What is Lively Wallpaper and How-To install it: Windows 11/10
When you turn on a PC or laptop, the first thing you see is your desktop and its corresponding background. Some people take pleasure in personalizing their desktops to the point where they are satisfied with the aesthetics.
You see, there’s something calming about giving your PC or laptop’s desktop a personalized touch by playing around with the folder icons and background images.
The default wallpapers, can become monotonous after a while. Even though you can always find new, entertaining wallpapers online, perhaps you’d like to try something completely different this time by using live wallpapers.
It might seem unheard of to use animated wallpapers on Windows 10 or 11, especially if you’re only looking at the default settings. However, a third-party program called Lively Wallpaper offers a simple method for you to have an animated desktop background.
The features of Lively Wallpaper will be described in detail in this article, along with a brief tutorial on how to download and set everything up. There’s no need to worry because everything about this process is quite easy.
Table of Contents
· What is Lively Wallpaper
· Lively Wallpaper Features
· Minimum Requirements
· How to download Lively Wallpaper
· How to set Live Wallpaper
· How to set a custom wallpaper
· Using multiple monitors
· How to close Lively Wallpaper
· Final Words
· Common Problems/FAQs
What is Lively Wallpaper
As you’re probably already aware, the Windows operating system doesn’t come with any features that let you use live wallpapers as your desktop background.
Therefore, those who enjoy extensive personalization must download third-party apps like Wallpaper Engine or Rainmeter.
These other options are excellent and function exactly as they should, but they put a lot of strain on your device. Furthermore, the Microsoft Store does not offer any of these third-party alternatives.
One of Lively Wallpaper’s selling points is that it is a simple app that is simple to find on your Windows computer’s built-in store app. An open-source program called Lively Wallpaper was initially only accessible through GitHub.
You have the ability to use any saved video, including YouTube videos, as live wallpaper with Lively Wallpaper. The majority of video formats, such as WMV, WebM, AVI, MP4, AVI, and MOV, are supported.
When configuring your live wallpaper, you can even use a direct video link to make things easier for its users. There are already thirteen pre-installed animated wallpapers available for you to choose from in the third-party app.
These pre-loaded wallpapers are all magnificent and majestic, but they also react to mouse movements.
Lively Wallpaper Features
Following are some of the key distinguishing characteristics of Lively Wallpaper that set it apart from the rest of its rivals:
- It is open-source and free.
- It is simple to use, so you don’t need to be tech-savvy to use it. You can quickly create animated wallpapers from your files using the program’s straightforward drag-and-drop features.
- It has a library of free live wallpapers that are already loaded and ready to use.
- There are many options for screen resolution, so your wallpaper will have the ideal resolution for your device’s screen.
- You could also try making your own wallpaper. You can use the app’s various tools, including audio visualizers, 3D programs, and others.
Minimum Requirements
Before you decide to install it on your system, here is a quick checklist of minimum requirements for running Lively Wallpaper:
OS: Windows 10 1903 or above
Processor: Intel i3 or equivalent
Memory: 2048 MB RAM
Graphics: HD Graphics 3000 or above
DirectX: Version 10 or above
Storage: 1GB available space
How to download Lively Wallpaper
You can easily download Lively Wallpaper from the Microsoft Store if you want to. Naturally, opening the Microsoft Store on your computer or laptop is the first step.
- To quickly access the app, type “Microsoft Store” into the Windows Search bar.
- You can then find the desired app by typing “Lively Wallpaper” into the Microsoft Store’s search bar.
- Tap the “Get” button when you see the Lively Wallpaper app to begin downloading.
- When the app has finished downloading, it should show up in your list of installed apps.
- Using Windows Search, enter “Lively Wallpaper” to find it. By tapping on it, you can start the application.
There is, however, another method to download and install Lively Wallpaper to your system. It’s from the most popular open-source app distribution platform, GitHub. From here you can download the installer file for Lively Wallpaper.
First off, enter ‘Lively Wallpaper GitHub’ into a search engine. It should show you a results page where the first link is where you wanna go.
Now click on the first link and you’ll land on the main page for its Github topic.
Scroll all the way down to find ‘Download’ section, where you’ll see ‘Installer’.
Click on ’Installer’ and the file should start downloading. Locate it once the download completes and open/run it.
The installation from there should be pretty straightforward.
How to set Live Wallpaper
To get a live wallpaper as a background on the Windows 10/11 desktop from within Lively Wallpaper library, you can follow steps:
- Run the Lively Wallpaper app and click on Library.
- Select the live wallpaper of your choice.
- Tap on the 3-dot menu and select ‘Set as Wallpaper’.
4. Tap on customize option and adjust to your liking. This is one section where you can play around freely to bring out your own element.
