Which live wallpaper apps still run on macOS Ventura, Sonoma and Sequoia?
On Ventura (macOS 13) Apple lists no aerial wallpapers; on Sonoma and Sequoia it lists them as stills in Wallpaper settings. Wallper needs macOS 14.6; Backdrop, Wallspace, MacWall and Wallux need 15; Mac+ starts at 13, MotionDesk at 13.5. Most vendors put Lock Screen video at macOS 26.
Only a few live wallpaper apps install below macOS 15. Bumpy Paper and Mac+ start at macOS 13, MotionDesk at 13.5, Muro and Reactive Wallpaper at 14, Wallper at 14.6; Backdrop, Wallspace, MacWall and Wallux list 15.0. This guide starts from the macOS you run, not from the app, and every figure was read on the vendor’s own page on 7 October 2026.
Does macOS itself play a live wallpaper on Ventura, Sonoma or Sequoia?
No, and no macOS version keeps Apple’s own wallpapers moving behind your icons: none of the guides below describes that. What Apple documents is closer to still images, with a brief burst of motion added in macOS 26.
| macOS | In Wallpaper / Screen Saver settings | Moves behind your icons? |
|---|---|---|
| 13 Ventura | Dynamic Wallpapers that “change gradually throughout the course of the day”, plus Pictures and Colors; screen savers such as Floating, Message and Word of the Day. No aerials. | No |
| 14 Sonoma | Landscape, Cityscape, Underwater and Earth aerials, called “still images”. The slow-motion aerial is a Screen Saver; Show as wallpaper gives a still aerial image. | No, a still image |
| 15 Sequoia | Same wording. Show as wallpaper now gives “a still macOS image”. | No, a still image |
| 26 Tahoe and 27 Golden Gate | Aerials “animate as you lock or unlock your Mac” and double as the screen saver by default. The English screen-saver guides no longer mention Show as wallpaper. | Only as you lock or unlock |
Dynamic Wallpapers just shift in tone as the day goes by; the slow-motion aerial is a screen saver, not something that plays while you work; and from macOS 26 the motion arrives only at the lock and unlock moments. Apple’s guides describe no desktop that keeps moving while you work, so continuous motion means a third-party app. The Sonoma switch is walked through in free animated wallpapers for Mac.
Which live wallpaper apps install on macOS 13, 14 and 15? The minimums, checked 7 October 2026
Only a handful go below macOS 15: Wallper (14.6), Muro and Reactive Wallpaper (14) and, at 13, Bumpy Paper, Mac+ and MotionDesk (13.5). Backdrop, Wallspace, MacWall and Wallux each list 15.0. Each cell comes from the vendor’s own page, linked in the first column.
| App | Minimum macOS | Intel Macs | Lock Screen video |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plash (older builds) | 2.14.1: 13; 2.15.0: 14; 2.16.0: 15; current 2.17.3: 26.4 | Not stated | No: “This is not possible.” |
| Bumpy Paper | 13.0 | Not stated | Not stated |
| Mac+ | 13 | Yes | No (Mac+ site) |
| MotionDesk | 13.5 | Yes | Not stated |
| Muro | 14 | Yes, universal build | macOS 26 or newer |
| Reactive Wallpaper | 14 | No, Apple silicon only | No: shows only while unlocked (FAQ) |
| Wallper | 14.6 | Yes | macOS 26 or later |
| Backdrop | 15.0 | Yes | Maker says from 15; unconfirmed |
| Wallspace | 15.0 | Not stated | Pro, macOS 26 or later |
| MacWall | 15.0 | Yes | Pro, macOS 26 or later |
| Wallux | 15.0 | Yes | Still image on 15, video on 26 |
| Aerial | 4.0.16: 15; 4.1.7: 26 | Yes | 4.1 only: keeps playing on the login screen after wake, per its site |
| Phosphene | 26.0 | Yes, universal build | Yes, from its macOS 26 floor |
“Not stated” means the vendor’s page is silent, not that the app fails. Prices follow, in each vendor’s currency and unconverted.
