Get an Animated Desktop Background

Animated backgrounds can break up the monotony of a blank background or wallpaper and add a bit of spark and interest to your computer screen. While this feature was previously available within certain versions of Windows, you now must use a Microsoft App or a third party application to animate your desktop in Windows or on a Mac. Below you will find the instructions on how to run an animated background on your computer.

Steps

Using a Windows 10 App

  1. Access the Windows Store. If you are using a Windows 10 computer or Windows 10 phone you can download an app from the Windows Store to animate your desktop[1]. Several are available on the Windows App Store.
    • Navigate to the Windows Store and login.
    • Search for "Dynamic Wallpaper" within the app store.
  2. Purchase the App. You may browse several of the available free or paid apps from the Windows Store, read the user reviews and select the app that best meets your needs.
    • Click on Get the app and allow it to install on your Windows 10 device.
  3. Select your background. You can select the latest Bing Wallpaper, up to 5 images from your computer, or access other images from the internet to set as your animated background[1].
    • Open the app.
    • Navigate to the wallpaper or images you'd like and select them as your animated background[2].

Using a Deskscapes 8

  1. Download the application. DeskScape 8 is a third party application from Stardock that allows you to animate your desktop on Windows 7, 8, or 10. Stardock was the original developer of Deskscenes that was previously included in some versions of Windows. There is a 30-day trial of the program so you can try this at no cost, after 30-days you may purchase the product without needing to reinstall.[3]
    • Navigate to Stardock’s website to download Deskscape 8[4], select the DeskScapes installer, agree to use the 30-day trial and download.
  2. Begin Installation. Navigate to where you saved the downloaded file then double click on DeskScapes8_cnet-setup.exe[3]
    • If you are running Window 10, you must enter "compatibility mode" by right clicking on the set up file, selecting compatibility mode, and setting compatibility to Windows 8[5].
  3. Install DeskScapes 8. Select install and follow the prompts on the screen.
    • Register the application. These instructions guided you through installing the 30-day trial, you will however need to register and allow the app to verify for the installation to complete and the trial to begin.
  4. Find new backgrounds. You can find new background images and create your own by visiting the site WinCustomize[6].
    • Select the image/animation you want and download it to your computer.
    • Double click on the downloaded image to enable it through the DeskScapes application

Using Nerdtool on Mac

  1. Download the application. Nerdtool is a third party application that allows you to display many things, not just animations, on your desktop.
    • Navigate to MutableCode’s website and download Nerdtool[7].
    • Record where you downloaded the .dmg file.
  2. Begin Installation. Navigate to where you saved the downloaded file and click on the .dmg file. When prompted enter your Mac’s administrator password to authorize installation then follow the prompts on your screen.
  3. Add an animation to your desktop. You already have some animations available on your computer to set as your desktop, the animations from your screen savers, these are Quartz animations that can be set as your desktop[8].
    • Open Nerdtool by clicking on the Nerdtool Icon.
    • Click on the + symbol to add, and select Quartz from the drop down menu.
    • Click on the Locate button, beneath the Path box and navigate to /System/Library/Screen Savers.
    • Select any of the .qtz files by clicking in the tick box next to the file name.
    • Below the path box, adjust the Framerate to 30fps by sliding the indicator to the middle of the bar[8].
  4. Find new backgrounds. You can find or purchase other Quartz files from a variety of sites on the internet.
    • Purchase and/or download the Quartz file that you like.
    • Save the .qtz file on your computer.
    • Open Nerdtool and navigate to the location where you saved the .qtz file (as you did in the above step).

Warnings

  • Using an animated desktop will impact your computer’s battery life and graphics performance, it will also consume approximately 6-9% of your CPU.[9]

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/apps/dynamic-wallpaper/9nblggh1z6d8#app-details
  2. ↑ https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/apps/dynamic-wallpaper/9nblggh1z6d8
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/how-to/windows/how-set-gif-as-your-background-in-windows-8-3607780/
  4. ↑ http://www.stardock.com/products/deskscapes/downloads.asp
  5. ↑ http://www.windowscentral.com/how-get-animated-desktop-windows-10
  6. ↑ http://windows7themes.net/en-us/how-to-use-dreamscene-in-windows-7/
  7. ↑ http://mutablecode.com/apps/nerdtool.html
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/live-wallpaper-mac-easier-think/
  9. ↑ http://windows7themes.net/en-us/how-to-use-dreamscene-in-windows-7/
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