Microsoft is finally bringing native video wallpapers to Windows 11, allowing users to set looping videos as their desktop backgrounds.
The feature, spotted in Insider builds, supports formats like MP4, MKV, MOV, AVI, and WMV, indicating the long-awaited return of DreamScene, nearly 20 years after it first appeared in Windows Vista.
Back in 2007, Microsoft introduced DreamScene in Windows Vista Ultimate, letting users set short videos as animated wallpapers. While visually impressive at the time, DreamScene quickly faded away due to poor performance, heavy CPU usage, and limited appeal.
18 years later, the idea is back, but this time powered by modern GPUs and efficient video decoding, making video wallpapers far more practical and less resource-hungry.
How Video Wallpapers Work in Windows 11
The new video wallpaper feature is currently hidden within Windows 11 Insider Preview build 26×20.6690, accessible only through an experimental feature flag (ID 57645315).
Once fully enabled, it integrates directly into the familiar Settings > Personalization > Background menu, allowing users to choose video files in the same way they currently pick images.
Unlike static wallpapers, videos play in a continuous loop whenever the desktop is visible, giving users a more dynamic and animated experience.
More importantly, this functionality is built into Windows itself, meaning there’s no need for third-party applications such as Wallpaper Engine or DeskScapes.
Key Details
- Supported formats: Popular video types, including MP4, MKV, MOV, AVI, WMV, M4V, and WebM
- Where it applies: Only to the desktop background for now; the lock screen is not yet supported
- Current status: Limited to Insider builds; Microsoft is expected to expand availability in a future stable Windows 11 update.
Microsoft hasn’t announced a public release date yet, but the presence of this feature in Insider builds suggests it could ship in a future Windows 11 update later this year.