| App | Price model | Free option |
|---|---|---|
| Mac+ | Free tier; Pro €9.99 once or €1.99/month, 7-day trial | Yes |
| MotionDesk | Free tier; $9.99 lifetime for all 17 scenes | Yes, 2 scenes |
| Bumpy Paper, Plash, Muro, Phosphene, Aerial | Free (Phosphene and Aerial: MIT licence) | Yes |
| Reactive Wallpaper | $8.99 once after a 3-day trial | Trial only |
| Wallper | 7-day trial, then $14.99 once for 3 Macs | Trial only |
| Backdrop | €1.99/month, €14.99/year or €29.99 lifetime | 3 watermarked backdrops, no time limit |
| Wallspace | Free forever; Pro $12.99 once | Yes |
| MacWall | 24-hour trial, then $12.99 once for 3 Macs | Browsing only |
| Wallux | 7-day desktop trial, then $2.99/month or $9.99 once for 3 Macs | Trial only |
Wallspace’s own January 2026 blog still says macOS 13; its home page and FAQ say 15.0. Wallper’s August 2026 comparison lists Backdrop at 14; Backdrop says 15.0, and its 3 September 2025 announcement still names Sonoma. Aerial’s README calls 4.1 a beta, but GitHub shows it stable since 14 September 2026, and the 4.1.7 notes say that build does not work on Sequoia. This guide uses each vendor’s current requirements page.
Ventura, Sonoma, Sequoia or Tahoe: which app fits each version?
Below macOS 15 the choice is short: four apps at 13, three more at 14, then five more from 15 and Lock Screen video from 26.
- macOS 13 Ventura. Bumpy Paper, Mac+, MotionDesk (13.5 or later) and Plash 2.14.1 install; the apps listed at 14 and above do not. Free routes: Bumpy Paper, Plash, and the free tiers of MotionDesk and Mac+. You lose Apple’s aerials, which the macOS 13 guide does not list.
- macOS 14 Sonoma. Adds Muro, Reactive Wallpaper (Apple silicon only) and Wallper, which needs 14.6: Sonoma 14.0 to 14.5 must update first. Muro is free and source-available (PolyForm Shield); it is self-signed, so macOS blocks its first launch.
- macOS 15 Sequoia. Adds Backdrop, Wallspace, MacWall, Wallux and Aerial 4.0.16. Free routes: Wallspace’s free tier, Aerial (MIT licence) and Backdrop’s three-backdrop trial. Lock Screen video is disputed on 15; the details sit under “what you give up”.
- macOS 26 Tahoe and 27 Golden Gate. Lock Screen video becomes possible (Wallper, Wallspace Pro, MacWall Pro, Wallux, Muro, Phosphene, Aerial 4.1.x) and Apple’s aerials animate at lock and unlock. On macOS 27 (released 14 September 2026), Backdrop, Wallux, Phosphene and Wallper state support; Wallspace, MacWall and Mac+ publish no statement in the pages read: “not stated”, not “unsupported”. Phosphene says it relies on a private Apple framework that Apple could change at any major release.
- macOS 12 and older. iWallpaper lists macOS 10.15 or later (version 1.1.3, 12 June 2025; a $6.99 in-app purchase removes the watermark). Older Plash builds reach back to 12 (2.12.1), 11 (2.10.1) and 10.15 (2.1.1); Aerial 3.6.3 is unmaintained.
Which Intel Macs stop at which macOS, and which apps stay open to them?
