desktop backgrounds Archives

Winsage

December 24, 2025

How to Get Moving Wallpapers on Windows 11: Guide to Animated Desktops

Windows 11 is set to introduce native video wallpaper support in late 2025, currently available in testing builds for Windows Insiders, supporting formats like MP4, MKV, and WebM. Users can access animated wallpapers through third-party applications, with Lively Wallpaper being a recommended free option that supports various formats and features. Wallpaper Engine is a paid alternative known for its extensive library and interactive wallpapers. VLC Media Player can also set videos as wallpapers, but it has limitations such as requiring constant operation and higher resource usage. Animated wallpapers generally consume more battery and system resources, but modern applications include features to mitigate these impacts. Users are advised to download wallpapers from trusted sources to ensure safety.

AppWizard

November 14, 2025

6 of the most popular apps on Steam that aren’t games

Steam offers a variety of software tools in addition to its extensive library of games, which can enhance productivity and creativity in the workplace. Aseprite is a tool for creating high-quality pixel art with a minimalist interface and features that streamline the creative process, making it suitable for indie game developers and artists. RPG Maker MZ allows users to create their own games without extensive coding knowledge, catering to both beginners and seasoned developers, and is compatible with current operating systems. Wallpaper Engine enables users to create unique static or animated wallpapers, allowing for personalization of desktop backgrounds. Crosshair X allows users to customize crosshairs for various games, enhancing gameplay by tailoring the aiming experience. Soundpad enhances voice chats by enabling users to play sound effects and music clips during conversations, improving the social experience of gaming and online interactions.

Winsage

September 23, 2025

Would You Want a Video Clip as Your Windows 11 Background?

A new setting has been discovered in the developer version of Windows 11 (build 26×20.6690) that allows users to set video files, such as .mp4, as their desktop background. This feature, called Windows DreamScene, originally debuted in Windows Vista Ultimate in 2007, enabling users to personalize their desktops with moving wallpapers. DreamScene was not widely recognized at the time due to its limited availability and general disinterest in animated wallpapers.

Winsage

September 22, 2025

Hands on with Windows 11’s new “video wallpaper” feature, supports .mp4 as desktop background

Windows 11 will soon allow users to set videos, including formats like .mp4, as desktop backgrounds in the upcoming 24H2 or 25H2 updates. The feature will enable videos to play automatically in a loop and is inspired by the third-party application WallpaperEngine. It is linked to forthcoming optional updates and may be available by October for users running Windows 11 Build 26220 or newer. To set a video as a background, users will go to Settings > Personalization > Background. Supported file formats include .mp4, .m4v, .mov, .wmv, .avi, .mkv, and .webm. The feature is reminiscent of the "DreamScene" functionality from Windows Vista and is designed to be non-interactive, potentially reducing power and resource consumption.

Winsage

September 21, 2025

DreamScene is (spiritually) back in Windows 11, letting you use videos as your desktop background — Latest Insider build finally returns coveted feature

Microsoft is introducing the option to use video files as desktop backgrounds in Windows 11, reviving the Windows DreamScene feature that allows for video wallpapers. This feature is currently being tested in the Windows 11 26x20.6690 Dev/Beta builds and is accessible through the Windows Insider program. Users can enable it by using feature ID 57645315 and restarting the explorer.exe process in Task Manager. Supported video formats include .mp4, .m4v, .mkv, .mov, .wmv, .avi, and .webm.

Winsage

September 21, 2025

This upcoming official Windows 11 feature may replace Wallpaper Engine for some people

Windows 11 Dev and Beta builds have introduced support for animated MP4 wallpapers, reminiscent of the DreamScene feature from Windows Vista. This feature is currently experimental and may not be included in the stable release. Although Windows 11 will officially support animated wallpapers, third-party applications like Wallpaper Engine offer superior features and a larger library.

