Microsoft started testing video wallpapers for Windows 11. The feature has been spotted in the latest builds and lets you set video files like MP4 or MKV as your desktop wallpaper background.

Videos play every time you view your desktop, similar to third-party solutions like Wallpaper Engine. This brings back functionality that Microsoft previously offered but then abandoned.

The company supported video wallpapers in Windows Vista as a DreamScene feature for the Ultimate version, but dropped DreamScene from Windows 7.

Why This Matters for Windows Users

Video wallpapers are highly requested by Windows users. Wallpaper Engine regularly appears in Steam’s top 10 most played apps and games list simply because so many people have the app installed and running.

That popularity shows genuine demand for moving desktop backgrounds rather than static images.

Microsoft’s Previous Attempts

Microsoft had been testing dynamic animated wallpapers for Windows 11 for years. A former design revealed exactly what they looked like earlier this year.

These dynamic wallpapers were supposed to ship in 2023, but never made it into the release version of Windows 11.

The video wallpaper feature now being tested represents a continuation of Microsoft’s efforts to bring more customization options to Windows 11 desktops.