How to create custom dynamic wallpapers for macOS Mojave
Dynamic wallpapers are a new cosmetic feature introduced in macOS Mojave. They have some utility, but that depends on the wallpaper you’re using. Dynamic wallpapers are images that transition from day to night as the day progresses. Each wallpaper is made up of several images tailored to suit different times of day. Out of the box, Mojave only includes one dynamic wallpaper. If you want more variety, you can create custom dynamic wallpapers on macOS Mojave using a few simple tools. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started.
Images You Need to Create Custom Dynamic Wallpapers on macOS Mojave
You will need images for the dynamic wallpaper, and that really is the hard part. You don’t necessarily have to use landscapes. If you’re skilled at creating graphics, you can create something entirely original that doesn’t rely on a landscape at all.
The key is to have a series of images that look good at different times of day — morning, afternoon, evening, and night. Before you start gathering files, here is a concrete checklist to make sure your images are ready:
- Resolution and aspect ratio: Every image in the set must share the same resolution and aspect ratio. Mixed sizes will produce jarring jumps or cropping issues when macOS switches between frames.
- Consistent framing: If your images are photos of the same scene — for example, a window view or a skyline — keep the camera position and framing identical across every shot. Even small shifts in angle will look unsteady during transitions.
- Minimum image counts: Use at least 2 images for a basic dynamic wallpaper. Aim for 4 to 8 images for noticeably smoother transitions throughout the day. If you are creating a Light/Dark Appearance wallpaper, use exactly 2 images — one bright version and one dark version.
- Order images chronologically: Name or sort your files in the sequence you want them to appear — early morning first, then midday, afternoon, evening, and night. This makes uploading and time-assignment much less confusing.
- Practical ways to build a set: Shoot a time-lapse from a tripod so every frame is perfectly aligned. Capture the same outdoor scene at different points across a single day. Or start from one well-exposed base image and edit it into progressively lighter and darker variants in a photo editor — this works especially well for graphic or illustration-style wallpapers.
- Shooting for Solar/Sun mode: If you plan to use Solar or Sun mode (explained in the next section), the capture time and location embedded in your photo’s EXIF data may be used by the tool to calculate sun position. Shoot with a device that logs GPS and timestamp data, or be prepared to enter that information manually.
The more images you include, the smoother the transition will feel throughout the day. Aim for at least four images to cover the main lighting conditions, though you can use more for a richer effect.
Choose the Right Dynamic Wallpaper Type
Before you create anything, it helps to know which type of dynamic wallpaper you actually want. There are three common modes, and choosing the wrong one is the most frequent reason a wallpaper doesn’t behave as expected.
- Time mode: Images switch at exact clock times that you set manually. You assign each image a specific time of day — for example, 6:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 6:00 PM, 10:00 PM — and macOS swaps images at those moments. This mode works anywhere in the world because it is purely clock-driven. Best used when you want precise, predictable transitions regardless of your location or the season.
- Solar/Sun mode: Images change based on the real position of the sun for your location — taking into account sunrise, sunset, and the arc of the sun across the sky. Because the sun rises and sets at different times throughout the year, this mode produces more natural-feeling transitions that shift gradually with the seasons. Best used when you want a wallpaper that feels tied to actual daylight where you live.
- Appearance mode: The simplest option — exactly two images, one for macOS Light Mode and one for macOS Dark Mode. The wallpaper switches automatically when you or macOS toggles the system appearance. No time or location data is involved.
Which tools support which modes: Dynamic Wallpaper Club supports Time mode and Sun mode. Equinox (covered below) supports Solar, Time, and Appearance modes. Pick your mode first, then choose the tool that supports it.
How to Create Custom Dynamic Wallpapers on macOS Mojave
Creating a custom dynamic wallpaper isn’t easy unless you use an app for it. We recommend the Dynamic Wallpaper Club app. It is, by far, the easiest way to create custom dynamic wallpapers for free, and without any watermarks.
In order to use this app you need to create an account, and you will need to use Safari to download the wallpaper. You can create it in any browser but it appears to only download in Safari.
