You may have already seen live wallpapers on Android. Moving wallpapers for PC work exactly the same, except they move when you move the cursor. Since wallpapers that move relative to the cursor are all the rage these days, many PC users want to download and use moving wallpapers for PC. Here is our guide on how to do it and also explains how to download and install it on your computer.
How to download and use moving wallpapers on PC?
If you want to download and use moving wallpapers on PC, it’s not difficult at all. You just need to download the app, run the installer and you’re done. Unlike static wallpapers, these moving wallpapers do not come in JPG or PNG formats. Instead, the installer application comes in a. EXE.
After downloading any of the applications listed below, go to the Downloads folder and double-click it to start the installation. By following the on-screen instructions, you will soon have your own moving wallpaper on your PC.
Top 7 Best Moving Wallpapers for PC
If you want to install only the best moving wallpapers for PC, look no further than this list. We have listed the 7 best moving wallpaper apps you can download. Although some of them are paid, we have also mentioned alternatives. In addition, the paid ones also offer a free trial period so that you can use it before making your final purchase decision.
1. Wallpaper engine
You may have already heard about the wallpaper engine. Interestingly, the wallpaper engine is the best app to download and use moving wallpapers on Windows PC.
You can choose from a variety of images and videos, and even set your favorite app or website as the software’s moving wallpaper. In addition, Wallpaper Engine’s animated wallpapers are customizable, and the app even includes some interactive wallpapers that respond to cursor movements and clicks. Just like you wanted. Right?
With Wallpaper Engine, you can use moving wallpapers on your Windows 10 and 11 PC whether you’re using a single monitor or multiple monitors as it supports several of the most commonly used aspect ratios including 16:9, 219:9, 16: 10 and 4:3.
2. Live wallpaper
Almost everyone has heard of the above Wallpaper Engine application. But the fact that it costs money to use it puts off many would-be Windows users. If you’re looking for a quality Wallpaper Engine alternative that won’t cost you a dime, Lively Wallpaper is your best bet. Moreover, it is one of the best open source applications available for Windows.
Also, Lively Wallpaper is a fantastic open source initiative. Video wallpapers, sound visualizers, and the ability to set an interactive web page as the background are just some of the many features. When a game is launched or a full-screen application is used, Lively Wallpaper will automatically pause the display of the wallpaper.
What’s more, it includes support for multi-monitor configurations, HiDPI resolutions such as 4K, various ultra-wide aspect ratios, video drag and drop for live preview, etc. All these features I find very useful.
All in all, you get everything you need and save on the ability to customize your own live wallpapers. Lively Wallpapers is a free alternative to Wallpaper Engine that we think meets the needs of almost every user looking for a moving wallpaper.
You can download live wallpapers from Windows Store and even search Google and download them.
3. Rain gauge
Raimeter offers a lot more customization than just moving wallpapers. You can check out the best Rainmeter skins and download them.
The combination of Rainmeter and Lively or Wallpaper Engine is popular with users who want to customize their desktops with sophisticated moving wallpapers. The desktop can be visualized with a series of images to create an animated GIF, which is another feature of Rainmeter.
To do this, replace the default GIFs in this folder with your own images. While using Rainmeter to customize Windows 10 to your liking is time-consuming, it’s worth it if you want to use live wallpapers.
If you plan to install Rainmeter, make sure you have created a Devian Art account or subscribed to the subreddits created for Rainmeter. In this way, you will be able to unleash the true power of Rainmerter. Needless to say, Rainmeter has a very large community of enthusiasts.
4. Descapes
DeskScapes is another great live wallpaper program that works with Windows 10 and Windows 11 to animate and personalize your desktop live wallpaper. The software comes preloaded with a lot of animated wallpapers and you can also use your own WMV files to further customize your desktop.
DeskScapes provides over 40 unique effects to apply to your live wallpaper, including a wide range of color effects that work similar to the best Instagram filters. In addition, DeskScapes also allows you to change the colors of existing wallpapers, either by making global changes or by selecting specific areas to change.
DeskScapes wallpapers with multiple monitors and resolution switching make it easy to find the perfect solution for any desktop. The software interface is one of my favorite parts; it’s so easy to use that even a beginner can make a live animated wallpaper in minutes, and the preview feature makes it easy to visualize how the wallpaper will look on your desktop.
5. Wallpaper with rain
As the name suggests, this wallpaper engine makes it rain on any wallpaper you apply. With Rain Wallpaper you can make your desktop stand out from the rest with a wide range of animated wallpapers from Rain Wallpaper. This application is very similar to Wallpaper Engine. Best of all, it allows you to set videos, animated moving wallpapers, and even websites that work with the cursor.
As a bonus, RainWallpaper moving wallpapers use very little of your computer’s CPU and RAM. However, keep in mind that RainWallpaper is now behind a paywall and that an improved updated version is currently in beta testing on Steam.
In addition, Rain Wallpaper allows you to pause moving wallpapers so that they do not slow down your computer while a game or other full-screen application is active. The program has a built-in wallpaper editor so you can create your own live wallpapers, and there’s even a tool that lets you turn ordinary photos into live backgrounds.
What we love about Rain Wallpaper is that it supports a variety of premade live wallpapers from DeviantArt, including some great anime live wallpapers for Windows PC, just like Rainmater but with a twist. All in all, RainWallpaper is a fantastic alternative to Wallpaper Engine.
6. WinDynamic Desktop
As you’ve probably guessed by now, the word “dynamic”comes from the Mac. WinDynamicDesktop is a moving wallpaper app for Windows that adds some cool new features despite its limited features.
The app lets you set dynamic wallpapers from any version of macOS on Windows, from Mojave and Catalina to Big Sur and macOS 12 Monterey. Applying moving live wallpaper only takes a few seconds after downloading the dynamic wallpaper pack. There is no need for customization or exposure. The best part is that it now has a ton of new moving wallpapers in addition to those originally included for macOS.
You can find WinDynamicDesktop on the taskbar and it adjusts the desktop background based on the time of day and your geographic location. After that, if you like the app, you can use the location based app customization features and they are excellent and reliable.
All in all, WinDynamicDesktop is the app you can get if you want high quality moving wallpapers for your PC from a lightweight app if you’re a big Apple and Mac fan.
7. WallpaperWaifu
Waifu is a name derived from the Japanese anime industry and means “perfect wife”. In contrast, Waifu is an app that offers interesting gaming wallpapers.
This website features a variety of moving live wallpapers, some of the best of which are dedicated to video games. It lacks a dedicated app for setting moving wallpapers, but third-party tools like Wallpaper Engine and Lively Wallpaper make it easy.
We tried some gaming wallpapers from Waifu and installed them with Lively and they worked without any compatibility issues. If you want to find the best live wallpapers for gaming, we recommend using this.
Things to Keep in Mind When Using Moving Wallpaper
If you want to use a moving wallpaper on your desktop PC, that’s fine. However, if you play a lot of games and do other CPU-intensive tasks, we recommend that you ditch the moving wallpapers. This is because every moving wallpaper consumes RAM and CPU threads, which can otherwise be used by the application you use primarily.
What’s more, if you want to use moving wallpapers on your laptop, we recommend that you don’t because it drains your battery a lot. Other than that, if you plan to keep your laptop connected to the network every time, there is nothing wrong with using moving wallpapers. Be aware that these applications can sometimes cause high CPU usage.
bottom line
Well, these are the best moving wallpaper apps. Once you go to these websites, you can download the application and install it on your computer to enjoy smooth moving wallpapers. We hope this guide has helped you. If you still have any questions, don’t forget to leave a comment below and we will help you as soon as possible.