Microsoft has started testing a native feature to use videos as wallpaper in Windows 11.
Coming soon, Windows 11 will allow you to customize your PC desktop with a feature directly inherited from Windows Vista. Microsoft has begun testing a feature that debuted more than 15 years ago in the infamous version of the operating system, but was later forgotten. We are referring, of course, to the option to Use videos as wallpaper..
In recent days it was discovered that the most recent development version of Windows 11 includes a function to use videos as wallpaper. As published @phantomofearth on X (Twitter), Microsoft’s software allows you to choose an MP4 or MKV file as a wallpaper to provide a more dynamic experience.
Windows DreamScene is back! Hidden in the latest Windows 11 Dev/Beta build (26×20.6690) is built in support for setting video files like .mp4 as your desktop background: pic.twitter.com/B4vdtfvqSc
— phantomofearth 🌳 (@phantomofearth) September 20, 2025
In the example shown in the post, you can see the use of a video that animates the default Windows 11 wallpaper. Apparently, the clip plays every time you return to the desktop of the computer, either by minimizing or closing a window or by pressing the “Show Desktop” button on the taskbar.
It is true that many times the features that are tested in the development versions of the operating system do not make it to the final edition. However, this doesn’t seem to be too problematic an addition to be abandoned halfway through. If its arrival in the stable variant of Windows 11 finally materializes, it is possible that we will see it in a matter of weeks or months.
Windows 11 will add a native feature to use videos as wallpaper
As we indicated at the beginning, Windows 11 will not be the first Microsoft operating system with support for using videos as wallpaper. This feature debuted in 2007 as part of the Ultimate versions of Windows Vista, under the name Windows Dream Scene. However, it was short-lived.
With the release of Windows 7, Dream Scene was natively disabled, although it was still part of the operating system’s code. Although this changed with Windows 8, where the feature was permanently removed.
The return of this option in Windows 11 still has some questions to answer. From what can be seen in the clip that was shared on X (Twitter), the support for videos as wallpaper will be integrated into the existing image picker and not as a separate tool. What is not known is whether Microsoft stipulates other parameters beyond the format of the clips, such as their resolution and duration.
It is also unclear how this feature may affect performance. After all, it stands to reason that having a video playing regularly when returning to the desktop could consume significant graphic resources. And the same could be considered regarding the battery in the case of laptops. At the moment, there are no further details about this. Although it would not be unusual for Microsoft to offer information as the development of this stable version progresses.