How to set a custom wallpaper
To set up your own custom Lively Wallpaper on the app, you can follow the below steps:
- Click on the ‘+’ icon inside the app interface.
2. Now, ‘drag & drop, browse or pull the URL field to apply new Wallpaper.
An intriguing live wallpaper can be created from a local HTML page, a YouTube video, an application (.exe), or a video. You must now wait for the software to convert it into a wallpaper, depending on your decision.
You are also given the option to edit the wallpaper’s title and a few other details.
Since Lively supports sound output, any wallpaper with sound (such as a YouTube video or video file) will also be automatically converted to a wallpaper. But once more, you can change the audio playback in the settings options under Audio if you don’t like it.
When Fullscreen applications, such as games, are running on the system, the application pauses payback. Additionally, you have more playback options in the settings’ performance section, where you can set up restrictions for your system’s battery life and performance.
Lively displays the pre-loaded wallpapers on the application’s main interface; to use one, simply click it.
This sample library provides engaging wallpapers, such as an interactive periodic table, the Matrix effect, and Fluids v2, that even let you experiment with the mouse on the desktop.
Without a doubt, Lively Wallpaper raises the bar for its rivals.
Using multiple monitors
If you use multiple monitors, you’ll probably notice right away that your Lively Wallpaper animated background only appears on one of them. Fortunately, there is a simple solution to this issue.
You must first launch the application and navigate to the Control Panel section in order to set a live background on multiple screens. You’ll have the option to select your display once you’re in the Control Panel section. Usually, the default setting is “Selected Screen Only,” which means that only one screen will show your selected animated background.
Select one or more displays from the Choose Display group to change this setting. By doing this, you can make sure that your background will show up on multiple screens. You can even decide on the kind of wallpaper placement strategy you want to use.
Specifically, you can duplicate the same wallpaper or let it span across the screens in addition to displaying the background only on the selected screen. When you select the “span” option, your wallpaper will be stretched out; therefore, we advise choosing a high-resolution image to prevent pixelation.
How to close Lively Wallpaper
If you decide you no longer want to use the live wallpaper, launch the app, and select the “Control Panel (monitor)” icon in the upper corner.
Then, click the ‘X’ button inside the window.
Final Words
You might experience some interactions as well, depending on the animation.
For instance, the desktop will respond to the system volume and cursor if the “Fluids” option is selected. When you move the cursor over the table, the “Periodic Table” option highlights each component.
There is a “Gallery” section in the app as well, but it is currently empty. You can modify the startup behavior, set rules to reduce performance impact, and even change the Taskbar theme to make it completely transparent or blurry on the Settings page. On GitHub, you can read more details about this project.
Common Problems/FAQs
Having a problem, how do I get help / How to retrieve log files?
Goto Lively settings (Gear icon) -> Misc. -> Log File
or alternatively open logs folder in Lively’s data folder:
C:\Users\<UserName>\AppData\Local\Lively Wallpaper\logs
Lively keeps crashing on start/performance overlay visible?
Do you have any fps overlay software like Rivatuner statistics server(RTSS) from msi afterburner or equivalent on system?
If yes then add reduce the detection in RTSS to low, if that does not work then add exceptions to the following programs:
For Lively installer v1.0:
<install_location>/livelywpf.exe
<install_location>/plugins/cef/LivelyCefSharp.exe
<install_location>/plugins/mpv/mpv.exe
For Windows store Lively v2.0:
<install_location>/Lively.UI.WinUI.exe
<install_location>/Build/Plugins/Cef/Lively.PlayerCefSharp.exe
<install_location>/Build/Plugins/Mpv/mpv.exe
Windows protected your pc (Smart screen warning)?
Click More info -> run anyway
.Net Core required message?
Install .NET Core 6 x86 Desktop Runtime
Video wallpapers (Example: Eternal Light) not working?
If your Windows version is N/KN additional codec installation is required: https://www.codecguide.com/windows_media_codecs.htm
Otherwise create a bug report.
Screensaver/Display-sleep not working?
Make sure selected videoplayer is mpv.
Laptops/systems with multiple gpu?
Windows by default may use the igpu/weaker gpu instead of the main gpu.
If performance is too slow make sure to change the gpu in windows/driver control panel for the following programs:
<install_location>/livelywpf.exe
<install_location>/plugins/cef/LivelyCefSharp.exe
<install_location>/plugins/mpv/mpv.exe
Desktop Window Manager(DWM) high cpu usage?
If you have multiple monitors, make sure they are all connected and using the same gpu.
Web wallpapers not working?
Install latest Visual C++ Redistributable: vc_redist.x86.exe
Is Lively Wallpaper for Mobile available for download?
No, not yet
Login to websites?
Yes its possible, follow these steps.
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