How to Set a Live Wallpaper on Mac (2026 Guide)

macOS ships with a handful of dynamic wallpapers, but they are limited and you cannot use your own video loops. MacWall is a native app that plays motion wallpapers behind your desktop windows, with hardware decoding on Apple Silicon, menu bar controls, and an offline-friendly catalog.

Step 1: Download MacWall

Visit macwall.app/download and grab the latest DMG. Open it, drag MacWall to Applications, and launch from the Dock. The app runs quietly in the background, you control everything from the menu bar icon.

Step 2: Pick a wallpaper from the catalog

Open MacWall and browse Home, Explore, or Library. Categories include Nature, Space, Anime, Cars, City, Video Games, Sci-fi, Fantasy, and Cats. Tap any tile to preview, then set it as your desktop background. Videos loop seamlessly with zero stutter.

Step 3: Import your own clips (optional)

Drag and drop MP4, MOV, M4V, or GIF files into MacWall. Your imports stay in your Library, perfect for personal loops, cinematic edits, or clips you found online.

Step 4: Control playback from the menu bar

Pause, resume, or stop from the menu bar without opening the main window. MacWall automatically pauses on battery power and when another app goes full screen, so your Mac stays fast during work and gaming.

Step 5: Turn on Lock Screen motion

MacWall Pro adds Lock Screen live wallpaper on macOS 26 (Tahoe) and later. One-time purchase, lifetime updates, up to 3 Macs per license (Pro Plus: 5 Macs).