Phosphene for MAC
Free, open-source Mac app that turns your own videos into live wallpapers for the desktop and lock screen, chosen in System Settings.
Phosphene Overview
Phosphene lets you use your own videos as wallpapers on macOS. It adds them to System Settings → Wallpaper through the same system that plays Apple's Aerial wallpapers, so you pick a video there just like a built-in wallpaper, and macOS plays it on the desktop and the lock screen, even after you quit Phosphene. Drag a video into Phosphene's library or onto its menu bar icon, then choose it in System Settings. It plays MP4, MOV, HEVC, H.264, ProRes and other formats your Mac can decode, with gapless looping.
Phosphene can also turn Wallpaper Engine wallpapers from the Steam Workshop into looping video wallpapers. It is careful with power: playback pauses under covered desktops, on battery, when the screen dims and under heat limits. Phosphene is made by Mado Kagerou and is free and open source under the MIT license. Version 1.11.3 needs macOS 26 Tahoe and runs on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs. It uses a private Apple framework, so a macOS update can need a compatibility fix.
Key Features
Phosphene brings your videos to the desktop and lock screen.
- System Settings: choose your videos in the Wallpaper pane like any built-in wallpaper.
- Desktop and lock screen: playback continues after you quit Phosphene.
- Many formats: MP4, MOV, HEVC, H.264, ProRes and more.
- Per display and Space: a different wallpaper on each screen or Space.
- Gapless looping: smooth, frame-accurate loops.
- Power aware: pauses on battery, dimming, covered desktops and heat limits.
- Wallpaper Engine: turn Steam Workshop wallpapers into video wallpapers.
- Menu bar controls: preview, pause and switch displays.
What’s New in Version 1.11.3
Phosphene 1.11.3 fixes wallpaper framing after login.
- A wallpaper that appeared at a quarter of the screen after login is now framed correctly
- Each wallpaper is checked against its display again after a display change
- Updated the built-in updater
Phosphene FAQ
Is Phosphene free?
Yes. Phosphene is free and open source under the MIT license.
Which macOS version does Phosphene need?
Phosphene 1.11.3 needs macOS 26 Tahoe or later.
Does Phosphene run on Apple Silicon?
Yes. It runs on both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.
How do I set a video as my wallpaper?
Drag the video into Phosphene's library or onto its menu bar icon, then choose it in System Settings → Wallpaper.
Does the wallpaper keep playing after I quit Phosphene?
Yes. macOS itself plays the wallpaper, so it keeps running on the desktop and lock screen after you quit the app.
Which video formats work?
MP4, MOV, HEVC, H.264, ProRes and other formats your Mac can decode.
Does Phosphene drain the battery?
It pauses playback on battery, when the screen dims, when the desktop is covered and under heat limits, and can use lower-resolution versions.
Can I use Wallpaper Engine wallpapers?
Yes. Phosphene turns Wallpaper Engine wallpapers you subscribe to in the Steam Workshop into looping videos. Wallpaper Engine runs in the Windows version of Steam.
Can I install Phosphene with Homebrew?
Yes. Run brew install --cask phosphene.
Where does the Phosphene download on phosphene.FULLMAC.app come from?
The download button leads to the official Phosphene website at https://kagerou.glass/phosphene/. phosphene.FULLMAC.app does not change or repackage the app.
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