Wallpaper Engine - Troubleshooting & FAQ

# Limiting audio visualizers to music players

Due to how audio works in Windows, it is not possible for Wallpaper Engine itself to limit audio visualizers to your music player of choice. However, you can use third-party software to create a fake audio device to achieve this. This guide will explain one way to set such a fake audio device up and how to configure Windows 10 and Wallpaper Engine to make this setup work properly.

Keep in mind we do not offer support for any fake audio devices and cannot guarantee that this will work - this is a very advanced setup that goes well beyond what Wallpaper Engine offers. We merely offer this guide as a friendly help for users who want to go the extra mile to customize their system.

Please note

This guide only works on updated versions of Windows 10. Older Windows versions may be missing some features which makes it impossible to follow this guide.

# Install a fake audio device

We recommend using the free VB-CABLE Virtual Audio Device which you can download at the following website:

Download and extract the archive file, then install either the 32-Bit or 64-Bit audio device depending on your Windows 10 version using either VBCABLE_Setup.exe or VBCABLE_Setup_x64.exe. Be sure to launch the setup file with administrator rights by right-clicking and then selecting Run as administrator. Follow the instructions of the setup and make sure the audio device has been installed successfully.

# Setting up Windows and Wallpaper Engine

Check the video below which shows all the steps on an Windows 10 (English interface) from start to finish if you need some help with any of the steps below.

  1. Start playing music using the software that you later want to be used for Wallpaper Engine
  2. Right-click on the audio icon next to the clock in the Windows tray and select Open Sound settings.
  3. Scroll down to the bottom of the page that opens and click on App volume and device preferences.
  4. A list of all applications playing audio will be shown. Find your music player and in the Output column, change the option from Default to CABLE Input (VB-Audio Virtual Cable). Your audio player should immediately turn quiet, this is to be expected.
  5. Go back to the main page of the Windows sound settings and in the upper right corner, select Sound Control Panel.
  6. A small window will appear, navigate to the Recording tab, then right-click on the CABLE Output audio device and select Properties.
  7. Another window will appear, click on the Listen tab and select Listen to this device. Click on Apply and OK and the music from your music player should return.
  8. Windows is now properly configured, open up the Wallpaper Engine settings and in the General tab, change the Audio recording device to CABLE Input (VB-Audio Virtual Cable). Wallpaper Engine should now start reacting to the music from your music player but will ignore any other application on your computer.

Video showcasing all the steps described above: