in Plastuer:

  1. Re-create the URL of the GIF you desire to employ, or relieve it to your PC
  2. Launch Plastuer
  3. Paste the URL of the GIF into the Enter a valid url field
  4. Alternatively, cull a file from your PC with Select File
  5. Click Save
  6. When prompted, select the display (your monitor)
  7. Click Save over again to utilise the GIF

GIFs tin likewise be institute in the online Plastuer library. You tin even create a playlist using GIFs stored on your PC.

Plastuer is easy to utilise and its support for GIFs equally Windows 10 desktop animated wallpapers makes it a stand-out option.

Download: Plastuer ($5.00)

Use a Moving Backgrounds in Windows 10 Today

With so many options for creating a moving, blithe Windows 10 groundwork, you should easily find a solution that meets your needs. Demand to animate a GIF? Plastuer and Rainmeter are platonic.

Want to apply a standard video file for the desktop wallpaper? Push Video Wallpaper, Wallpaper Engine, and Stardock Deskscapes ten are all perfect ways to tweak the Windows 10 background with striking video.

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About The Author

Christian Cawley (1591 Articles Published)

Deputy Editor for Security, Linux, DIY, Programming, and Tech Explained, and Really Useful Podcast producer, with extensive experience in desktop and software back up. A contributor to Linux Format magazine, Christian is a Raspberry Pi tinkerer, Lego lover and retro gaming fan.

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