The 2017 MacBook, MacBook Pro and iMac models stop at Ventura, the 2018 and 2019 MacBook Air at Sonoma, most 2018 to 2020 Intel Macs at Sequoia, four Intel models at Tahoe; macOS 27 is Apple silicon only. We set Apple’s five compatibility lists against each other on 7 October 2026 (Ventura, Sonoma, Sequoia, Tahoe, macOS 27): a model on one list but not the next stops there.
| Last macOS | Intel models that stop there | Apps open to it |
|---|---|---|
| 13 Ventura | MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, 2017); MacBook Pro 13-inch and 15-inch (2017); iMac 21.5-inch, Retina 4K 21.5-inch and Retina 5K 27-inch (2017) | Mac+, MotionDesk (13.5+), Bumpy Paper, Plash 2.14.1, iWallpaper, Aerial 3.6.3 |
| 14 Sonoma | MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018 and 2019) | Above, plus Wallper (14.6+) and Muro |
| 15 Sequoia | MacBook Pro 13-inch 2018 to 2020 (all but the 2020 four-port model) and 15-inch 2018 and 2019; MacBook Air 2020; iMac Retina 4K 21.5-inch and Retina 5K 27-inch (2019); iMac Pro 2017; Mac mini 2018 | Above, plus Backdrop, Wallspace (Intel not stated), MacWall, Wallux, Aerial 4.0.16 |
| 26 Tahoe | MacBook Pro 16-inch (2019); MacBook Pro 13-inch (2020, four Thunderbolt 3 ports); iMac Retina 5K 27-inch (2020); Mac Pro (2019) | All of the above, with Lock Screen video (Wallper, Wallspace Pro, MacWall Pro, Wallux, Muro, Phosphene, Aerial 4.1.x) |
Nothing introduced before 2017 is on Apple’s Ventura list, so an older Mac falls under “12 and older”. Every Apple silicon Mac can install macOS 27; Apple-silicon-only apps (Reactive Wallpaper, Orbl, a widget dashboard) never install on an Intel Mac. To tell which you have, open About This Mac: an Apple silicon Mac shows an item labeled Chip, an Intel Mac one labeled Processor.
No measured figures exist for any app here on an old Intel MacBook. Aerial’s FAQ suggests a 60 fps variant in Format settings if you meet stutter or heat; Mac+ lists 30, 60 or 120 frames per second depending on hardware. The Tahoe-on-Intel story is in what an Intel Mac can still customize on Tahoe.
What do you give up by staying on an older macOS?
Four things, each documented by Apple or the vendors: Lock Screen video, animated aerials, Apple’s desktop widgets, and the security entries Apple lists for newer releases.
- Lock Screen video. Wallper, Wallspace (Pro), MacWall (Pro), Muro and Phosphene say macOS 26; Wallux offers a still image from 15 and video from 26. Backdrop is the exception: its maker’s blog (updated 30 September 2026) says video works from macOS 15 onward, its FAQ answers “Yes!” on Lock Screen playback without naming a macOS, and its setup page says “macOS version compatibility may vary”. We could not test any of it. See can a live wallpaper animate on the Mac Lock Screen.
- Animated aerials. Apple’s guide has them animate at lock and unlock only from macOS 26.
- Apple’s desktop widgets. The macOS 13 guide covers widgets only in Notification Center; the macOS 14 guide adds the desktop.
- Security entries. Apple publishes no end-of-support date. On its security-releases page (read 7 October 2026) the last entry is 13.7.8 for Ventura (20 August 2025), 14.8.9 for Sonoma (6 August 2026) and 15.8.1 for Sequoia (28 September 2026).
Update macOS or change app? Four checks before you decide
Update if your Mac is on Apple’s list for macOS 15 or 26 and you want Lock Screen video or more apps; stay put, with a low-floor app, if it is not on the list or an app you rely on has not caught up. Four checks:
- Open About This Mac from the Apple menu: it shows the macOS version and a Chip or Processor line (Apple on your macOS version, Apple on Apple silicon).
- Check your model against Apple’s list for the macOS you want, linked above.
- Weigh the gain: macOS 15 opens five more apps, 26 opens Lock Screen video, 27 needs Apple silicon. On the four Intel models that stop at Tahoe, owners report a heavier interface: user reports, no figures, covered in the Intel Mac on Tahoe guide.
- Back up first, as Apple advises before installing new software, then open System Settings, click General, then Software Update (Apple’s update guide).
