How to set a video as wallpaper on Mac
Search “add a video as wallpaper mac” and you'd expect a simple import button somewhere in System Settings. It doesn't exist — at least not for your own footage. macOS only lets you loop Apple's own aerial scenes or a short Live Photo, and even those stop moving the moment you start working. Here's exactly what the built-in tools can do, where they fall short if you want your own video playing continuously, and the simplest way to close that gap.
What System Settings → Wallpaper actually offers
Open System Settings → Wallpaper and you'll find four categories: Dynamic Wallpapers (Apple's own images that shift with the time of day), Aerial scenes (Apple's own drone and satellite footage, shown as a slowly changing picture once it's on your desktop), your Photos, and solid Colors. There's no “import a video” button anywhere in that panel — you can't drag an MP4 or a MOV file onto it, and none of the built-in categories let you point macOS at a video file sitting in your Downloads folder.
Native trick #1: use a Live Photo as your wallpaper
The closest thing to using your own footage natively is a Live Photo. If a clip already exists as a Live Photo — or you convert one in the Photos app — you can set it from System Settings → Wallpaper → Photos, then pick the album that contains it. The catch: a Live Photo only captures about 1.5 seconds before and after the shutter, so you get roughly 3 seconds of motion tied to a single photo, not a video file of any length. You also can't control when the motion plays, loop it continuously, or adjust its frame rate.
Native trick #2: turn a video screensaver into your wallpaper
Since macOS Sonoma, System Settings → Screen Saver includes Apple's own aerial and underwater video screensavers, each with a “Show as wallpaper” toggle. Turn it on and the screensaver blends into your wallpaper when you wake or unlock your Mac. It looks convincing for a few seconds — but once your desktop settles, macOS actually freezes on a single frame from the video. The motion only plays again at the next lock, wake, or idle transition, and it's still limited to Apple's own scene library, not a file you own.
Why neither trick gives you a real, continuous video wallpaper
- No import for your own file: neither trick accepts an MP4 or MOV you shot or downloaded yourself.
- No continuous loop: both freeze to a still frame the moment you start working, instead of playing while you use your Mac.
- No frame rate or pause control: you can't cap playback at a lower frame rate to save battery, or set it to pause automatically on battery power.
- No multi-display control: there's no way to run a different scene, or your own video, on a second monitor.
The easier way: loop your own video as wallpaper with Mac+
Mac+ is a native macOS app built to close exactly that gap. Drop in your own MP4 or MOV and it loops continuously on your desktop, rendered in real time with Metal (Apple's GPU framework) so it stays smooth without relying on a still-frame trick. You control the frame rate (30, 60 or 120 fps) and resolution, and Mac+ pauses automatically when your Mac is on battery, when a screensaver kicks in, or when another app goes full screen — so the impact on battery life stays marginal. If you don't have footage of your own ready, Mac+ also ships with 15 animated scenes across four families (Atmosphere, Fluid, Geometry, Weather), 44 color palettes, custom folder icons and free-floating desktop widgets. The free tier needs no account, so you can try it before deciding.
Loop your own video as a Mac wallpaper in 4 steps
- Open Mac+ from the menu bar — no account needed to try it.
- Go to the Wallpaper tab, choose “Video” as the source, and import your own MP4 or MOV file.
- Set the frame rate (30/60/120 fps) and turn on auto-pause for battery, full-screen apps or the screensaver.
- Apply. Your video loops as your desktop background, under your icons and windows, on every connected display.
macOS 13 or later. Apple Silicon and Intel. Free tier, no account required.
Frequently asked questions
Can I set my own video as a Mac wallpaper without installing anything?
Not really. macOS only lets you loop a roughly 3-second Live Photo or one of Apple's own aerial screensavers as wallpaper, and both stop moving while you're actively working. To loop an MP4 or MOV you own, continuously and under your icons, you need an app built for it, like Mac+.
What video formats can I use as a wallpaper on Mac?
System Settings doesn't accept a video file directly — only Live Photos and Apple's built-in aerial scenes. Mac+ imports standard MP4 and MOV files and loops them with GPU rendering, no conversion needed.
Does a video wallpaper drain a MacBook's battery?
It can, depending on frame rate and resolution — see our full breakdown in do animated wallpapers drain MacBook battery?. Mac+ lets you cap the frame rate at 30, 60 or 120 fps and auto-pauses on battery, full-screen apps and the screensaver to keep the impact marginal.
Can I get a video wallpaper on Mac for free?
Mac+'s free tier requires no account and lets you try the app itself — see free animated wallpapers for Mac for exactly what's included before deciding whether to unlock everything with the one-time 9.99€ purchase.
Does a video wallpaper work across multiple monitors on Mac?
With Mac+, yes — it's built for multi-display setups, with resolution adjusted per screen so a second monitor doesn't take an unnecessary performance hit.
What's the difference between a Live Photo wallpaper and a real video wallpaper?
A Live Photo is a roughly 3-second clip tied to a single photo, with motion you don't fully control and that freezes once you start working. A real video wallpaper, like the ones Mac+ renders, loops any video length continuously under your icons and windows, with an adjustable frame rate.