Using animated wallpaper in Windows 11 is pretty much like giving your desktop a bit of Aussie flair. It’s deadset easy: grab a live wallpaper app, pick your favourite animated background, and set it. Next thing you know, your screen’s not just sitting there static — it’s got a bit of a heartbeat. Whether you’re into relaxing waves, city skylines, or some funky abstract art, animated wallpapers can make your machine feel a bit more lively, or at least less boring while you work away.
How to Use Animated Wallpaper in Windows 11
Here’s the basics (but sometimes it can be a bit fiddly). Sometimes it works first go, other times you might need a couple of tries. Expect to tinker a bit along the way.
Step 1: Download a Live Wallpaper App
Pick a decent app from the Microsoft Store or a trusted site. Popular options like “Lively Wallpaper” or “Wallpaper Engine” are usually top picks. They do the job, but watch out for dodgy downloads from sketchy sites — Windows isn’t a fan of dodgy software, mate.
Pro tip: some apps might ask for a bit of extra setup or permissions, especially Wallpaper Engine — so keep an eye on that.
Step 2: Install the App
Run the installer and follow the usual steps (next, next, done). Nothing dodgy here, but if you hit snags like errors during installation, try running as administrator (right-click the installer and select Run as administrator). And yeah, sometimes Windows SmartScreen might give you a warning — just click “Yes” or “Install anyway” and you’ll be right as rain.
Step 3: Open the App
Launch it up. Sometimes the first go might throw a blank screen or freeze for a tick — no worries, mate. Restarting the app or even your PC can help clear those glitches. Once it’s up and running, you should see an interface where you can browse animated wallpapers, tweak some settings, or even add your own videos.
Step 4: Pick a Wallpaper
Choose something that ticks your box — whether it’s calm ocean scenes, city skylines, or some wild abstract stuff. Some apps let you import your own videos, which is pretty ace if you’re keen. Just a heads up: if your PC’s a bit old or underpowered, steer clear of high-res 4K videos — your CPU and GPU might start sweating.
Step 5: Set the Wallpaper
Hit the Apply button, and Bob’s your uncle — your desktop’s now a lively scene. You might see a flicker or a little lag at first, especially if your rig isn’t the beefiest. Once it’s all set, the animation should run smoothly, or close enough.
Sometimes Windows might revert back to a static background after a reboot or big update — so you might need to do the steps again. It’s a bit annoying, but fair dinkum, it’s just how it is.
Tips for Using Animated Wallpaper in Windows 11
- Keep an eye on your PC’s resources — animated backgrounds can gobble up CPU or GPU, especially if they’re high-res or pretty complex.
- Make sure your chosen app plays nice with Windows 11 — some older ones might crash or refuse to work.
- Explore the app options — you can often tweak the animation speed, resolution, or colours to make things easier on your system or to match your vibe.
- Pick wallpapers that aren’t too busy or bright if you’re working or studying — no one wants eye strain, after all.
- Always keep your app updated — devs patch bugs and optimise for system stability, which is deadset important.
FAQs
Can I run animated wallpapers on any Windows 11 PC?
Mostly, yeah — but if your techno rig’s a bit old or slow, it might struggle with these backgrounds. Have a squiz at the system requirements before you jump in. Usually, 8GB RAM and a decent GPU will do the trick.
Does using animated wallpaper slow down my computer?
Generally, yes — animated backgrounds aren’t exactly light on resources. If your setup’s a bit average, you might notice some lag or your fans kicking in a bit more. On a beefy PC, it’s hardly noticeable. It all depends on your hardware, mate.
Are animated wallpapers safe to use?
If you stick to trusted apps and sources, you’ll be sweet. The last thing you want is malware pretending to be a wallpaper. Avoid dodgy sites, and if something seems off, it’s best to steer clear.
Can I make my own animated wallpaper?
Some apps, like Wallpaper Engine, let you import your own videos or create custom animations. Not too hard if you’re into that sort of thing. Just keep in mind that some custom content might cause a few hiccups until you tweak the settings.
How do I get rid of an animated wallpaper?
Just go back to the app and pick a static background, or change your wallpaper through Settings > Personalisation > Background. Usually, switching back to a regular picture does the trick — if not, uninstall or disable the app, and you’ll be right.
Summary
- Grab a solid animated wallpaper app — like “Lively” or “Wallpaper Engine”.
- Install it. If needed, run as admin.
- Open up the app, browse, and pick a background.
- Hit apply and enjoy your frothed-up desktop scene.
Fingers crossed this helps you shake things up. Just remember, if your PC starts running slow or acting dodgy, turn down the animations or check your resource use. Why settle for a boring old static background when your screen can have a bit of Aussie sparkle, right?