How to create dynamic wallpapers for macOS

Dynamic wallpapers are one of macOS's most elegant features, automatically adjusting your desktop background throughout the day. Since macOS Mojave (2018), Macs can display wallpapers that change based on time of day or solar position. In this comprehensive guide, we'll show you how to create your own custom dynamic wallpapers using modern tools and techniques.

What are dynamic wallpapers?

Dynamic wallpapers in macOS are special images that automatically change their appearance based on various factors:

Time-based: Changes at specific times throughout the day (e.g., 7 AM, 12 PM, 6 PM)
Solar-based: Transitions based on sun position and elevation angles at your location
Appearance-based: Switches between light and dark mode variants

These wallpapers use the High Efficiency Image Container (HEIC) format to store multiple images with metadata that tells macOS when to display each one.

Requirements for creating dynamic wallpapers

Multiple high-quality images (6-16 images recommended for smooth day/night transitions)
All images should have identical resolution (recommended: 3840×2160 or 5120×2880)
A dynamic wallpaper creation tool (Dynaper, dynamic wallpaper apps, or command-line tools)
macOS Mojave 10.14 or later to view and use the final wallpaper

Method 1: Using Dynaper (recommended for beginners)

Dynaper is a free Mac app (available on the App Store) that makes creating dynamic wallpapers simple and intuitive.

Step 1: Download and install Dynaper

Download Dynaper from the Mac App Store. The app is free with an optional in-app purchase to remove watermarks from exported wallpapers.

Step 2: Prepare your images

Create or collect a series of images representing different times of day:

Use consistent resolution across all images
Follow a logical time progression (dawn → morning → noon → afternoon → sunset → night)
Ensure smooth visual transitions between consecutive images
Name files with time suffixes (e.g., image_07_00.jpg for 7:00 AM) for automatic detection

Step 3: Import images to Dynaper

Open Dynaper and click the plus (+) button. Select your images (hold Command to select multiple) and click Open. Dynaper will automatically try to detect timestamps from filenames or EXIF metadata.

Step 4: Set display times

Each image will show a time value. Adjust these to specify when each wallpaper should appear. Click "Autosuggest" for automatic time distribution, or manually set times for each image.

Step 5: Choose wallpaper type

Dynaper offers two modes:

Time-shifting: Changes at specific times (e.g., 7 AM, 2 PM, 6 PM)
Solar-shifting: Uses Solar Wizard to set wallpapers based on sun altitude and azimuth angles

Step 6: Export and apply

Click "Export HEIC," name your file, choose a save location, and check "Set Image as Wallpaper" to immediately apply it. The resulting .heic file can be shared or used on any compatible Mac.

Method 2: Using video wallpapers (macOS Sonoma and later)

macOS Sonoma introduced video screensavers that can also function as live wallpapers. While not traditional dynamic wallpapers, they offer animated backgrounds:

Go to System Settings > Screen Saver
Choose a screensaver or add your own video file (.mov or .mp4)
The screensaver can display when idle or as an animated desktop background

Understanding dynamic wallpaper metadata

The technical magic behind dynamic wallpapers lies in their metadata:

Time stamps: Specify exact times (in 24-hour format) for each image
Solar altitude: Sun's angle above the horizon (used for location-based transitions)
Solar azimuth: Sun's compass direction (useful for realistic day/night cycles)
Appearance flags: Designate images for light or dark mode

Tips for creating professional dynamic wallpapers

Maintain visual consistency: Use the same composition, camera angle, or design style across all images
Plan smooth transitions: Adjacent images should have gradual lighting changes
Test at different times: Set your system clock to verify transitions work as expected
Optimize file size: Keep the final .heic file under 30MB for better performance
Consider both modes: If supporting light/dark mode, create variants for each
Use high-quality sources: Start with the best resolution possible before exporting

Advanced tools and resources

For more advanced users:

Dynamic Wallpaper Editor: Command-line tools for precise control over metadata
HEIC metadata viewers: Inspect existing dynamic wallpapers to understand their structure
Solar calculators: Determine precise solar data for location-based wallpapers
Dynamic Wallpaper communities: Share and download user-created dynamic wallpapers

Built-in dynamic wallpapers

macOS includes several stunning built-in dynamic wallpapers that change throughout the day. Recent versions like Sequoia, Sonoma, and Ventura come with beautiful options you can download from System Settings > Wallpaper.

Creating custom dynamic wallpapers takes patience and creativity, but the results are incredibly rewarding. If you prefer ready-made options, explore our curated collection or try Wallpapery for automated wallpaper management with rotating collections.