Use your own video as a live wallpaper

MacWall is not limited to the catalog. Any local video can become your wallpaper, and imported files stay on your Mac — nothing is uploaded when you import.

Import a file

1. Open MacWall and go to Library.
2. Drag your video into the window, or use Import and pick a file.
3. Click the imported item, then Set wallpaper.

Supported formats

• •MP4 / M4V with H.264 or HEVC — the best choice, both decode on Apple hardware.
• •MOV with H.264, HEVC, or ProRes. ProRes works but is far larger than it needs to be for a wallpaper.
• •GIF — converted on import to a video loop so playback stays efficient.

Encoding settings that look and run best

• •Resolution: match your display, or 3840×2160 for a 4K panel. Encoding above your panel resolution wastes decode work with no visible gain.
• •Frame rate: 24–30 fps is plenty for ambient motion and noticeably cheaper than 60 fps.
• •Codec: HEVC (H.265) for the smallest file at equal quality; H.264 for maximum compatibility.
• •Length: 5–30 seconds that loops cleanly. Short seamless loops beat long clips with a visible jump.
• •Audio: strip it. MacWall does not play wallpaper audio, and the track only inflates the file.

Why seamless loops matter

A wallpaper repeats hundreds of times an hour in your peripheral vision, so any cut at the loop point becomes the only thing you notice. Pick footage whose first and last frames are close — slow pans, drifting clouds, rain, particle drift — or crossfade the ends before exporting.