Marques Brownlee, better known as MKBHD, is officially shutting down Panels, the iOS and Android wallpaper app he launched just over a year ago.
The announcement was shared through a notice on the Panel’s website along with a detailed video message explaining the decision.
According to the statement, the “makeup of the development team” changed earlier this year, leaving Brownlee unable to find new collaborators who were the “right fit” to continue building and maintaining the app.
In his video, MKBHD added that while Panels gained attention quickly, he ultimately couldn’t turn it into the product he envisioned.
The creator said he wanted to build something unique in the wallpaper space, but the combination of shifting team dynamics and the complexity of his vision made the project unsustainable in its current form.
Shutdown Timeline
Panels will officially shut down on December 31. After that date, it will be removed from the App Store and Google Play Store, marking the end of active development and distribution.
MKBHD reassured users that they won’t lose access to their wallpapers or purchases. All previously downloaded or purchased wallpapers will remain usable, and users can continue downloading new wallpapers until December 31.
In-app purchases have been discontinued immediately, and once the app is removed from the App Store and Google Play, active subscriptions will be automatically canceled.
Annual subscribers will also receive full refunds, ensuring that no one pays for a service that is no longer available. MKBHD also confirmed that the Panels code will be open-sourced under the Apache 2.0 license in January 2026.
This means anyone can fork, extend, or revive the project, potentially giving the app a second life through community-driven development.