Prepping images
Put all your images in one folder. To make things easier, give them numerical names in the order you want them to change — for example, the early morning image should be named 1. The images should not be larger than 15MB each. It’s also a good idea to make sure all images share the same resolution and aspect ratio so the transitions look seamless on your display.
Create wallpaper
Visit Dynamic Wallpaper Club and click the Create button at the top. Drag and drop the files that you want to use for your wallpaper. Give it a name, and a tag if you want. Select the mode from the left panel.
If you choose Time mode, you will need to assign a specific timestamp to each image yourself — the app may prefill some suggested times as a starting point, but you should review and edit every entry to make sure the schedule matches what you actually want. Time mode does not automatically map images to times of day on your behalf; it applies whatever times you specify.
If you want your wallpaper to shift more naturally with the position of the sun throughout the year, choose Sun mode instead. Sun mode uses location and solar-position data rather than fixed clock times, so transitions will feel tied to real daylight in your area. Appearance mode is the third option: it uses exactly two images and switches between them based on whether macOS is in Light Mode or Dark Mode — no time or location data is involved.
Once the images have been uploaded, confirm that you’re authorized to use them and then click the Create button. You will be redirected to your profile while the wallpaper processes. This can take a while, depending on the number of images you uploaded. Once it is complete, visit the wallpaper page and click the download button.
The wallpaper will download as an HEIC file, and that is your finished dynamic wallpaper. The HEIC format is Apple’s preferred image container for dynamic wallpapers, as it bundles multiple images and timing metadata into a single file.
Set dynamic wallpaper
Open System Preferences and go to the Desktop & Screensaver preference pane. Select the HEIC file you downloaded. Unfortunately, dynamic wallpapers don’t show a preview the way static images do. You will have to guess which image is the one you want based on the filename.
Alternatively, you can put each dynamic wallpaper you create in its own clearly labeled folder so that you always know which is which. This is especially helpful if you plan to create custom dynamic wallpapers on macOS Mojave regularly and want to keep your collection organized.
Once set, the wallpaper will automatically shift throughout the day based on the time-of-day data embedded in the HEIC file. You don’t need to do anything else — macOS Mojave handles the transitions entirely on its own. If you ever want to update or replace the wallpaper, simply repeat the process with a new set of images and swap out the file in System Preferences.
After setting the wallpaper, take a moment to verify that macOS has recognized it as a dynamic file rather than a static image. Re-open the Desktop & Screensaver (or Wallpaper) preference pane after adding the file. Where available, confirm that the wallpaper type is listed or described as Dynamic. Because transitions happen slowly across the day, the easiest immediate test is to temporarily set your system clock forward a few hours, wait a moment, and check whether the wallpaper frame changes. Then set your clock back to the correct time.
If the wallpaper appears to be stuck on a single frame, work through these steps in order:
- Remove the HEIC file from the wallpaper pane, then add it again.
- Close the Desktop & Screensaver preference pane completely and reopen it.
- Restart your Mac and check again.
- If macOS still treats the file as static, try placing the .heic file directly inside /Library/Desktop Pictures. Files stored there are more reliably surfaced by macOS in the wallpaper list and are more likely to be recognized with their dynamic metadata intact.
Alternative Apps If You Do Not Want to Upload Images to a Website
Dynamic Wallpaper Club is a convenient starting point, but it does require you to create an account and upload your photos to a third-party website. If you would rather keep your images on your own machine — whether for privacy, convenience, or simply because you have a slow connection — there are fully offline alternatives worth considering.
Equinox is a free, open-source Mac app that creates dynamic wallpapers entirely on your device. Nothing leaves your computer. It supports Solar mode, Time mode, and Appearance mode, which makes it the most versatile local option available. Because it is open source, you can inspect exactly how it handles your files. Equinox is a strong choice for anyone who wants the full range of wallpaper types without signing up for any service.
Dynaper is another Mac app that handles dynamic wallpaper creation locally. It offers a straightforward interface for assembling and exporting HEIC wallpapers without an account or upload step.
Either of these tools is worth choosing over the web-based workflow when you are working with personal or sensitive photos, when you want to experiment quickly without waiting for a server to process files, or when you simply prefer keeping your creative tools self-contained on your Mac.
