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Lively Wallpaper
What Lively Wallpaper is
Lively Wallpaper is a free, open-source application for animated wallpapers on Windows. It can display video and GIF wallpapers using mpv or VLC, with filters and hardware acceleration, and can load HTML files or web addresses that run WebGL and JavaScript. It also supports GLSL shaders, Shadertoy URLs, video streams, and Unity and Godot games as wallpapers; support for GUI applications is limited. Wallpapers can span or duplicate across any number of monitors, including HiDPI and ultrawide displays, and can also be used as Windows screensavers. Command-line arguments and third-party scripting software such as AutoHotkey can be used to control the application. Playback pauses when fullscreen applications or games run, reaching approximately 0% CPU and GPU usage. Lively says it does not collect, store, or share personal information; operational window and process data stays local. The listed plan requires Windows 10 version 1903 or later and a 64-bit installer. Only the latest release receives security patches.
Who it suits
Lively suits Windows users who want animated wallpapers across one or more monitors, including wallpapers based on web content, video, or supported games. Its command-line control and API also provide options for scripting and interactive wallpapers.
What it does well
- Free and open-source software.
- Supports video, GIF, web, shader, and stream wallpapers.
- Can span or duplicate wallpapers across any number of monitors.
- Playback pauses during fullscreen applications or games.
- Any wallpaper can be used as a Windows screensaver.
What to know first
- Requires Windows 10 version 1903 or later.
- Only the latest release receives security patches.
- Support for GUI applications as wallpapers is limited.
Limits
The free plan requires Windows 10 version 1903 or above and a 64-bit installer. Only the latest release receives security patches.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Lively Wallpaper | No paid tiers or feature paywalls stated · Windows desktop software | Free |
As rocksdanister.com lists them, read 15 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Open the Lively Wallpaper website.
- Use the Windows 64-bit installer on Windows 10 version 1903 or above.
- Choose a video, GIF, web address, stream, shader, or supported game as a wallpaper.
Verdict
Lively supports a wide range of animated wallpaper sources and multi-monitor arrangements at no cost. Check the Windows requirement and release-specific security support before choosing it.
Questions
How much does Lively Wallpaper cost?
The listed Lively Wallpaper plan costs nothing.
Is Lively Wallpaper open source?
Yes. Lively is Free and Open Source Software.
Which operating system does it support?
The listed platform is Windows. The plan requires Windows 10 version 1903 or above and a 64-bit installer.
Can it use multiple monitors?
Yes. It can span or duplicate wallpapers across any number of monitors, including HiDPI and ultrawide resolutions.
What can Lively display as a wallpaper?
It supports video and GIF files, web content, streams, GLSL shaders, Shadertoy.com URLs, and Unity and Godot games. Support for GUI applications is limited.
Facts from Lively Wallpaper's own pages
- Application wallpapers
- Unity or Godot applications and games can run as interactive wallpapers in the installer build. · github.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Automation
- Command-line controls allow terminal automation and integration with Python or AutoHotKey. · github.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Changelog news
- The 29 November 2025 beta update added libVLC, wallpaper search by tag and description, a lock-screen restart option, dependency security updates and Windows 10 crash fixes. · rocksdanister.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Developer API
- The API exposes hardware readings, audio graphs and music information for interactive wallpapers. · github.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Distribution difference
- The Microsoft Store build does not support application or game wallpapers or additional wallpaper plugins, and screensavers require the app to remain running. · phillipring.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Documentation depth
- The GitHub wiki includes getting-started, video, API, interaction, system-data, command-line, building and troubleshooting guides. · github.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Game integrations
- Lively supports Unity and Godot games as wallpapers and has limited support for GUI applications as wallpapers. · github.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Independent recommendation
- Cinco Días recommends Lively as a free, open-source way to add live wallpapers to Windows 11. · cincodias.elpais.com, 15 Oct 2026
- License
- The source code is released under the GNU GPL version 3. · github.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: memory usage
- Windows Central measured about 245.5–255 MB RAM for ordinary use and about 800 MB with a YouTube video wallpaper. · windowscentral.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: rendering issue
- MemstechTips reports occasional wallpaper rendering failures on Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 after installation. · memstechtips.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: YouTube experience
- Windows Central found YouTube wallpapers awkward because users must deal with ads and maximize the video. · windowscentral.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Machine learning
- The project documents machine-learning inference for creating dynamic wallpapers. · github.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Maker identity
- LinkedIn lists Lively Wallpaper as a self-employed software-development operation with one employee, Dani John. · linkedin.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Multi-monitor
- Lively supports any number of monitors, spanning or duplicating wallpapers and supporting HiDPI and ultrawide resolutions. · github.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Open source
- Lively is Free and Open Source Software (FOSS). · rocksdanister.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Pause behavior
- Playback can pause for fullscreen apps, foreground applications, battery power and remote-desktop sessions. · github.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Performance
- Wallpaper playback pauses when fullscreen applications or games run, reaching approximately 0% CPU and GPU usage. · github.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Praise: customization
- Independent coverage highlights support for GIFs, videos, webpages, multi-monitor setups and user-added wallpapers. · memstechtips.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Praise: free and open source
- Windows Central and MemstechTips praise the product for being free, open source and a strong alternative to paid Wallpaper Engine. · windowscentral.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- The application says it does not collect, store, or share personal information; operational window and process data is kept local. · github.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Purpose
- Lively is an animated desktop wallpaper application. · rocksdanister.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Rating on Apple App Store
- 3.9 out of 5 from 155 ratings · apps.apple.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Rating on Microsoft Store
- 4.5 out of 5 from 6,319 reviews · dicas.zone, 15 Oct 2026
Where Lively Wallpaper stands on Freedom251
- Desktop Wallpaper Software#2 of 34