macOS Sequoia brings in several features, as well as a set of new wallpapers that enhance the overall aesthetics of the system. One of them is the Sunrise dynamic wallpaper, which changes its color automatically according to the time of day. Adding a refreshing visual element to your Mac is, without doubt, a big plus, but quite a few users express difficulties in locating and enabling this wallpaper. In this guide, you will be taken by the hand through the essential moves to get hold of and enable Sunrise dynamic wallpaper in macOS Sequoia.
What is Sunrise Dynamic Wallpaper in macOS Sequoia?
The Sunrise dynamic wallpaper, which appears in the macOS Sequoia suite, is a set of wallpapers constructed on the concept of different lighting effects in a day. It can subtly change its colors and tones according to the time, so the environment gets a natural light feeling. The dynamic wallpaper is quite different from its static counterparts; it is this new dynamic wallpaper that gives a more realistic impression as it automatically changes from light tones in the morning to dark ones afternoon and night.
Nevertheless, this wallpaper is hidden deep in the system files, and you will not be able to find it instantly in the default Wallpapers section of your Mac’s system settings. Here’s how to unlock it and add it to your desktop.
Steps to Enable Sunrise Dynamic Wallpaper in macOS Sequoia
Here’s the step-by-step guide to enable this cool dynamic wallpaper on your Mac:
1. Access the Hidden System Folder
To start the action, you’ll first need to unearth the hidden folder where the Sunrise dynamic wallpaper is.
- Press the Command + Shift + G shortcut to launch the “Go to Folder” window in Finder.
- Enter the following directory path into the input field:
/System/Library/Desktop Pictures/.wallpapers/Sequoia Sunrise
- Press the Enter key.
This directory is full of all the hidden dynamic wallpapers, one of which is the Sunbiz wallpaper.
2. Reveal Hidden Files
macOS hides system files nevertheless we are looking for the dynamic wallpaper files here. Below is how to make them visible.
- To show hidden files and folders, press the Command + Shift + . (full stop) keys.
- After you show the hidden files/folders, the first thing you will notice is the existence of the Sequoia Sunrise wallpaper related files because they will be freshly created part of your setup in this folder. These files are:
Sequoia Sunrise Thumbnail.png: The thumbnail used in the Wallpapers section.Sequoia Sunrise.heic:A file containing dynamic images that change with time.Sequoia Sunrise.mov:A QuickTime video file that plays on the lock screen.
3. Set the Sunrise Dynamic Wallpaper
If you are already in the right location, take the following steps to set the dynamic wallpaper:
- Open System Settings and go to
Desktop & Screen Saver. - Go to the Wallpaper section and click the “+” icon to add a new wallpaper.
- Check where the
.wallpapersfolder is that you made visible at an earlier stage in the process. - Pick the file
Sequoia Sunrise.heicand click “Open.”
At this point, having the dynamic wallpaper will allow you to view the colours varying throughout the day according to the real lighting.
Additional Tips for a Better Dynamic Wallpaper Experience
Enable Auto Dark Mode for Seamless Transitions
To acquire a smoother experience in the light or dark modes, you can make use of the system-wide Auto Dark Mode feature. This would go further with the dynamic wallpapers such as Sequoia Sunrise by making your desktop environment to change the time of day both in light and in mood.
- This will be done by going to Settings after which you shall access the General tab and a new Appearance section shall be displayed.
- The computer will be set to “Auto” which will determine light and dark mode change automatically, respectively.
This is a good idea especially for people with visual disorders that overexpose the screen more and more during the night almost the same as the wallpapers I’m talking about which are evolving from day to night.
Customize Wallpaper Settings for Maximum Effect
For users who wish to edit their wallpaper settings to their own liking:
- Change the “Dynamic” parameter in the System Settings > Desktop & Screen Saver to adjust how often the wallpaper will change throughout the day.
- For the Lock Screen appearance, you can set the Sequoia Sunrise.mov as the Lock Screen video. Go to System Settings > Lock Screen, then select the Sunrise .mov file for a cinematic lock screen experience.
Potential Issues and Fixes
Although the users have claimed that they have performed the above steps, some of them are still not successful in viewing the dynamic wallpaper. If you encounter this issue, try the following solutions:
- Restart your Mac: On the rare occasion that after capacitating hidden files and reaching system directories a restart comes up when one wants to reload the settings.
- Ensure Correct File Permissions: This issue normally arises in macOS when the operating system blocks access to some files. One can correct this by altering the permissions. Right-click on the .heic file, choose “Get Info,” and make sure your user account has “Read & Write” permissions.
- Check for Software Updates: In case these steps have not resolved the problem and the issue is still present, then it might be useful to check if you have updated your macOS system. Thus, visit the System Settings folder and the Software Update and install the last missing patches, as the company may have already dealt with this in one of the updates.
Future Updates: Possible Dark Mode Variant
The Sequoia Sunrise desktop wallpaper currently supports light-mode only. Nearly all users imagine Apple providing a dark-mode version with a forthcoming macOS. Look for updates, as we will rewrite this instruction whenever dark becomes available.
The diagram here shows the system directory structure needed to access the hidden Sequoia Sunrise dynamic wallpaper files.
Conclusion
In macOS Sequoia enabling the Sunrise dynamic wallpaper means you need to get to the hidden system directories and files, show hidden files, and then manually set the wallpaper in your desktop settings. With this guide, you’ll be able to feel to a more in-depth desktop connection that will follow your biological clock, and maybe in the future, you can experience dark mode version to complement it.