Dynamic Wallpapers in MacOS Tahoe are Still Pictures

Greetings,

dynamic wallpapers show as still pictures on the desktop, after selection (in system settings->Wallpaper).


I can only experience the dynamic nature of the selected dynamic wallpaper (ie "Tahoe") when I click on "preview" (in system settings->Wallpaper).

When previewing, the wallpaper shows on desktop as dynamic (ie the progressive moving wave of "Tahoe") but as soon as I go out the preview mode the wallpaper stops moving—notably the progressive moving wave stops in a new position with respect to where it was before initiating the preview mode.


This behavior applies to "Tahoe" dynamic wallpaper as well as to the other 33 dynamic wallpapers "Sequoia", "Macintosh", "Sonoma" and so on...


How to fix it?

Is it a bug?


Thank you

A.

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 26.0

Posted on Sep 20, 2025 9:36 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Sep 23, 2025 10:59 PM

@dialabrain - thanks, appreciated. I assumed the animation of the wallpaper was always on rather than being active on lock screen only. The animation actually work as intend on a locked screen.


Thank you all the rest of you who have taken time to respond, I appreciate you all—in your way you indeed provided valuable help.

9 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 23, 2025 10:59 PM in response to dialabrain

@dialabrain - thanks, appreciated. I assumed the animation of the wallpaper was always on rather than being active on lock screen only. The animation actually work as intend on a locked screen.


Thank you all the rest of you who have taken time to respond, I appreciate you all—in your way you indeed provided valuable help.

Sep 21, 2025 6:55 AM in response to AndreaM79

AndreaM79 wrote:

Greetings,
dynamic wallpapers show as still pictures on the desktop, after selection (in system settings->Wallpaper).

I can only experience the dynamic nature of the selected dynamic wallpaper (ie "Tahoe") when I click on "preview" (in system settings->Wallpaper).
When previewing, the wallpaper shows on desktop as dynamic (ie the progressive moving wave of "Tahoe") but as soon as I go out the preview mode the wallpaper stops moving—notably the progressive moving wave stops in a new position with respect to where it was before initiating the preview mode.

This behavior applies to "Tahoe" dynamic wallpaper as well as to the other 33 dynamic wallpapers "Sequoia", "Macintosh", "Sonoma" and so on...

How to fix it?
Is it a bug?

Thank you
A.


hmmmm....


I saw wavey wall paper and could not get rid of it fast enough...


Try the Landscape "Tahoe Day." After you have it loaded, use Command Control Q to lock the screen—


or you saying you see no motion(?)



if no resolve verify reduced motion in not turned on in Accessibility settings(?)


To be proactive you can file a bug report / submit your Apple Feedback here: Product Feedback - Apple



For setting Screen Saver you have to click open the "screen saver" button and make changes.

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Dynamic Wallpapers in MacOS Tahoe are Still Pictures

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