WinDynamicDesktop ports the Dynamic Desktop feature from macOS Mojave to Windows.
It uses your location to determine the times of sunrise and sunset, and changes your desktop wallpaper based on the time of day.
Choose a theme and enter your location the first time you run the app, then it will minimize to your system tray and change the wallpaper in the background.
You can import custom themes or create your own, and customize the app to automatically change the Windows 10 theme color or update your location periodically.
Publisher’s description
What is WinDynamicDesktop?
WinDynamicDesktop by Timothy Johnson is open-source Windows software in the customisation category. It ranks 13th by popularity among customisation in this catalogue. It is written in C#.
Installation and requirements
The publisher provides EXE (Inno Setup) installers for 64-bit, ARM64 and 32-bit Windows. Installation asks for administrator rights. A silent install is possible with the installer’s documented switches.
Updates and version history
The current version is 5.7.0, released on June 16, 2026. The version history goes back to March 30, 2021: 23 releases, all linked to the official files. That is about 4.4 releases a year.
Popularity and file types
The Chocolatey package has been downloaded 8,038 times. The source code on GitHub (t1m0thyj/WinDynamicDesktop) has 5,053 stars. On Windows it registers 1 file type, including .ddw. Similar programs include PowerToys, Scribus and Mattermost.
Project description on GitHub: “Port of macOS Mojave Dynamic Desktop feature to Windows”
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- Native ARM64 build for Windows on Arm
- Documented silent install
- Large user base
Cons
- Installation needs administrator rights
In short: WinDynamicDesktop is an open-source customisation tool for 64-bit, ARM64 and 32-bit PCs. It is actively maintained. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Is WinDynamicDesktop safe to download?
- The file is served by github.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
B3FF905D5FD7036542E11B04C0FD80DAED0A0C80377FCCE6AD240351E948205D· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link has not been checked yet
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 23 versions ›23 versions over 5 years · about 4.4 a year
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id t1m0thyj.WinDynamicDesktop -echoco install windynamicdesktop -yscoop install extras/windynamicdesktopWinDynamicDesktop_5.7.0_x64_Setup.exe /VERYSILENT /SUPPRESSMSGBOXES /NORESTART /SP-Related guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- Timothy Johnson
- Category
- Customisation
- Licence
- MPL-2.0
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- github.com/t1m0thyj/WinDynamicDesktop
- Written in
- C#
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit, ARM64, 32-bit
- Installer
- EXE (Inno Setup)
- Version
- 5.7.0
- Released
- June 16, 2026
- Added to the catalogue
- March 30, 2021
- Versions listed
- 23
- Updates / year
- 4.4
- Chocolatey downloads
- 8,038
- GitHub stars
- 5,053
- GitHub forks
- 301
- Website
- windd.info
- winget ID
- t1m0thyj.WinDynamicDesktop
- Chocolatey package
- windynamicdesktop
- Scoop package
- extras/windynamicdesktop
File types it opens (1)
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is WinDynamicDesktop free?
Yes. WinDynamicDesktop is open-source software under the MPL-2.0 licence.
Is WinDynamicDesktop safe to download?
The download comes from github.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install WinDynamicDesktop with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Can WinDynamicDesktop be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer.
Does WinDynamicDesktop run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
Yes, there is a native ARM64 installer.
Where can I download an older version of WinDynamicDesktop?
The versions page lists all 23 versions with links to their official installer files, back to March 30, 2021.
Can I use WinDynamicDesktop without administrator rights?
Yes, there is a per-user installer that does not need administrator rights.
What are alternatives to WinDynamicDesktop?
PowerToys, Scribus, Mattermost, Rainmeter and Lively Wallpaper. The alternatives page compares them.
