Fresco
What it is
Fresco is a free Linux application for animated desktop wallpapers. It can display videos, GIFs, image slideshows with transitions, and video playlists as backgrounds. Playback uses GPU hardware decoding through mpv with VA-API or NVDEC. Fresco supports X11 and the Wayland layer-shell compositors COSMIC, Hyprland, Sway, and KDE Plasma 6. On GNOME Wayland, it shows only a still frame, and widgets are unavailable because that environment lacks a live wallpaper surface. Four widgets are available elsewhere: synced lyrics, a clock, an audio visualiser, and album art on a turning record. Lyrics follow MPRIS media, checking local .lrc files before LRCLIB. The app includes a catalog of curated, licensed wallpapers, supports separate wallpapers per monitor, and can pause on battery or fullscreen windows. A daemon restores wallpapers after reboot. Fresco is free forever under GPL-3.0, made by Dibbayajyoti Roy, and distributed through an installer, .deb release, and deepin App Store.
For and against
For
- Supports video, GIF, slideshow, and playlist wallpapers
- Works across X11 and several Wayland compositors
- Offers separate wallpapers for each monitor
- Includes wallpaper widgets and media-linked lyrics
- Free forever under GPL-3.0
Against
- GNOME Wayland displays only a still frame
- Widgets are unavailable on GNOME Wayland
- Linux is the only listed platform
The verdict
Fresco combines varied animated wallpaper formats with monitor controls, widgets, and automatic restoration. GNOME Wayland users face the clearest limitation, while other listed Linux environments receive broader support.
Who it suits
Fresco suits Linux users who want animated or changing desktop backgrounds, including people with multiple monitors. It is also aimed at users who want wallpaper widgets, media-linked lyrics, or playback pause controls.
Plans and prices
Free
Free forever · GPL-3.0
Read 8 Oct 2026 · fresco.dibbayajyoti.com
On the record
- Automation
- A daemon keeps the wallpaper running after the app closes and restores it after reboot.fresco.dibbayajyoti.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Desktop support
- Fresco supports X11 and the Wayland layer-shell compositors COSMIC, Hyprland, Sway, and KDE Plasma 6; GNOME Wayland shows a still frame only.fresco.dibbayajyoti.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Distribution
- The site offers a one-line installer and a .deb release, and says Fresco is also available in the deepin App Store.fresco.dibbayajyoti.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- License and price
- Fresco is described as free forever and licensed under GPL-3.0.fresco.dibbayajyoti.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Maker
- The product site names Dibbayajyoti Roy as Fresco’s maker.fresco.dibbayajyoti.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Multi-monitor
- Each monitor can run its own wallpaper, selected from a wallpaper’s context menu.fresco.dibbayajyoti.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Music integration
- Lyrics follow media playing over MPRIS, using local .lrc files first and LRCLIB afterward.fresco.dibbayajyoti.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Notable limitation
- Widgets are unavailable on GNOME Wayland because it has no live wallpaper surface, according to the site.fresco.dibbayajyoti.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Playback
- It uses GPU hardware decoding through mpv with VA-API or NVDEC.fresco.dibbayajyoti.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Power features
- Fresco can pause on battery and automatically pause a monitor’s wallpaper when a window on that display goes fullscreen.fresco.dibbayajyoti.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Privacy-related behavior
- The audio visualiser asks before listening to audio, and the site says user and country counts include installs that opted in to anonymous telemetry.fresco.dibbayajyoti.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Wallpaper catalog
- Fresco includes a catalog of curated, licensed wallpapers that users can browse in the app.fresco.dibbayajyoti.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Wallpaper features
- It supports video and GIF wallpapers, image slideshows with transitions, and video playlists.fresco.dibbayajyoti.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- What it does
- Fresco sets video, GIF, image, slideshow, and playlist wallpapers as animated Linux desktop backgrounds.fresco.dibbayajyoti.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Widgets
- Its four wallpaper widgets are synced song lyrics, a clock, an audio visualiser, and album art on a turning record.fresco.dibbayajyoti.com · read 8 Oct 2026
