---
title: "Live Lock Screen Wallpaper on Mac: Tahoe and 27"
description: "Yes, on macOS 26 Tahoe and macOS 27 Golden Gate. MacWall plays a moving wallpaper on the Lock Screen and as the screen saver, with Pro or during the free 24-hour trial. On macOS 15 Sequoia only the desktop moves and the Lock Screen shows a still. Without an app, macOS animates only Apple's own aerials there."
canonical: "https://macwall.app/faq/live-wallpaper-on-mac-lock-screen"
published: "2026-11-06"
updated: "2026-11-06"
keywords:
  - "live wallpaper mac lock screen"
  - "macos tahoe lock screen wallpaper"
  - "macos 27 lock screen live wallpaper"
  - "animated lock screen mac"
---

# Can you put a live wallpaper on the Mac Lock Screen?

Yes, on macOS 26 Tahoe and macOS 27 Golden Gate. MacWall plays a moving wallpaper on the Lock Screen and as the screen saver, with Pro or during the free 24-hour trial. On macOS 15 Sequoia only the desktop moves and the Lock Screen shows a still. Without an app, macOS animates only Apple's own aerials there.

## How it works in each playback mode

- **System Wallpaper** (the homepage calls it MacWall Native): the Lock Screen and screen saver show the desktop's wallpaper, moving, even while MacWall is closed. **Play only on the Lock Screen** keeps the desktop on a still frame and moves the wallpaper only when you lock your Mac or the screen saver starts.
- **MacWall App** (MacWall Player): the Lock Screen can have its own wallpaper. Open one, click the arrow next to **Set Wallpaper** and choose **Lock Screen Only**. macOS plays it the way it plays Apple's aerials, so the first apply takes a moment.

Switch modes in Settings → Wallpaper → Playback. On macOS 15, MacWall always uses MacWall App and the Lock Screen shows a still from your wallpaper.

## If the Lock Screen doesn't move

1. Check you're on macOS 26 or later: Apple menu → About This Mac.
2. Check that Pro or the trial is active in MacWall → Settings → MacWall Pro.
3. With MacWall App playback, turn on **Show on Lock Screen and screen saver** in Settings → Lock Screen.
4. Open System Settings → Wallpaper → Screen Saver: a screen saver you picked after MacWall set its own is the one macOS shows.

## Go deeper

- [Live Lock Screen and screen saver](https://macwall.app/docs/live-lock-screen-and-screen-saver): Set it up in either playback mode, with the full checklist for when motion doesn't appear.
- [How Lock Screen video works on Tahoe](https://macwall.app/learn/how-macos-tahoe-lock-screen-video-works): What macOS 26 opened up for third-party apps, and what it still keeps to itself.
- [Live vs dynamic vs aerial](https://macwall.app/learn/live-vs-dynamic-vs-aerial-wallpapers-mac): The three kinds of moving wallpaper on a Mac, and which one plays where.

## More questions

- [Does MacWall work on macOS 27?](https://macwall.app/faq/does-macwall-work-on-macos-27)
- [Does MacWall drain your MacBook battery?](https://macwall.app/faq/does-macwall-drain-battery)
- [Is MacWall free?](https://macwall.app/faq/is-macwall-free)

---

Source: https://macwall.app/faq/live-wallpaper-on-mac-lock-screen