Static, Dynamic Desktop, and live wallpapers on macOS
The three ideas people lump together as “moving wallpapers,” and what macOS actually supports without a third-party tool.
People use “live wallpaper” to mean at least three different things on a Mac. They are not interchangeable.
Static wallpapers
A static wallpaper is a still image. This is the official, fully supported path: System Settings → Wallpaper, then a JPEG, HEIC, PNG, or WebP. Every still in the MacWallSpace catalog is this kind of file, offered in 4K, 5K, 6K, and a 16:10 MacBook crop.
Dynamic Desktop
Apple’s Dynamic Desktop format is a HEIC container with more than one still, often tied to the time of day or the system appearance. The desktop changes in steps, not as a video. You cannot turn an MP4 into a Dynamic Desktop by renaming it, and the stills on this site are not Dynamic Desktop packages.
Live, meaning video
A live or animated wallpaper, as people usually mean it, is a looping video behind the icons. macOS does not officially let you assign an arbitrary MP4 or WebM as the desktop wallpaper. The free-methods guide lists honest workarounds: a screen saver for idle motion, or a third-party utility you vet yourself. We ship the video files; we do not ship the player.
Which one to pick
If you want a sharp, quiet desk, use a still. If you want the room to change through the day, look at Dynamic Desktop or a scheduled still. If you want continuous motion, download a loop from the live gallery and go in with clear expectations about battery use and system support.