Where Mac+ fits on macOS 13 and 14, and where it does not
Mac+ installs from macOS 13 Ventura on Apple silicon and Intel, so it answers Ventura and Sonoma alike. MotionDesk (13.5 or later, two free scenes, $9.99 lifetime) is the closest like-for-like option. Mac+ draws 15 generated, abstract scenes on the GPU, not a video library, and adds widgets and folder icons. The free tier covers multi-display, an image background, eight palettes, two widgets, six folder icons and six animated scenes. Your own video is Pro, which costs €9.99 once or €1.99 per month with a 7-day trial. Animation stops when the display sleeps and when any app, full screen included, covers the desktop.
- Good for: a Ventura or Sonoma Mac, Intel included, that wants scenes, widgets and folder icons in one app. No figure exists for old Intel Macs, so try the free tier first.
- Not for: the Lock Screen, login window or screen saver, none of which Mac+ animates. Its widgets sit behind your windows, as Apple’s do.
- Not for: a video catalogue, gallery or playlists. Backdrop, Wallper, MacWall and Wallux offer those, with Lock Screen video on macOS 26.
macOS 13 or later. Apple Silicon and Intel. Free download; Mac+ Pro €9.99 once or €1.99/month.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a live wallpaper app for macOS Ventura (13)?
Yes, a few. Bumpy Paper (13.0, free), Mac+ (13), MotionDesk (13.5) and Plash 2.14.1 list macOS 13 or later on their own pages, checked 7 October 2026. Wallper (14.6), Backdrop, Wallspace, MacWall and Wallux (15.0) need a newer macOS.
Does Backdrop or Wallspace work on macOS Sonoma (14)?
No. Both state macOS 15.0 or later on their current pages. Wallper, which has a video catalogue, goes down to 14.6. Older pages saying otherwise are stale: Wallspace’s own January 2026 blog still says macOS 13.
Can I have a live wallpaper on the Lock Screen on macOS 14 or 15?
Per Wallper, Wallspace, MacWall, Muro and Phosphene, Lock Screen video needs macOS 26; Wallux gives a still lock screen from 15. Backdrop’s maker says video works from 15, while Backdrop’s support page says compatibility “may vary”. We could not test that claim.
Do live wallpaper apps work on Intel Macs?
Most do: Mac+, MotionDesk, Wallper, Backdrop, MacWall, Wallux, Aerial, Phosphene and Muro state Intel support. Reactive Wallpaper and Orbl are Apple silicon only. Wallspace, Bumpy Paper, Plash and iWallpaper do not say either way.
Do Apple’s aerial wallpapers move on Sonoma or Sequoia?
No. Apple’s guide calls them still images in Wallpaper settings; the slow-motion version is the screen saver, and Show as wallpaper gives a still image. They animate as you lock or unlock the Mac only from macOS 26.
Is macOS Ventura or Sonoma still supported?
Apple publishes no end-of-support date. On its security-releases page, read on 7 October 2026, the last Ventura entry is 13.7.8 (20 August 2025) and the last Sonoma entry 14.8.9 (6 August 2026).
Does Mac+ run on macOS 13 and on an Intel MacBook?
Yes on both, per the Mac+ site: macOS 13 or later, Apple silicon and Intel. No performance figure has been published for Intel Macs or for macOS 13 and 14, so try the free tier first.
Keep reading
Sources
- Apple Support — Customize the desktop picture on your Mac (macOS 13)
- Apple Support — Customize the wallpaper on your Mac (macOS 14)
- Apple Support — Change Screen Saver settings on Mac (macOS 14)
- Apple Support — Customize the wallpaper on your Mac (macOS 26)
- Apple Support — Apple security releases (read 7 October 2026)
- Wallper — Supported macOS versions (checked 7 October 2026)
- Backdrop — System requirements (checked 7 October 2026)
- Cindori — Best live wallpaper apps for Mac (Backdrop’s maker, updated 30 September 2026)