If we want to avoid having the same static wallpaper image on Windows all the time, we have a wide array of options available to us, both natively and through third-party applications. For those who enjoy the captivating images featured in Microsoft‘s Bing search engine, the perfect choice would be using Bing Wallpaper.
Another alternative is to make use of a directory where multiple photographs are stored, enabling automatic rotation to display different images at regular intervals. Additionally, for a more dynamic and engaging experience, we can opt to set a video as our Windows desktop background.
Numerous applications on the Internet cater to this task, including Lively Wallpaper, Desktop Movie, or AutoWall. However, if you prefer an open-source solution, Active Desktop Plus would be the ideal application for you. It offers the freedom to customize your desktop with ease and versatility.
What can we do with Active Desktop Plus
Active Desktop Plus can be downloaded for free from its GitHub web page, which you can access by clicking here. This application not only enables us to set a video as our wallpaper, but it also allows us to utilize a website or even run an application as our desktop background.
Being a portable application, there is no need to install it on your computer. Simply run it whenever you wish to display a video, URL, or application as your Windows desktop background. The application is incredibly user-friendly, as you only need to drag the desired content to the start tab of the application called “Quick Add.”
Afterward, you can select the monitor on which you want to display the content, especially useful if you have multiple monitors. Finally, a confirmation message will appear, notifying you that the configuration has been successfully applied. To save and apply the configuration, simply click on “Save and apply.” If you click on “Advanced,” you will be able to further customize various options such as resolution, lock screen display, screen positioning, and more, according to your preferences.
Active Desktop Plus provides a wide range of configuration options that allow us to customize its functionality. Some of the notable features include:
– Start with Windows: You can set Active Desktop Plus to launch automatically when your computer starts up.
– Use Windows dark mode: The application can seamlessly integrate with Windows dark mode, ensuring a consistent visual experience.
– Pause background videos when maximizing applications: Active Desktop Plus offers the option to automatically pause videos playing in the background when you maximize an application, preventing any distractions.
– Stop videos when using battery on a laptop: If you’re using a laptop, you can enable this option to have Active Desktop Plus automatically pause videos when your device is running on battery power, helping to conserve energy.
– Pause videos in power saving mode: When your computer enters power saving mode, Active Desktop Plus can pause any playing videos to optimize performance and power consumption.
Despite not having received updates for the past two years, Active Desktop Plus remains fully functional and compatible with both Windows 10 and Windows 11. It’s worth noting that, like many lesser-known open-source applications, Active Desktop Plus is only available in English.