How To Set A GIF As Wallpaper In Windows 10?

How to set a GIF as background in windows 10? You can do this easily with the help of this guide. In the following sections, you'll find the steps need to be followed in order to apply a gif as desktop background in Windows 10.

GIF, or Graphics Interchange Format, is an image format that functions more of an animated set of images. To be accurate, it is similar to a video clip but acts as a set of images being played out repeatedly in a loop. Over the years, Windows has mostly used non-GIF formats for wallpapers.

With its release of Windows 7, the desktop wallpaper can have multiple images shown as a slideshow. Now, on its latest OS, Windows 10, GIFs can be set as wallpaper. Here are the common steps on how to set a GIF as wallpaper in the Windows 10 desktop background.

Setting GIF as Wallpaper

For Windows 10, unfortunately, there are no built-in options to set GIF as wallpaper. However, there are third-party solutions available in which you can safely use. Two of the known solutions are Plasteur and BioniX.

Plasteur

This is a program that enables you to set a GIF as a desktop background. As mentioned, since this is a third-party software solution, it is not free but can be purchased through donations. There is no trial version of this program, so you have to donate in order to experience using it.

Plasteur has simple steps to do the job you want. In order to proceed, you need to do the following:

1. Donate an appropriate amount, from $ 0.10 and beyond. The file size is about 85 Mb. 
2. You need to “unzip” the package. It requires no further installation because it is a standalone program. 
3. When you run the program, it detects automatically the number of operating monitors connected. The program also supports set-up for multiple monitors, which means you can have different GIFs as wallpapers of separate computer monitors.
   
4. Select a monitor where you want a GIF to be displayed. In the long entry box, you can choose to paste the URL of the GIF. You can also select a file existing on your hard drive storage or browse the gallery of your ‘Photos’ section.
   
5. After you have chosen the GIF, click ‘Save’. Now, the setup is complete for 1 monitor yet. Repeat the procedures for the other monitors.
6. The wallpaper can be disabled anytime you want by clicking in the button ‘Disable Wallpaper’. There are also options in which manner will your GIF wallpaper display. You can have it on pause when you are running another application in the background in order to conserve the RAM resources.
   

Bionix Animated Wallpaper

Bionix is another program that enables you to set GIF as wallpaper. It is generally a freeware, meaning that it can be downloaded and used for free. The program works at best when turning smaller sized GIF into Desktop wallpaper. Here are the steps on how to proceed.

1. Go to the Bionix website and download the package ‘Desktop Background Switcher’. This contains the tool you need – the ‘GIF Wallpaper Animator’. 
2. Once downloaded, run the program by having it installed. After installation, launch the program.
3. When the program is opened, go to the ‘Tools’ tab and select ‘Wallpaper animator’.
   
4. From there, you can locate what folder the GIF files are located. Then, select a single GIF you preferred having as wallpaper.
5. After you have selected the preferred GIF, you can customize its animation speed, the size and location of it on the screen, and the image quality. Click on ‘Start’ to see the GIF running as wallpaper. You can click ‘Stop’ and make some adjustments.

Since it is free, it is expected to have limited capabilities. One of which is having a GIF wallpaper on separate monitors. However, it still works and even saves you some money.

Summary:  Set A GIF As Wallpaper In Windows 10

• Enable Lively Wallpapers.
• Save the GIF.
• Rename the GIF file to a PNG one, which is supported by Windows 10.
• Open File Explorer and navigate to the location of your .png file. Select it, then click on the Home tab at the top of File Explorer.
• Click on Set as desktop background.

Conclusion

GIFs are fun to look at. If you are interested in making one, there are many tools you can use and convert videos into GIFs. If you are not that eager, there are websites in which you can grab them for free such as Giphy, Tenor, Gfycat, Pixelstalk, and even Reddit.

Since the GIF is set as wallpaper, and wallpaper is running at the background, it might consume an unnecessary amount of memory resources. These third-party solutions mentioned can be disabled on the system tray. So, if you are playing a game, watching a series of videos, or doing some work, have the GIF wallpaper on pause or deactivated to conserve resources.