Monday, September 22nd 2025

Windows 11 Revives DreamScene With Live Video Wallpapers Returning

Windows OS is bringing back live wallpapers, reminiscent of the Windows Vista era. Originally known as DreamScene, this feature enabled video files, such as MP4 or MKV, to be used as live wallpapers on Windows desktop PCs. Microsoft is currently testing this feature again, as noted by @phantomofearth on X. In the latest Windows 11 Dev/Beta build 26x20.6690, there is a hidden option that lets you use video files as live wallpapers. Microsoft is also testing support for external files, which means we might see the company include a selection of customized live wallpapers in the next Windows 11 update.

To enable this feature, you need to be a part of the Windows Insider program. Once you become a part of this feature-preview program, you need to enable feature ID 57645315 and restart your explorer.exe, so Windows can apply it. However, the timeline for this feature is uncertain, and it might be part of next year's major updates. As of now, no significant features have been added this year. Microsoft isn't aiming for more under-the-hood changes for the 25H2 update, nor a visual makeover that prior updates were usually known for. Instead, the updates are primarily focused on security and are delivered as an enablement package. For changes like this, we assume Microsoft needs more bug testing before rolling out the feature to stable channels.
Source: @phantomofearth on X
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18 Comments on Windows 11 Revives DreamScene With Live Video Wallpapers Returning

#1
TheMailMan78
Big Member
LOL FINALLY. Macs version of this is awesome.
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#2
Steevo
I remember this on Vista, you could turn it on in 7with some tweaks, however both were GPU/CPU intensive to play videos with any quality that looked good unless you got your codecs just right for GPU hardware acceleration.
Posted on Reply
#3
TheMailMan78
Big Member
SteevoI remember this on Vista, you could turn it on in 7with some tweaks, however both were GPU/CPU intensive to play videos with any quality that looked good unless you got your codecs just right for GPU hardware acceleration.
There is ZERO reason Windows doesnt have this anymore. Like I said Mac has something similar and it works great. They have had its since 2020 I think.
Posted on Reply
#4
Steevo
TheMailMan78There is ZERO reason Windows doesnt have this anymore. Like I said Mac has something similar and it works great. They have had its since 2020 I think.
Vista was 2006/2007 and the plethora of celeron shitboxes was the primary reason it failed, MAC was using more powerful Intel at the time and didn't even do it then, they waited till their in house walled garden silicon was ready so they could check the accelerator box and make sure it would only use a couple watts and not slow down the system.
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#5
Aquilino
What a bunch of raccoons. They don't even know what they are doing.
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#6
theglaze
Video wallpapers will be AI-powered, wasting resources, just to increase user adoption and prove to shareholders in quarterly summary that demand is rising.
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#7
FreedomEclipse
~Technological Technocrat~
theglazeVideo wallpapers will be AI-powered, wasting resources, just to increase user adoption and prove to shareholders in quarterly summary that demand is rising.
Yes and no?

It depends if the CPU has an Ai NPU and if its being put to any use at all. Most average joes probably dont use it.
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#8
Franzen4Real
I have been using Wallpaper Engine on Steam for several years now to bring back animated desktops. Microsoft would need to really lean into community-created content and plenty of adjustability similar to WE to sway me to use this. My guess is it will be about as exciting as stock Windows wallpapers, but I'll give it a fair try and see how it goes.
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#9
NoLoihi
Microsoft might be playing it safe to avoid giving haters any grounds for a scandal now that Windows 10 support is about to be running out.*
Good! Let’s hope it stays calm (maybe some people will still try to start some shit), the Linux peddlers will hate that. :D
(Written by yours truly, a Linux user. Use what works.)
*(Weren't there murmurs of extended support ...? Yeah, according to WinFuture, there’s a free ESU option via Windows Backup, one can use 1000 Reward Points and Acros Security will allegedly also offer some patches for free (for non-commercial users).)
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#11
Steve-007UK
If anyone likes this sort of thing then no issues with it as long as it is not a thing we will be forced to use.
i like my desktop as it is like this.
Posted on Reply
#12
wNotyarD
Steve-007UKIf anyone likes this sort of thing then no issues with it as long as it is not a thing we will be forced to use.
i like my desktop as it is like this.
They'll somehow try and convince you to get an AI-enhanced blacker-than-black wallpaper with AI-generated motion, which you can swear to see no difference but they'll promote as a life changer anyway.
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#13
Craptacular
SteevoVista was 2006/2007 and the plethora of celeron shitboxes was the primary reason it failed, MAC was using more powerful Intel at the time and didn't even do it then, they waited till their in house walled garden silicon was ready so they could check the accelerator box and make sure it would only use a couple watts and not slow down the system.
It was only available in Vista Ultimate, I guarantee you that machines coming with Vista Ultimate were not shipping with Celerons.
Posted on Reply
#14
eidairaman1
The Exiled Airman
SteevoI remember this on Vista, you could turn it on in 7with some tweaks, however both were GPU/CPU intensive to play videos with any quality that looked good unless you got your codecs just right for GPU hardware acceleration.
Yeah slideshows, which cause hitching like hardware accel does in webbrowsers. Turn that bs off
AquilinoWhat a bunch of raccoons. They don't even know what they are doing.
They havent since W8 reared its ugly head
Posted on Reply
#15
theouto
Hello wallpaper engine for the people that don't want to spend money on wallpaper engine or want to not see interesting content in the wallpaper engine steam workshop.
NoLoihiMicrosoft might be playing it safe to avoid giving haters any grounds for a scandal now that Windows 10 support is about to be running out.*
Good! Let’s hope it stays calm (maybe some people will still try to start some shit), the Linux peddlers will hate that. :D
(Written by yours truly, a Linux user. Use what works.)
Let's hope it stays calm, but you and I both know that microsoft is just itching to get their hands dirty and cause another massive Windows-related scandal, just for the sake of it. Shit, weren't they already getting up to some funky business just last week?
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#16
Vayra86
Franzen4RealI have been using Wallpaper Engine on Steam for several years now to bring back animated desktops. Microsoft would need to really lean into community-created content and plenty of adjustability similar to WE to sway me to use this. My guess is it will be about as exciting as stock Windows wallpapers, but I'll give it a fair try and see how it goes.
Too bad Wallpaper Engine introduces stutter during gaming and in general.

Most of the time you don't notice it. But it is a latency hit on your system.
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#17
CrAsHnBuRnXp
I think ill just stick with wallpaper engine on steam.
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#18
AleXXX666
CraptacularIt was only available in Vista Ultimate, I guarantee you that machines coming with Vista Ultimate were not shipping with Celerons.
you got it wrong mate... average Joes installed Vista Ultimate on their shitboxes by themselves, and then hated it because their shitboxes weren't very good with resource handling. Of course no idiot will sell REAL BMW M-series with shitty cheapest tyres.;)
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