Lucid

Lucid plays looping 4K video and photos as your desktop wallpaper, on every display or a different one on each. The built-in loops cover space, nature and ocean scenes, with NASA stills. Apple Aerials are not shipped with the app: films already on your Mac apply instantly, and others download from Apple when you pick them. You can also play your own video and photo files. Playlists can rotate on a timer or at times you choose, and smart pausing stops playback behind full-screen apps, when the screen locks, or on battery below a level you set. It suits people who want moving wallpapers and no account.

It needs an Apple silicon Mac (M1 or later) on macOS 14 or later. Audio-reactive wallpapers need macOS 14.2 or later and the Screen and System Audio Recording permission. Lucid is not notarized, so the first launch needs Open Anyway, or the install script or xattr command that clears the download flag. Wallpaper Engine projects do not open. Weather and update checks are off by default. The loops are modified copies for personal use, and redistributing them means following each item's own license.