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How to Set Up the Wallpaper Template (Windows & Mac)

Written by Randal

Turn your desktop into a cozy interactive app. It takes about 3 minutes.

Cozy interactive desktop wallpaper preview

What You'll Need

  • A Windows PC or a Mac
  • A free wallpaper app: Lively Wallpaper (Windows) or Plash (Mac)
  • The wallpaper link (Optional for Window Users)
💡 Your data stays on your computer. Your to-dos, goals, and calendar entries are saved on your own device. Nothing is sent to me or anyone else.

🪟 Windows Setup (Lively Wallpaper)

Step 1: Install Lively Wallpaper

Open the Microsoft Store, search for "Lively Wallpaper", and click Get. It's free and open source.

Lively Wallpaper listing in the Microsoft Store

Step 2: Open Lively and click the "+" button

Launch Lively. At the top of the window, click the "+" (Add Wallpaper) button.

Lively Wallpaper app with the Add Wallpaper (+) button highlighted

Step 3: Add the wallpaper (choose ONE option)

You can add the wallpaper using the link or the zip file. Pick whichever you prefer:

Option A: Use the link ⭐ Recommended Option B: Use the zip file
Updates Automatic, you always get the latest version Manual, you must re-download for new versions
Internet Needed to load Works offline
Setup Paste a link Download and import a file

In the URL field,

  1. Paste the wallpaper's URL
    You'll find the URL in the respective wallpapers' product description on nodelearn.gumroad.com.
  1. Click the arrow

Lively will load a preview of the wallpaper.

Adding a wallpaper URL in Lively Wallpaper
  1. Rename the wallpaper and then click “OK”
Lively Wallpaper loading a preview of the wallpaper from the URL

Option B: Use the zip file

  1. Download the zip file here:
    https://nodelearn.gumroad.com/
  1. Don't unzip it. Lively imports the zip directly.
  1. On the Add Wallpaper screen, click Choose a file and select the zip file you downloaded.
    • Or simply drag and drop the zip file into the Lively window.
    • Then click “OK”
Importing the wallpaper zip file into Lively Wallpaper
Selecting the wallpaper files to import in Lively Wallpaper
Select the Wallpaper zip file
⚠️ Heads up: Your to-dos and goals are stored separately for each option. If you switch from the zip version to the link version (or the other way around), you'll start with an empty list.

Step 4: Renaming the Wallpaper

  1. Click on the “…” icon
Lively Wallpaper settings panel
  1. Select Edit
Editing the wallpaper entry in Lively Wallpaper
  1. Rename your wallpaper in the “Title” field
Renaming the wallpaper in Lively Wallpaper

Give it a name like "Cozy Bedroom" or anything you like and confirm. It will appear as a tile in your Lively library.

Step 5: Applying the Wallpaper

Click the “…” icon and then select the “Set as Wallpaper” option

Selecting "Set as Wallpaper" from the options menu

Step 6: Tools Data Persistence

To ensure that Lively Wallpaper saves the data that you saved in your tools and does not erase them when you restart your laptop. Open the following

Open Settings > Wallpaper >Disk Cache

Switch to Disk Cache to “On”

Switching Disk Cache to On in Lively Wallpaper settings

Step 7: Use it!

That’s it! Enjoy your wallpaper 😆

The finished cozy wallpaper running on the desktop

🍎 Mac Setup (Plash)

Unfortunately as of this writing, I do not own a Mac so I’m unable to write a tutorial on how to set up the wallpaper for MacBook users.

I’ve found this easy tutorial on how to set up the wallpaper here on YouTube:

MacBook Wallpaper Set Up Tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s82q87Q4m8I
Wallpaper URL: You'll find this in the respective wallpapers' product description on nodelearn.gumroad.com.

🛠 Troubleshooting

The wallpaper is blank or not loading

  • Link: Check that you're connected to the internet and that the link was pasted exactly, with no extra spaces.
  • Zip file: Make sure you imported the zip file itself and didn't unzip it first. Try downloading it again in case the download was incomplete.

I can't click anything

  • Windows: Make sure wallpaper input is enabled in Lively Settings, and press Win + D to show the desktop.
  • Mac: Turn on Browsing Mode in Plash.

The animation stopped
That's normal. Lively and Plash can pause the wallpaper when an app is fullscreen or maximized to save battery and performance. It resumes when you return to the desktop.

My to-do list disappeared
Your data is saved inside the wallpaper app on your computer. Ensure your turned on “Disk Cache” as instructed on top

❓ FAQ

Is it free?
Yes, the wallpaper and both apps are free.

Is my data private?
Yes. Everything you type is stored locally on your own device. It is never uploaded anywhere.

Will I get updates automatically?
If you used the link, yes. Improvements show up automatically. If you used the zip file (Windows), download the latest zip and import it again to update.

Can I use it on multiple computers?
Yes, but each computer keeps its own separate data.

💬 Enjoying It?

If you set it up, I'd love to see it! Tag me on

YouTube: YouTube

Instagram: Instagram

TikTok: Randal (@randalbuildsinpublic) | TikTok