How to Get Moving Wallpapers on Mac

Moving wallpapers are a great way to liven up your Mac. Here’s how to get one:

1. In System Settings, select Wallpaper.
2. Click Show All next to Dynamic Wallpapers.
3. Select the moving background you want to use.

In this guide, we’ll cover how to get moving wallpaper on Mac in more detail, and explain how they work. We’ll also look at how you can get moving wallpapers from third-party sources if you’re bored of the standard options in macOS.

Before we start:

 

Whenever you’re looking for new wallpapers, you inevitably end up downloading the same images more than once. Over time, duplicate files like these build up on your Mac and hog disk space. A quick and easy way to find and remove duplicate and similar files is with MacKeeper’s handy Duplicates Finder:

1. Download MacKeeper and install it.
2. Select Duplicates Finder in the sidebar.
3. Click Start Scan to find all duplicate files.
4. Select the files you want to delete, then click Remove Selected.

What are live wallpapers?

Live wallpapers, dynamic background images, or animated GIFs—you can use them to make your Mac’s desktop more interesting. Unlike static backdrops that get boring very quickly, live wallpapers move or change over time to make your computer feel more lively.

Can you have moving wallpaper on Mac?

Modern versions of macOS support moving wallpapers for your desktop. Apple calls them dynamic wallpapers, and there are dozens to choose from in the Wallpaper section of System Settings.

If you’re not excited by the included dynamic wallpapers in macOS, you can get animated wallpapers on Mac from third-party sources. For example, on iOS, you can convert a video to a live photo and then use that as your MacOS wallpaper.

Where to find live wallpapers for Mac

To find live wallpapers for Mac, open the System Settings app and select Wallpaper in the sidebar. Toward the top of the window, you’ll see a section for Dynamic Wallpapers, which you can click Show All to reveal.

Many of us spend hours every day staring at our computer screens, so your desktop background can quickly become boring. It’s handy to know how to change wallpaper on Mac so that you can switch things up for a fresh new look on a regular basis.

How to set dynamic wallpaper on Mac

There are several ways to set live wallpaper on Mac, the easiest of which is to use one of the moving images that ship with recent versions of macOS. To choose one, open System Settings and then select Wallpaper. Click one of the images in the Dynamic Wallpapers section to set it.

Let’s look at how to set dynamic wallpapers on Mac in more detail:

1. Via built-in macOS features
2. Use third-party apps

1. Via built-in macOS features

The quickest and simplest way to get a dynamic wallpaper on Mac is to set one of the built-in options in macOS. There are 33 to choose from, and they all look terrific. Here’s how to use them:

1. Open System Settings from the macOS dock, then select Wallpaper.
2. All moving wallpapers can be found in the Dynamic Wallpapers section. Click Show All to view more.
3. Click one of the dynamic wallpapers to set it as your Mac’s desktop background.

2. Use third-party apps

If you’re not a fan of the dynamic wallpapers included in macOS, you can use a third-party app to find and download more. There are lots to choose from, and we recommend downloading one from the App Store so that you can be sure it’s safe. Try this:

1. Open the App Store on Mac.
2. Search for live wallpaper to find relevant apps. It’s best to stick to highly rated options like iWallpaper, Paper, and 24 Hour Wallpaper.
3. Once you’ve found an app you want, click Get > Install.
4. Enter your Apple Account password or Touch ID if prompted.

Once your new wallpaper app is installed, you can use it to find a dynamic wallpaper that you like. Some apps will then set the wallpaper for you, while others require you to download the image and then set it as your background manually. The process on how to change MacBook lock screen is very similar.

You may find that after you’ve been downloading your own Mac wallpapers for a while, you end up with a buildup of duplicate files that take up space on your Mac. The most effective way to find and remove these files is with MacKeeper’s Duplicates Finder, which does all the hard work for you, like so:

1. Open MacKeeper and select Duplicates Finder.
2. Click Start Scan to find all duplicates.
3. Select the files you no longer want, then click Remove Selected to delete them.

How to customize and adjust moving wallpapers on MacBook

Depending on the type of moving wallpaper you choose for your MacBook, you may have some options to customize and adjust it. For instance, some allow you to switch between light and dark modes, while others, such as the Macintosh wallpaper in Sonoma, also let you choose a color. Here’s how:

1. In System Settings, select Wallpaper.
2. At the top of the window, you’ll see the options available for the dynamic wallpaper you have chosen to use.

If you’re using a third-party app to set live wallpapers, you may find additional customization settings there. Bear in mind that some dynamic wallpapers only move on your Mac’s lock screen, while others may update in the background every so often.

Conclusion

A moving or dynamic wallpaper is a quick and easy way to bring your Mac’s desktop to life. If you’re bored of looking at the same static images, why not choose a wallpaper that switches between light and dark modes, changes colors, or moves on the lock screen? Check out all the options for live wallpapers above.

All Mac users end up with a buildup of duplicate wallpapers and similar files over time, and they need to be removed to free up space on your hard drive. Use MacKeeper’s Duplicates Finder to find and remove all those unnecessary files quickly and safely.