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Lively Wallpaper
What it is
Lively Wallpaper is free, open-source software for animated wallpapers on Windows. It can display video and GIF wallpapers through mpv or VLC, with filters and hardware acceleration, and load HTML files or web addresses running WebGL and JavaScript. Other wallpaper sources include GLSL shaders, Shadertoy URLs, video streams, and Unity or Godot games; GUI-application support is limited. Wallpapers can span or duplicate across any number of monitors, including HiDPI and ultrawide displays, and any wallpaper can serve as a Windows screensaver. Command-line arguments and third-party scripting tools such as AutoHotkey can control it. 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, while operational window and process data remains local. The listed plan requires Windows 10 version 1903 or above and a 64-bit installer. Only the latest release receives security patches.
For and against
For
- Free and open source
- Supports video, GIF, web, and shader wallpapers
- Works across any number of monitors
- Pauses playback during fullscreen apps
- Offers command-line and scripting control
Against
- Windows only
- GUI application wallpapers have limited support
- Only the latest release receives security patches
- Requires Windows 10 version 1903 or above
The verdict
Lively Wallpaper offers broad animated-wallpaper formats, monitor support, and automation options at no cost. Windows requirements and its latest-release-only security policy should guide adoption.
Who it suits
It suits Windows users who want animated, interactive, or multi-monitor wallpapers. It also fits users who need scripting controls or screensaver support.
Plans and prices
Lively Wallpaper
No paid tiers or feature paywalls stated · Windows desktop software
Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
On the record
- Application wallpapers
- Unity or Godot applications and games can run as interactive wallpapers in the installer build.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Automation
- Command-line controls allow terminal automation and integration with Python or AutoHotKey.github.com · read 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 · read 15 Oct 2026
- Developer API
- The API exposes hardware readings, audio graphs and music information for interactive wallpapers.github.com · read 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 · read 15 Oct 2026
- Documentation depth
- The GitHub wiki includes getting-started, video, API, interaction, system-data, command-line, building and troubleshooting guides.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Game integrations
- Lively supports Unity and Godot games as wallpapers and has limited support for GUI applications as wallpapers.github.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Independent recommendation
- Cinco Días recommends Lively as a free, open-source way to add live wallpapers to Windows 11.cincodias.elpais.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- License
- The source code is released under the GNU GPL version 3.github.com · read 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 · read 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: rendering issue
- MemstechTips reports occasional wallpaper rendering failures on Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 after installation.memstechtips.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: YouTube experience
- Windows Central found YouTube wallpapers awkward because users must deal with ads and maximize the video.windowscentral.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Machine learning
- The project documents machine-learning inference for creating dynamic wallpapers.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Maker identity
- LinkedIn lists Lively Wallpaper as a self-employed software-development operation with one employee, Dani John.linkedin.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Multi-monitor
- Lively supports any number of monitors, spanning or duplicating wallpapers and supporting HiDPI and ultrawide resolutions.github.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Open source
- Lively is Free and Open Source Software (FOSS).rocksdanister.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Pause behavior
- Playback can pause for fullscreen apps, foreground applications, battery power and remote-desktop sessions.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Performance
- Wallpaper playback pauses when fullscreen applications or games run, reaching approximately 0% CPU and GPU usage.github.com · read 30 Sep 2026
