Want to create desktop wallpaper slideshow in Ubuntu Linux? Here are 6 popular tools that may help!
There are many free and open-source applications for automatic changing desktop background in Linux. Here are some of them that are still working in 2020.
1. Wallch
Wallch is one of the most popular wallpaper changing software for Ubuntu Desktop. It’s available in all current Ubuntu repositories.
Though the software is not in active development for many years, the basic desktop slideshow feature is still working good! And it works on Gnome, LXDE, XFCE, Mate.
The tool offers control buttons (e.g., start, stop, next, previous) in both app window and system tray indicator to easy control the desktop slideshow.
If you like or dislike current displaying image, the indicator offers options to quickly copy name, copy file path, open folder, delete file, or open file Properties.
To install wallch, either search for & install it in Software or run command in terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T):
sudo apt install wallch
2. Shotwell
Shotwell is a popular image organizer application for Gnome desktop. It offers menu option to create desktop slideshow for selected pictures.
Shotwell is pre-installed in some Linux desktops! If not, try installing it from system package manager as it’s included in most Linux system repositories.
3. Variety
Variety is an open-source wallpaper manager for Linux. It supports numerous desktops and wallpaper sources, including local files and online services: Flickr, Wallhaven, Unsplash, Bing Photo of the Day, Imgur, and more.
The software also includes a range of image effects, such as oil painting and blur, as well as options to layer quotes and a clock onto the background.
Variety is available in most Linux system repositories. Simply search for and install it in Software or your system package manager.
For Ubuntu users, there’s also an stable PPA contains the latest release packages. Run the commands below to add the PPA and install variety:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:variety/stable
sudo apt update
sudo apt install variety4. Superpaper
Superpaper is an open-source multi monitor wallpaper manager for Linux and Windows with partial support for Mac OS X.
The software features:
- Set a single image across all displays
- Set different image on every display
- Pixel density correction: span an image flawlessly across displays of different shapes and sizes!
- Bezel correction
- Perspective correction: span the image even more flawlessly!
- Slideshow with configurable file order from local sources
- Tray applet for slideshow control
- And more.
The appimage package, single executable to launch the software, is available to download at the link below:
Before running the Appimage, go to file Properties > Permissions tab, and check the box ‘Allow executing file as program’.
5. Wallpaper Downloader
This is a free and open-source tool to download, manage and change your favorite wallpapers from the Internet. It supports downloading photos from Wallhaven.cc, DebianArt, Bing daily wallpaper.
It also offers settings to automatically change wallpaper with downloaded photo images.
To get this software, go to:
6. Dynamic Wallpaper Editor
This is a graphical tool to create desktop slideshows into XML files.
Wallpaper slideshows created by the tool will be displayed in Background settings, with a small clock emblem in the lower-right corner of the preview.
After clicked Save button to create XML file, you have to do one more step in Ubuntu to make it visible in settings.
- Open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command to create gnome-background-properties folder if it’s not exist:
mkdir .local/share/gnome-background-properties - Then create a rule file in that folder:
gedit .local/share/gnome-background-properties/slideshow01.xml - And paste following lines into the file and save it:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <!DOCTYPE wallpapers SYSTEM "gnome-wp-list.dtd"> <wallpapers> <wallpaper deleted="false"> <name>Wallpaper Slideshow Name</name> <filename>CHANGE_THIS_TO_path/to/your-created.xml</filename> <options>zoom</options> </wallpaper> </wallpapers>
Dynamic Wallpaper Editor is available as flatpak package, follow the setup guide and download it from:
Summary:
While Variety is an open-source wallpaper manager works on most Linux desktops, and supports for both local files and online services, Shotwell and Wallch are good for auto-changing wallpaper simply with local photos.
Superpaper is an advanced wallpaper manager for multi monitors. And Dynamic Wallpaper Editor is a simple UI to create your own slideshow XML file to use in Backgrounds settings.