Lively Wallpaper for PC — Free Download & Install on Windows 10/11

A still desktop wallpaper gets boring fast. A looping video, a live visualisation, or a web page running quietly behind your icons feels alive — and setting one up on Windows used to mean paid software or risky downloads. This free tool changes that. This Lively Wallpaper download for PC guide covers what Lively Wallpaper is, how to download Lively Wallpaper from the official website, how to install it on Windows 10 and Windows 11, and how to set your first live wallpaper.

What Is Lively Wallpaper?

Lively Wallpaper is a free and open-source application that turns your Windows desktop background into an animated, interactive wallpaper. Instead of a static image, your desktop can show a looping video, an animated GIF, a live web page, a shader animation, or a real-time visualisation that reacts to your music. It ships with a built-in library of wallpapers, and you can add your own videos, web addresses or files, or browse wallpapers shared by the community. Lively is designed to be lightweight: wallpapers pause automatically when another window covers the desktop or when you run a fullscreen app or game, so your performance stays smooth.

Key Features

Multiple wallpaper types: videos, GIFs, web pages, shaders, Unity and Godot scenes, and audio visualisers.
Built-in library: a starter set of animated wallpapers included with the app, ready to apply in one click.
Smart playback rules: wallpapers pause when covered by a window or during fullscreen apps and games.
Multi-monitor support: set the same wallpaper across screens or a different one per monitor.
Custom wallpapers: add your own video files, web pages or folders, and adjust playback and layout options.
Audio visualiser: wallpapers that react to system audio for a music-driven desktop.
Free and open source: no ads, no subscription, and no watermark on your desktop.

System Requirements

Operating system: Windows 10 (version 1903 or later) or Windows 11
Processor: any modern dual-core CPU
Graphics: a GPU with DirectX support; video wallpapers use hardware acceleration
RAM: 4 GB or more recommended
Storage: around 200 MB for the app, plus space for your own wallpaper files
Internet: only needed to download the app and community wallpapers

How to Download Lively Wallpaper (Official Method)

Always get the app from the official source so you receive the genuine, untouched program. Follow these steps:

Open your browser and go to the Download Lively Wallpaper from the official website.
Choose the download option for Windows. The official site links to the Microsoft Store listing and to the project’s GitHub releases page, both official sources.
Save the installer file to your Downloads folder, or install directly from the Microsoft Store if you chose that route.
Wait for the download to finish before opening the file.

Avoid third-party download sites that bundle extra software. The official website above is the only source you need.

Step-by-Step Installation

Open your Downloads folder and double-click the Lively Wallpaper installer (skip this step if you installed from the Microsoft Store).
If Windows shows a security prompt, click Yes to allow the installation to continue.
Read and accept the license terms, then click Install.
Keep the suggested install location, or browse to choose a different folder.
Leave the option to create a desktop shortcut enabled so Lively Wallpaper is easy to launch.
Wait while the installer copies the program files to your PC.
Click Finish when the installer completes.
Lively Wallpaper opens with its library of built-in wallpapers, and its icon sits in the system tray.

How to Set Your First Live Wallpaper in Lively Wallpaper

Open Lively Wallpaper from the tray icon or desktop shortcut and browse the Library tab. Click any built-in wallpaper — for example, one of the animated scenes — and it applies to your desktop immediately. To use your own video instead, click Add Wallpaper, choose your video file, and it appears in the library ready to apply. For a web-based wallpaper, choose the URL option and paste the address of the page you want as your background. Right-click a wallpaper in the library for extra options like playback speed, layout and which monitor it appears on. When you want your old static background back, right-click the Lively tray icon and choose Close Wallpaper or quit the app entirely.

Is Lively Wallpaper Free? The Licensing Terms Explained

Yes. Lively Wallpaper is completely free and open-source, released under the GNU General Public License. There is no trial, no paid version, no subscription and no ads. It is developed by an independent developer and maintained on GitHub, where new releases are published. Anyone charging you for a Lively Wallpaper download is not an official source — get it only from the link in this guide or the Microsoft Store listing it points to.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lively Wallpaper safe to install?

Yes, when you download it from the official website or Microsoft Store. It is open source, its code can be inspected by anyone, and it contains no bundled adware.

Does Lively Wallpaper work on Windows 11?

Yes. The current version runs on Windows 10 (version 1903 or later) and Windows 11.

Will a live wallpaper slow down my PC or games?

Normally no. Lively pauses wallpapers when a window covers the desktop or a fullscreen app or game is running, so it stays out of the way.

Can I use my own video as a wallpaper?

Yes. Add any video file through the Add Wallpaper option, and it becomes a live wallpaper in your library.

Does Lively Wallpaper support multiple monitors?

Yes. You can apply one wallpaper to all screens or choose a different wallpaper for each monitor.

Conclusion

Lively Wallpaper is the best free way to bring your Windows desktop to life, with videos, web pages, shaders and music visualisers that pause politely when you need full performance. Download it only from the official website linked in this guide, follow the installation steps above, and your first live wallpaper will be running within minutes.

Lively Wallpaper for PC: How to Download & Install on Windows