Windows Vista-era video wallpapers make a hidden return in Windows 11

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Alfonso Maruccia

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In a nutshell: Thanks to the free beta testers who subscribed to the Insider program, Microsoft is constantly and publicly experimenting with new Windows 11 features. A recently discovered change isn't that new: it comes from a very turbulent period of Windows' development and evolution.

Prolific Windows Insider explorer "Phantomofearth" unveiled yet another unexpected change that could soon become part of the Windows 11 experience. The latest OS builds released by Microsoft in the Beta and Dev channels include native support for MP4 video files as desktop backgrounds, which is something Windows users experienced for the first time during the Windows Vista era.

The new, or should we say old, feature is part of the Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.6690. Like many other changes unveiled by Phantomofearth, the animated desktop wallpaper isn't available through the traditional Windows interface; it must be enabled with third-party customization programs such as ViveTool. The feature's ID number is 57645315.

As highlighted by Phantomofearth, animated wallpapers were all the rage in Windows when Microsoft released Windows DreamScene in September 2007. The free tool was designed to set WMV or MPG video clips as desktop wallpapers, with software company Stardock providing several "optimized" animations to be used with the program. People could use their own animations and clips, too.

DreamScene was part of the extra perks Microsoft released for the Ultimate edition of Windows Vista. Although it was designed to make use of the GPU to provide an optimal experience, DreamScene could have a significant impact on the system's overall performance. Despite this inconvenience, DreamScene was quite an eye-catcher. Several third-party companies released their own wallpaper animation solutions as well.

Microsoft already tried to reintroduce new wallpaper AI effects and animations in Windows 11 a couple of years ago, but they never became part of the general Windows experience. The new hidden support for video wallpapers could likewise disappear without a trace in an upcoming stable build of the operating system.

Stardock helped popularize the animated wallpaper concept with DeskScapes for Windows XP, which was initially released as an extension for DreamScene. The tool is still available for purchase with full Windows 11 compatibility, though alternative solutions in both paid (Wallpaper Engine) and free (Lively Wallpaper) software markets exist.

I had a blast with wallpaper animation software such as DreamScene back when I still had my old Vista SP2 laptop. However, in spite of the system's beefy gaming GPU (9600M GT), I had to disable all animations if I wanted to do something remotely productive with that PC.

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Windows Vista-era video wallpapers make a hidden return in Windows 11

 
I had to work on A vista era laptop this weekend.

It was really nice, I played with the OS before Linux went on. Vista was a congruent design, all the features looked really nice compared to the flat design of modern UI. Oh yeah, and with 8 GB of RAM the thing absolutely flew.
 
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The operating system should be as light as possible, with no “unnecessary” software. :)
OyVM1x1.jpeg
 
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Theinsanegamer said:
what is considered unnecessary? Who gets to make that determination?
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Bruh, nobody needs unnecessary garbage like notepad, calculator, media player and paint.

In fact, why are we wasting processing power on superfluous things like a GUI? Just go back to DOS, the user can install a third-party GUI if he wants to use his mouse so much. The OS should be as light as possible, right?

Also, the author of this article is right, an OS having completely optional support for videos as wallpaper, which you're in no way forced to use, is a BAD THING. We must write articles complaining about every single little thing microsoft does, no matter how inane they are.
 
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So Apple just reintroduced Aero glass, Win11 brings back the wallpapers.

Who had thought that 2025 was the year of Vista nostalgia.

I'm somewhat part of it as well. For my apps settings panel I took inspiration from both the Win11 and Vista control panels.
 
The nostalgia is real. I remember using DreamScene on Vista and feeling like I was living in the future, right up until my laptop fans started sounding like a jet engine just to keep the looping video running smoothly.
 
poshflamingos said:
Bruh, nobody needs unnecessary garbage like notepad, calculator, media player and paint.

In fact, why are we wasting processing power on superfluous things like a GUI? Just go back to DOS, the user can install a third-party GUI if he wants to use his mouse so much. The OS should be as light as possible, right?

Also, the author of this article is right, an OS having completely optional support for videos as wallpaper, which you're in no way forced to use, is a BAD THING. We must write articles complaining about every single little thing microsoft does, no matter how inane they are.
Click to expand...
I use Notepad every day, and calculator too. Yes, Media Player and Paint, I don't use, but other people might be using them.

I cannot imagine my wife installing a third-party GUI. Average Joe User doesn't even know what a GUI really is.

I am not supporting MS (a hateful company), anyway, but the definition of "what is really necessary" varies across the users. Not all of them are power users like us.
 
Geralt said:
I use Notepad every day, and calculator too. Yes, Media Player and Paint, I don't use, but other people might be using them.

I cannot imagine my wife installing a third-party GUI. Average Joe User doesn't even know what a GUI really is.

I am not supporting MS (a hateful company), anyway, but the definition of "what is really necessary" varies across the users. Not all of them are power users like us.
Click to expand...
I didn't think I would need to clarify, but my comment was not serious. It would be ridiculous to consider those basic utilities and having a GUI as "bloat." As ridiculous as tech writers writing articles complaining about an OS getting support for (completely optional) video wallpapers.
 
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I like Stardock's Start11, a very useful program that lets you bring back the customizations MSFT doesn't want you to have but were available in previous versions. It also brings some of its own capabilities. Didn't see the need for their DeskSpaces product, neat to learn a bit of the history of the product though.
 
poshflamingos said:
I didn't think I would need to clarify, but my comment was not serious. It would be ridiculous to consider those basic utilities and having a GUI as "bloat." As ridiculous as tech writers writing articles complaining about an OS getting support for (completely optional) video wallpapers.
Click to expand...

