mpvpaper is a wallpaper program for wlroots based Wayland compositors, such as sway.
The software lets you play videos with mpv as your wallpaper.
mpvpaper manipulates a feature of Wayland called a “surface frame callback”. This feature of Wayland allows mpvpaper to draw/render only when it makes sense to do so.
One reason mpvpaper might not draw/render is if it\’s “hidden”. This is the magic behind the automagic pause/stop options. Whatever “hidden” means is up to compositor. As for Sway, “hidden” is if there is a fullscreen window in the way of the wallpaper. mpvpaper will still draw/render even if there is a normal window blocking the wallpaper view entirely.
This feature is at best a hack that works on some compositors. Usability of these auto options will vary and may not work as intended or at all. In such a case, other features like the “watch lists” mentioned above should be used instead.
This is free and open source software.
Features include:
- Play a video on all output.
- Forward mpv options.
- Control mpvpaper just like mpv in the terminal with keyboard bindings.
Website: github.com/GhostNaN/mpvpaper
Support:
Developer: Henri Hänninen
License: GNU General Public License v3.0

mpvpaper is written in C. Learn C with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
| Popular series | |
|---|---|
| The largest compilation of the best free and open source software in the universe. Each article is supplied with a legendary ratings chart helping you to make informed decisions. | |
| Hundreds of in-depth reviews offering our unbiased and expert opinion on software. We offer helpful and impartial information. | |
| The Big List of Active Linux Distros is a large compilation of actively developed Linux distributions. | |
| Replace proprietary software with open source alternatives: Google, Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, IBM, Autodesk, Oracle, Atlassian, Corel, Cisco, Intuit, SAS, Progress, Salesforce, and Citrix | |
| Awesome Free Linux Games Tools showcases a series of tools that making gaming on Linux a more pleasurable experience. This is a new series. | |
| Machine Learning explores practical applications of machine learning and deep learning from a Linux perspective. We've written reviews of more than 40 self-hosted apps. All are free and open source. | |
| New to Linux? Read our Linux for Starters series. We start right at the basics and teach you everything you need to know to get started with Linux. | |
| Alternatives to popular CLI tools showcases essential tools that are modern replacements for core Linux utilities. | |
| Essential Linux system tools focuses on small, indispensable utilities, useful for system administrators as well as regular users. | |
| Linux utilities to maximise your productivity. Small, indispensable tools, useful for anyone running a Linux machine. | |
| Surveys popular streaming services from a Linux perspective: Amazon Music Unlimited, Myuzi, Spotify, Deezer, Tidal. | |
| Saving Money with Linux looks at how you can reduce your energy bills running Linux. | |
| Home computers became commonplace in the 1980s. Emulate home computers including the Commodore 64, Amiga, Atari ST, ZX81, Amstrad CPC, and ZX Spectrum. | |
| Now and Then examines how promising open source software fared over the years. It can be a bumpy ride. | |
| Linux at Home looks at a range of home activities where Linux can play its part, making the most of our time at home, keeping active and engaged. | |
| Linux Candy reveals the lighter side of Linux. Have some fun and escape from the daily drudgery. | |
| Getting Started with Docker helps you master Docker, a set of platform as a service products that delivers software in packages called containers. | |
| Best Free Android Apps. We showcase free Android apps that are definitely worth downloading. There's a strict eligibility criteria for inclusion in this series. | |
| These best free books accelerate your learning of every programming language. Learn a new language today! | |
| These free tutorials offer the perfect tonic to our free programming books series. | |
| Linux Around The World showcases usergroups that are relevant to Linux enthusiasts. Great ways to meet up with fellow enthusiasts. | |
| Stars and Stripes is an occasional series looking at the impact of Linux in the USA. | |
I’d find videos as as desktop wallpaper to be far too distracting.
I’m the same. Good old boring full black background is my staple.
Hi Steve. That’s the other extreme. 🙂
I love desktop wallpapers and have them auto change every 20 minutes.
I think it comes from the day when every byte of RAM was precious and I didn’t have RAM to be fanciful. But I am partial to astronomy pictures on my background, not just dark matter 🙂