This adds the Dynamic Wallpaper folder in the lefthand sidebar under the Folders heading.Locate the Dynamic Wallpaper folder you created that holds the HEIC files, and click Choose.Click the + button in the bottom right corner.Open System Preferences and click Desktop & Screen Saver.Tip: I just created a folder in /Pictures and called it Dynamic Wallpaper. Create a folder to store just these Dynamic Wallpaper files.Here is the simplest and cleanest way to set Dynamic Wallpapers as your desktop picture: In previous generations, you needed to jump through some hoops. It is fairly simple in macOS Big Sur and later.

Once you have a version of these Dynamic Wallpapers, you need to know how to set it on your Mac. Naturally, if you have the system set to auto switch between modes, the wallpaper will toggle with the system.Ĥ) Bonus category? Some Dynamic Wallpapers can be built based on your system time and/or geographic location and also include the ability to switch based on your Light-Dark-Mode settings. If you set it to Light Mode, you get that image, same with Dark Mode. That means that the system even knows that if it is winter at your location, the later day images should be displayed sooner.Ģ) Time-based files simply tell macOS to change your wallpaper based on the system clock.ģ) Light and Dark mode wallpapers merely change based on your system Light and Dark Mode settings. How to set custom Dynamic Wallpapers on macOSĪs a brief background, there are generally three types of Dynamic Wallpapers:ġ) Geographic-based files tell macOS your location and then change your wallpaper based on location and time of day. Additionally, we have a few for downloads that include scenes from Big Sur, the International Space Station, and the cityscape of Miami. Using custom versions of these files is also easy, and we show you how to easily set them for your desktop. The Dynamic Wallpaper feature in macOS allows users to set wallpapers that change throughout the day, based on time, geographic location, or simply whether the system is in Light or Dark Mode.

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