I love the look of these dynamic wallpapers that were supposedly for Windows 11, but the idea has been scrapped
- An ex-Microsoft designer has shown off some dynamic wallpapers
- These were reportedly intended for Windows 11 23H2
- Microsoft has now apparently abandoned this idea, as well as the concept of fancy AI-powered wallpapers
If you were hoping that nice “live” wallpapers would come to Windows 11 – and they might, based on past rumors – then I have some bad news for you.
It seems that so-called live or dynamic wallpapers – embellished with animations and subtle effects to liven them up above the average desktop wallpaper – were once planned for Windows 11, but that’s no longer the case.
Windows Central noted that an ex-Microsoft designer from the Windows team, Sergei Kisselevshared some alleged images of these dynamic wallpapers.
Kisselev explains: “A variety of dynamic animations and still images were explored for Microsoft’s low-cost devices, primarily aimed at educational users.”
As Windows Central’s Zac Bowden tells us, dynamic wallpapers have been spotted in preview builds of Windows 11 in the past, and Bowden thinks they would be introduced with Windows 11 23H2. Of course, that never happened, and according to someone else who has spoken out on the subject, it never will.
The edge noted that Albacore, a well-known leaker on
That seems to definitively indicate that Microsoft has canned the idea.
“Are they demolished yet?” Yes. The (unfinished) components for this actually shipped with Windows 11 versions 22H2 and 23H2, but were removed in 24H2. The same system component also powers the AI/depth effect enhanced wallpapers. Everything cool is destined to be canceled https://t.co/YNmEDBLve2January 2, 2025
This isn’t just about the wallpapers broadcast here, which may be more aimed at educational customers, as noted.
You may also remember that it looked like Microsoft had nifty AI-powered backgrounds in the pipeline, with nice parallax effects, but Albacore notes that the system component that was discarded also powered this feature. In other words, this idea doesn’t happen either – no nice wallpapers for you, Windows 11 users.
Analysis: Desktop disappointment
If you were hoping for the desktop to be brought to life in a meaningful way with cool wallpapers, then it looks like your luck has been tried.
Worse still, the glimpse of what we could have offered from the ex-Microsoft designer shows some very clever wallpapers (notably in keeping with the new Windows 11 design scheme that places the Start menu in the center of the screen by default) ).
So we can only dream of such live wallpapers for Windows 11 – unless Albacore is somehow wrong, or Microsoft backs down (the latter seems unlikely). If you’re disappointed, Windows 12 (or whatever the successor operating system is called) might give you the dynamic wallpapers you crave.
But for now, Microsoft’s dynamic background plans seem to have hit a wall – a boring, brick wall – and aren’t going anywhere. If you want a live wallpaper in Windows 11, you’ll have to go the third-party app route.