Hello everyone,
Thank you for your continued support and feedback for Live Wallpaper.
This update is a complete rebuild from the inside out. In response to your feedback about resource usage, wallpaper switching, interface responsiveness, dark mode, and the lock screen experience, we redesigned the interface, asset-loading pipeline, and dynamic wallpaper playback core.
This is more than a visual refresh. It is a comprehensive upgrade focused on performance, stability, and everyday usability.
Update Highlights
1. A New Dynamic Wallpaper Playback Engine
Dynamic wallpapers now run on our newly built integrated playback engine. We have improved video playback, rendering efficiency, and compatibility across different graphics cards and video formats.
If hardware acceleration is unavailable or does not work correctly, the app automatically switches to a compatibility mode, helping to prevent playback failures, stuttering, and unexpected exits.
2. Seamless Wallpaper Switching Without Black Screens
We completely redesigned the dynamic wallpaper switching process.
The app now loads the next wallpaper in the background and prepares its first frame before replacing the current one. This makes wallpaper changes seamless and eliminates the brief black screen that could previously appear during a switch.
If the new wallpaper cannot be prepared successfully, the current wallpaper remains visible instead of being cleared prematurely.
3. Better Multi-Monitor Performance
We optimized playback for multi-monitor setups.
When the same dynamic wallpaper is displayed across multiple screens, the new version can reuse playback and rendering resources instead of processing the same content repeatedly. This reduces memory and GPU usage, particularly on multi-monitor and high-resolution setups.
4. Smoother Browsing and Faster Loading
We improved list rendering, page responsiveness, preview caching, and asset loading throughout the app:
Smoother scrolling, even with large wallpaper collections
Faster loading of wallpaper covers and previews
More responsive page navigation and interactions
Your previous scroll position is preserved when returning from a wallpaper details page
Clearer error messages and retry options when an asset fails to load
Missing thumbnails for local wallpapers can be repaired automatically in the background
Fewer duplicate requests and less unnecessary interface resource usage
5. Multiple Interface Themes
In response to requests for a dark mode, this update introduces full interface theme support.
You can now choose from four themes:
Default
Dark
Light
Ocean
Pages and controls have also been refined to provide a consistent experience across every theme.
6. Lock Screen Improvements and PIN Protection
We improved how the lock screen is displayed, restored, and unlocked, and added dedicated PIN protection.
You can now set, change, or remove a 4-to-6-digit PIN. Lock screen preview, automatic locking, and lock screen wallpaper slideshows remain available.
7. Dynamic Wallpaper Audio Fixes
We fixed an issue that could prevent audio from playing correctly with some dynamic wallpapers.
Dynamic wallpaper audio can now be enabled or disabled from the app settings or directly from the system tray, without opening the main window.
8. Smaller App Size and Lower Background Usage
We streamlined the installation package and runtime components to reduce the app's overall size.
Background behavior has also been optimized. When the app starts in the system tray, the main interface loads only when needed. After the main window is closed, its interface resources are released while your dynamic wallpaper continues running normally.
9. Better Recovery and Upgrade Experience
We improved wallpaper recovery after system sleep, wake, unlock, and changes to connected displays or their layout. This reduces cases where wallpapers disappear, display incorrectly, or fail to return after a monitor configuration changes.
When upgrading, the app will also attempt to migrate your existing settings, local wallpapers, slideshow lists, current wallpaper, desktop clock, and customization options wherever possible, helping you keep your previous setup.
10. An Easier Way to Send Feedback
We redesigned the in-app feedback experience so it is easier to report a problem or share an idea.
You can contact us through either of these channels:
In-app feedback: Select the menu icon in the upper-right corner of the main window, then select Feedback.
Steam feedback: Leave a comment on this announcement or visit the Steam Community Discussions.
In the app, you can categorize your message as a bug report, feature request, improvement suggestion, or another type of feedback. You can also add a subject, detailed description, and an optional email address.
To help us investigate an issue more quickly, please include the following when relevant:
The steps you took before the issue occurred
The wallpaper type or a link to the Steam Workshop item
Your Windows version and graphics card model
The number, resolution, and arrangement of your displays
Screenshots or error messages, if available
To Every User
This update touches nearly every part of the app and represents an important step forward based on long-term feedback from our community.
If you experience any issues with display, audio, the lock screen, multi-monitor setups, or anything else after updating, please let us know through the in-app feedback option, the comments on this announcement, or the Steam Community Discussions. Every report and suggestion helps us continue improving compatibility, performance, and the overall experience.
Thank you for your patience, support, and feedback.