There are actually three different ways to get a moving video background on your Mac, and they’re not all equal. One is built right into macOS and works in two clicks, but only with Apple’s own video library. Another lets you use any video you own, with low battery impact, through a dedicated app. And a third is an advanced workaround that tricks macOS into using your own video as a true system wallpaper — desktop and lock screen included — by swapping out one of Apple’s own files.
This guide walks through all three, so you can pick the one that fits what you actually want: convenience, full customization, or maximum control.
1 Built-In Apple Live Wallpapers (Official)
If you just want a smooth, battery-friendly moving wallpaper — aerial landscapes, slow-moving cityscapes, that kind of thing — and you don’t care about using your own footage, Apple actually ships this feature natively on modern macOS. It’s the simplest option by far, since it’s fully optimized by Apple and requires no extra software.
Press Command + Space to open Spotlight, type System Settings, and hit Enter.
Click Wallpaper in the left-hand sidebar.
Scroll through the built-in collections. Thumbnails that show a small play/video icon are live, moving wallpapers rather than static images.
Click a wallpaper to download and apply it. It will start playing immediately on your desktop, and you can set it for your lock screen from the same panel.
This method only works with the curated library Apple provides — you can’t use your own personal video files this way. For that, you’ll want Method 2 or Method 3 below.
2 Dedicated Third-Party Apps
If you want to use your own footage — a clip from a movie, a game recording, or something you shot yourself — without touching system files or sacrificing battery life, a dedicated video wallpaper app is the most practical route. These apps are purpose-built to decode and loop video efficiently, often with multi-monitor support and smart pausing built in.
Apps like Backdrop or Mac OLED are built specifically for playing video wallpapers efficiently on macOS.
Inside the app, look for a tab labeled Import or Create.
Most apps accept MP4 and MOV files directly — just drag the file into the app window.
Adjust or trim the clip if needed, then click Set as Wallpaper. It will start playing on your desktop right away.
Unlike the manual workaround in Method 3, you don’t need to touch any system folders or risk breaking anything. Most of these apps also support multiple monitors and automatically pause playback to save battery when you’re unplugged.
3 Manual Workaround (Replace System Files)
On macOS Sonoma and later, there’s an advanced trick that lets you force your own video to play as both your desktop background and lock screen, by literally swapping it in for one of Apple’s official live wallpaper files. It works because macOS treats your renamed video as if it were the original Apple asset — but it’s not something Apple supports, and it comes with real risks.
Go to System Settings → Wallpaper and download any one of Apple’s live wallpapers. This file is what you’ll be replacing.
Open Finder, click Go → Computer, then navigate to your main drive and go to: /Library/Application Support/com.apple.idleassetsd/Customer/4KSDR240FPS.
Find the wallpaper file you just downloaded, copy its exact file name somewhere safe, and only then delete it from the folder.
Rename your personal video file to match the exact name you just copied, then drag it into that same folder.
Go back to System Settings → Wallpaper and click the thumbnail of the wallpaper you just swapped out. macOS will now play your video in its place — on both desktop and lock screen.
This method modifies a folder Apple manages internally, which is not officially supported and can change or break with future macOS updates. Always keep a backup of the original file name and, ideally, a copy of the original asset. If anything looks off afterward, you can restore the original by re-downloading that same wallpaper from System Settings.
4 Conclusion
There’s no single “best” way to do this — it depends on what you need. Want something effortless? Method 1 is zero setup and zero risk. Want to use your own video? Method 2 is the safest route. Need that video on the lock screen too? Method 3 gets you there, just keep a backup of the original file name first.
Either way, a moving wallpaper on macOS is just a few clicks away.