Getting Started

Wallpaper Reactor runs live wallpapers on Android, Windows, macOS and Linux (KDE Plasma 6). This page covers installing it and setting your first wallpaper. For the other pages in this guide, see Documentation.

For the builds, version numbers and checksums, see Releases. For what each edition includes, see Features & Pricing.

Install

Android

Google Play: install Wallpaper Reactor from the Play Store. Play keeps it updated.
Direct download: the Android APK is on the Releases page. You update it by installing the next APK.

Requires Android 9 or newer.

Windows

Microsoft Store: install from the Microsoft Store. The Store keeps it updated.
Direct download: download the installer (…-windows-x64-setup.exe) from Releases and run it. The installer is per machine, so Windows asks for an administrator’s password. If SmartScreen shows a warning for the downloaded installer, choose More info, then Run anyway.

Updates to the direct download install over the existing copy and also need an administrator.

macOS

Mac App Store: the Mac App Store edition is Wallpaper Reactor Lite. It has fewer features than the direct download. For example, it cannot sell Pro. See Features & Pricing for the differences.
Direct download: download the .dmg from Releases, open it, and drag Wallpaper Reactor to Applications. It is a universal build for Apple silicon and Intel Macs.

Requires macOS 14 (Sonoma) or newer. The first time you set a wallpaper, macOS may ask to let Wallpaper Reactor access data from other apps. Allow it, or wallpapers cannot be applied. See Troubleshooting.

Linux

Linux is supported on KDE Plasma 6 only (Wayland or X11), on x86_64. On any other desktop the app opens, but Set wallpaper is refused with a message naming your desktop. See Troubleshooting.

Download one of these from the GitHub release page linked at the bottom of Releases:

.deb (Debian, Ubuntu and derivatives): …-linux-amd64.deb.
Terminal window
```
sudo apt install ./wallpaper-reactor-<version>-linux-amd64.deb
```
Flatpak (SteamOS, Fedora and everything else): …-linux-amd64.flatpak.
Terminal window
```
flatpak install --user ./wallpaper-reactor-<version>-linux-amd64.flatpak
flatpak run app.wallpaperreactor.WallpaperReactor
```
The Flatpak’s runtime comes from Flathub, so Flathub must be set up as a remote on your system.

Neither package updates itself. The app tells you when a newer version exists and links the new file; install it over the old one.

On a Steam Deck, use Desktop Mode. Gaming Mode has no desktop to put a wallpaper on.

Set your first wallpaper

Open Browse and pick a wallpaper. Use Search, Sort, and the Type, Colors and Tags filters to narrow the list.
Open it and choose Download. The files stay on your device.
Choose Set wallpaper.
- Desktop: the wallpaper appears behind your windows and icons. With several screens, see Applying and managing.
- Android: Android opens its own live wallpaper screen. Confirm it there. See the Android picker.

Browsing, downloading and setting wallpapers need no account. Sign in to sync favorites and to publish your own wallpapers.

Use your own file

Open Create and use Quick Wallpaper to apply a file from your device right away, with no account and nothing published. See Creating a wallpaper.