Winsage

August 3, 2025

Microsoft Weekly: 10 years of Windows 10

Windows 10 celebrated its 10th anniversary, while Windows 11 SE is being discontinued and will not receive the upcoming Windows 11 version 25H2, with support ending in October 2026. Microsoft plans to open-source WinUI, the user interface framework for Windows 11. The Flyoobe tool has been updated to assist users switching from Windows 10 to Windows 11 on unsupported hardware. Recent data shows a gradual increase in Windows 11's market share, while Microsoft Edge struggles in the desktop browser market. Microsoft provided guidance on upgrade paths for businesses transitioning to Windows 11. Updates for Windows Insiders include general fixes and new features across various channels. Microsoft reported a record-high profit of .2 billion and revenue of .4 billion for the last financial quarter. A new Surface Laptop Smurface Edition was announced, and Adobe has made creative applications available natively on Windows on ARM devices. Microsoft Edge introduced an AI-driven feature called Copilot Mode, while Opera filed a complaint against Microsoft in Brazil regarding unfair practices. Microsoft banned the developer account of LibreOffice for violating the Service Agreement. In gaming, Microsoft released the July 2025 update for the Xbox app, allowing game streaming through Xbox Cloud Gaming, and is preparing for the Gamescom show. EA decided to maintain game prices and announced a remaster of Plants vs Zombies: Replanted. A public beta for Battlefield 6 is forthcoming. Valve revealed updates for the Steam client, including a revamped store interface. Special discounts are available for the Back to School season.

Winsage

July 31, 2025

Windows 11 gets desktop wallpaper fixes, centered Settings search, and more in build 27913

Microsoft has released a new Canary build, 27913, for Windows Insiders, featuring enhancements and fixes aimed at improving user experience. Key changes include: - The search box in the Settings app has been moved to the top center for better usability. - A crash issue in the Settings app when accessing Power & Battery options has been fixed. - An issue with incorrect apostrophe display in Settings dialogs has been resolved. - Fixes have been made to prevent the desktop background from turning black unexpectedly. - An audio issue disrupting sound after casting to a TV has been addressed. - A bug causing repeated KERNELSECURITYCHECK_FAILURE errors for some users after upgrading has been resolved. - Improvements to acrylic effects in certain applications have been implemented. - A fix for the Group Policy Editor has been introduced to address display problems in specific languages. Known bugs include issues with Windows Hello PIN and biometrics for users transitioning to the Canary Channel on new Copilot+ PCs, and a new bug where the progress wheel may appear as a rectangle glyph during upgrades.

Winsage

July 30, 2025

Microsoft finally exorcises the ghost of Windows Vista that’s been haunting the testing channels

Microsoft has addressed a bug in the Windows 11 testing channels that replaced the startup sound with that of Windows Vista. This issue first appeared in the Beta and Dev channels, then resurfaced in the Canary branch. A new patch for the Canary branch has restored the correct Windows 11 boot sound and fixed other bugs, including black desktop backgrounds and crashes in the Settings application. Key changes in the latest update include: - Restoration of the correct Windows 11 boot sound. - Improvements to the desktop experience, resolving unexpected black backgrounds. - Stability enhancements for the Settings application, particularly in the Power & Battery section. - Repositioning of the search functionality in the Settings menu for easier access. Additional fixes include resolving an audio issue after casting to a TV, addressing system crashes for some users after upgrading, and fixing display issues in the Group Policy Editor for certain languages. Known issues that remain include complications with Windows Hello PIN and biometrics for users transitioning to the Canary Channel and visual glitches during upgrades.

AppWizard

July 8, 2025

Call of Duty takes PC game offline after multiple reports of RCE attacks on players

Call of Duty has temporarily taken its PC games offline due to reports of remote code execution (RCE) attacks that have compromised players' computers. The developers are investigating the issue. Players have shared videos of their systems being hacked during gameplay, with incidents including game freezes and unauthorized command executions. The vulnerability is linked to the shift from dedicated servers to peer-to-peer networking, which has made older games more susceptible to attacks. MalwareBytes has noted that this issue has become well-known in the community, leading many to avoid these titles. Previous vulnerabilities allowing RCE through the Steam platform were identified six years ago. The official Call of Duty X account has not provided updates on the investigation or the status of the games.