Your original satirical comment was excellent. The thing is, people get up in arms about MS with reason. New features are often forced onto people or break other parts of the OS; and, while the GUI and basic utilities are not bloat, there is a lot of bloat and things we'd never use.
 
Theinsanegamer said:
I had to work on A vista era laptop this weekend.

It was really nice, I played with the OS before Linux went on. Vista was a congruent design, all the features looked really nice compared to the flat design of modern UI. Oh yeah, and with 8 GB of RAM the thing absolutely flew.
Click to expand...

MS used to have aesthetic feeling and good taste. Vista looked very good; 7 even more because it toned down some of Vista's too-saturated colours and brought a taskbar from heaven. My opinion is that 8 started the shift across the industry to flat design; iOS 7 was the following year, though behind the scenes, the timeline may be different.

For my part, 10's minimalism looks all right, but 11's attempt at bringing back a less-flatter design is ugly.
 
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If the OS was much more modular it could ship almost barebones. If you want calculator, you install it from the store. If you want notepad you do the same. I don't want notepad, I use notepad++ for instance and I'm sure a lot of people prefer 3rd party calculator apps. It's not rocket-science. I certainly don't want silly desktop effects so wouldn't install it.
 
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OortCloud said:
If the OS was much more modular it could ship almost barebones. If you want calculator, you install it from the store. If you want notepad you do the same. I don't want notepad, I use notepad++ for instance and I'm sure a lot of people prefer 3rd party calculator apps. It's not rocket-science. I certainly don't want silly desktop effects so wouldn't install it.
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Ah yes, Calculator, such a heavy app it cost me 20 FPS in crysis and takes up a whole hard drive!

I mean really? Are we complaining about Notepad? What is this, DOS?
 
OortCloud said:
If the OS was much more modular it could ship almost barebones. If you want calculator, you install it from the store. If you want notepad you do the same. I don't want notepad, I use notepad++ for instance and I'm sure a lot of people prefer 3rd party calculator apps. It's not rocket-science. I certainly don't want silly desktop effects so wouldn't install it.
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Totally!

An OS sold as just that, a modular core OS.

The plus points are endless but a few obvious ones.

1. It would be MUCH faster, although telemetry could still be an issue.
2. We could add only what we want. Free stuff, and paid.

3. In summary an easier to patch, stable core OS which doesn't force new unwanted features and all their problems monthly. Folks could actually have an OS the way THEY want it.

Problem is, unless MS has some profound, like all managers hit by lightning which wires their brains to a more Customer orientated way of doing - everything.
We live in a world of OS Bloat. Edit: And consumer irritation due too - almost everything.

Before anyone says, yes I know there is linux.
 
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ZedRM said:
That is what we users are supposed to have the say concerning.
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Spot on. We the users, even very basic users know what they want/need.

What is considered necessary or not is most certainly not MS.
It's necessary for them to provide a streamlined, fast, secure, easy patchable small package size OS. The OS at it's core is designed to make Hardware and drivers work properly and easily with software. The user at their keyboard and mouse.

The software is what "does stuff," we want. I don't want anyone, especially MS telling me what software I want. Ridiculous.

I expect them to make a seemless secure interface between all my Hardware, and me.
Everything else between, software etc, games, you name it is not, or should not be anything to do with MS. Their OS only needs to create the environment for the PC to work quickly, and securely with whatever the user wants to use their PC for.

P.S. I should say, MS can offer everything and more than they currently offer. Both free and paid apps/software, you name it.

But it is sickening that they preload the OS with so much bloat, useless mostly but for a few. (Everyone has different needs/wants)
Worse, then integrate it directly to the OS, making it difficult or impossible to uninstall.

Then send back how we use it and what we do to mothership MS.
 
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For years I painfully, impatiently awaited the availability and release of Longhorn, which eventually became Vista, which was utter shite.
I wasted years drooling, chomping at the bit, estranging family and friend alike, to be presented with an absolute travesty of possibility. It should have been named Windows Garbage if they ever cared about marketing truth and/or accuracy.
Bringing back Vista wallpapers is a cruelty to those of us suffering PTSD (post travestic shite disorder); it's too painful.
 
WaphleStomp said:
For years I painfully, impatiently awaited the availability and release of Longhorn, which eventually became Vista, which was utter shite.
Click to expand...
Like XP, it had a rough start, but by SP2 it was great!
WaphleStomp said:
I wasted years drooling, chomping at the bit, estranging family and friend alike, to be presented with an absolute travesty of possibility.
Click to expand...
That says much more about you than anything else.
WaphleStomp said:
Bringing back Vista wallpapers is a cruelty to those of us suffering PTSD (post travestic shite disorder); it's too painful.
Click to expand...
Once again, says more about you than anything else.

Some of us, who had good hardware at the time, enjoyed Vista. The glitches and driver issues were unpleasant, but overall it was a decent OS. Once they fixed the problems it was great. The wallpapers were always a good thing.
 
I thought Vista wasn't bad after the first update, or was it an SP? Worked fine for me.
Then came W7 which made me see that Vista was indeed lacking, but still not awful.

So far, since W3.1 W95 etc, all of which I used, W11 is by far the worst bloated abomination ever!!

P.S. I wouldn't want vista background though!!
 
I already have an app for this. I have a really nice night winter video as live wallpaper.
I do not need it. Maybe, if they add a lot of free live wallpapers, people will use it. But I already have everything to see live stuff on my screen.
 
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