Wallpaper Engine Starts Itself! Here’s How To Do It

Setting Wallpaper Engine to Start on Startup: A Comprehensive Guide

This article aims to guide you through the process of configuring Wallpaper Engine to automatically launch every time you start your computer. This ensures your animated wallpapers are always running without requiring manual intervention. We will cover several methods, addressing common issues and providing solutions.

Why Set Wallpaper Engine to Start on Startup?

Having Wallpaper Engine automatically start with Windows provides several benefits:

• Convenience: No need to remember to manually launch the application each time you boot up.
• Consistent Experience: Guarantees your chosen animated wallpaper is always displayed, maintaining your desired aesthetic.
• Time Savings: Avoids the extra step of launching Wallpaper Engine, saving you a few clicks every day.

Method 1: Using the Wallpaper Engine Settings

This is the recommended and easiest method to configure Wallpaper Engine for automatic startup.

Accessing the Startup Settings

1. Open Wallpaper Engine: Ensure the application is running.
2. Navigate to Settings: Look for the "Settings" button, usually found in the bottom-right corner of the application window. It’s often represented by a gear icon.
3. Select "General" Tab: Within the Settings window, click on the "General" tab.

Enabling Automatic Startup

1. Locate Startup Option: Find the option labeled something similar to "Start with Windows" or "Launch at Startup".
2. Enable the Option: Check the checkbox next to this option. A small checkmark should appear indicating it’s enabled.

Testing the Configuration

1. Restart Your Computer: Completely shut down and restart your computer.
2. Verify Wallpaper Engine Starts: After the restart, Wallpaper Engine should launch automatically in the background. Your chosen wallpaper should be displayed.

Method 2: Using Windows Task Scheduler (Advanced)

If the previous method fails, using the Windows Task Scheduler offers a more reliable solution, particularly if permissions are an issue.

Opening Task Scheduler

1. Search for Task Scheduler: Press the Windows key and type "Task Scheduler".
2. Open Task Scheduler: Select "Task Scheduler" from the search results.

Creating a New Task

1. Create Basic Task: In the Task Scheduler window, on the right-hand side, click "Create Basic Task…".
2. Name the Task: Give the task a descriptive name, such as "Wallpaper Engine Startup". Click "Next".
3. Choose Trigger: Select "When I log on" as the trigger. Click "Next".
4. Choose Action: Select "Start a program" as the action. Click "Next".

Configuring the Program

1. Browse for Wallpaper Engine Executable: Click the "Browse…" button and navigate to the Wallpaper Engine installation directory. The executable file is usually named wallpaper32.exe or wallpaper64.exe, depending on your system.
2. Optional Arguments (Highly Recommended): In the "Add arguments (optional)" field, add the argument -silent. This will launch Wallpaper Engine minimized to the system tray without displaying a window.
3. Summary and Finish: Review the summary and click "Finish".

Configuring Advanced Settings

1. Locate the Newly Created Task: In Task Scheduler, in the left pane, click "Task Scheduler Library". Find the task you just created.
2. Open Properties: Right-click on the task and select "Properties".
3. General Tab Configuration:
   • Security Options: Ensure that the user account running the task is a user that exists on the computer. Usually, it should be your own user account.
   • Run with highest privileges: Check this option. This ensures Wallpaper Engine has the necessary permissions to run correctly.
   • Configure for: Set this to your operating system (e.g., "Windows 10", "Windows 11").
4. Triggers Tab Configuration: Confirm the trigger is set to "At log on".
5. Settings Tab Configuration:
   • Allow task to be run on demand: Checked.
   • Stop the task if it runs longer than: This can be left at the default.
   • If the running task does not end when requested, force it to stop: Checked.
6. Conditions Tab:
   • Start the task only if the computer is on AC power: Uncheck this unless you only want it to run when plugged in.
7. OK to Save: Click "OK" to save the changes. You may be prompted for your user account password.

Testing the Task Scheduler Configuration

1. Restart Your Computer: Completely shut down and restart your computer.
2. Verify Wallpaper Engine Starts: After the restart, Wallpaper Engine should launch automatically in the background (usually minimized to the system tray). Your chosen wallpaper should be displayed.

Method 3: Startup Folder (Less Reliable, Not Recommended)

While historically a common method, using the Startup folder is less reliable and may not always work as expected.

Accessing the Startup Folder

1. Open Run Dialog: Press the Windows key + R.
2. Enter Startup Command: Type shell:startup and press Enter. This will open the Startup folder.

Creating a Shortcut

1. Locate Wallpaper Engine Executable: Find the wallpaper32.exe or wallpaper64.exe executable in the Wallpaper Engine installation directory.
2. Create Shortcut: Right-click on the executable and select "Create shortcut".
3. Move Shortcut to Startup Folder: Move the newly created shortcut to the Startup folder that you opened earlier.

Downsides

• Reliability Issues: The Startup folder is often unreliable, especially with newer versions of Windows.
• UAC Prompts: May trigger User Account Control (UAC) prompts, requiring you to manually approve the launch.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

If Wallpaper Engine still doesn’t start automatically, consider the following:

• Check for Conflicts: Ensure no other programs are interfering with Wallpaper Engine’s startup process.
• Verify Wallpaper Engine Installation: Confirm that Wallpaper Engine is correctly installed and that all necessary files are present. Reinstall if needed.
• Windows Updates: Make sure your operating system is up to date.
• Firewall/Antivirus: Ensure your firewall or antivirus software is not blocking Wallpaper Engine. Add exceptions if necessary.
• Permissions: Confirm your user account has the necessary permissions to run Wallpaper Engine.

Table: Comparison of Startup Methods

Method	Difficulty	Reliability	Advantages	Disadvantages
Wallpaper Engine Settings	Easy	High	Simplest method, built-in feature.	May not always work in all cases.
Task Scheduler	Medium	Very High	Most reliable, granular control over startup behavior.	More complex setup.
Startup Folder	Easy	Low	Simple shortcut-based approach.	Unreliable, may trigger UAC prompts.

Alright, that’s it! You should now be all set wallpaper engine to start on startup automatically. Hope this helped bring a little more life to your desktop! Cheers!