Flow Documentation

Flow Documentation

Organize, rotate, and troubleshoot Flow on macOS.

Flow turns local video, GIF, APNG, and PNG media into dynamic wallpapers. Use quick controls from the menu bar or open Flow Studio to manage your Library, build collections, connect collections to a Mac Focus, and adjust playback protection.

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Getting Started

Flow provides quick wallpaper controls in the menu bar and a larger Studio window for organizing everything.

  • Open Flow from your Applications folder.
  • Accept the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy before first use.
  • Click the menu bar icon for quick playback and rotation controls.
  • Open Flow Studio to manage your Library, collections, and settings.
  • Use Stop Wallpaper to restore your normal desktop wallpaper.

Supported Media

Flow works with supported local media files stored on your Mac.

  • Video: .mov, .mp4, .m4v, .avi, .mpeg, and .mpg.
  • Animated images: .gif and .apng.
  • Still images: .png.
  • Unsupported files are skipped and reported during import.
  • Keep original files in place so Flow can continue accessing them.

Wallpaper Library

The Library keeps every wallpaper you add to Flow in one place. A collection is not required for normal playback.

  • Import wallpapers once, then play them directly from the Library.
  • Search by name or file type.
  • Browse All, Recent, or Favorites.
  • Sort by name, recently played, recently added, or file type.
  • Use the heart on a wallpaper card to mark it as a favorite.

Collections & Rotation

Collections group wallpapers for dedicated rotations or Focus switching.

  • Create a collection, then import files or add items from the Library.
  • Choose the interval and turn shuffle on or off.
  • Favorites Only limits that rotation to wallpapers marked with a heart.
  • Start, stop, or advance an active rotation from Studio.
  • Missing files are skipped so rotation can continue.

Focus & Displays

Flow can switch to a collection when a Mac Focus turns on and can use different rotation sources across connected displays.

  • Add Flow as a Focus Filter in macOS System Settings.
  • Enter the collection name shown in Flow Studio.
  • When that Focus turns on, Flow starts the matching collection.
  • Different Wallpaper per Display is optional and off by default.
  • Display assignments apply while rotation is active.

Playback Protection

Flow includes optional and automatic protections that reduce unnecessary activity and help playback recover.

  • Resume Wallpaper on Launch can restore the last wallpaper or rotation.
  • Low Battery Protection supports 10%, 20%, 30%, or Low Power Mode.
  • Pause While Screen Is Locked is enabled by default.
  • Full-screen app pausing can be enabled in Settings.
  • Thermal protection and temporary cache cleanup run automatically.

Flow Essentials

Use this short setup path if you are opening Flow for the first time.

Open Flow Studio Click Flow Studio in the menu bar panel to open the main window.
Import wallpapers Open Library and choose Import. Flow skips duplicates automatically.
Play from the Library Select Play on any available wallpaper. Use search, sorting, Recent, or Favorites when your Library grows.
Create collections only when useful Collections are for grouped rotations and Focus switching. They are optional for normal Library playback.
Adjust Settings Choose startup behavior, battery protection, screen-lock behavior, Lock Screen Still, and display options.

Using a Mac Focus

Select a collection in Flow Studio, then copy or note its collection name. In System Settings, open Focus, choose a Focus, add Flow under Focus Filters, and enter that collection name. The matching collection starts when the Focus turns on.

  • The collection name must match the name shown in Flow Studio.
  • Renaming a collection requires updating the Focus Filter name.
  • Focus switching requires at least one playable wallpaper in the collection.

Lock Screen Still & Recovery

Lock Screen Still creates a temporary still from the active wallpaper and keeps it updated when playback or rotation changes. When the option is turned off, the wallpaper stops, or Flow quits, Flow restores the previous wallpaper and removes temporary still files.

  • Video and animated wallpapers use a generated still frame.
  • Flow retries playback and rebuilds wallpaper windows after common wake or display changes.
  • Automatic thermal protection pauses during serious heat pressure and resumes when conditions improve.
  • Saved files are validated before startup restoration.

Library Backup & Support

Settings includes tools for Library backup, restore, repair, cache cleanup, and support.

  • Export Library saves collections, favorites, local file locations, and file permissions when available.
  • Wallpaper media files are not copied into a Library export.
  • Restore Library merges entries and avoids duplicates.
  • Repair Library helps reconnect files that moved or became unavailable.
  • Generate Support File creates a privacy-safe report only when you request it.
  • The support report excludes wallpaper paths and filenames.

Troubleshooting

  • If a wallpaper is missing, open Settings and use Repair Library.
  • If nothing imports, confirm the selected files use a supported format.
  • If rotation does not start, confirm its Library or collection contains a playable wallpaper.
  • If Favorites Only is unavailable, mark at least one wallpaper with its heart button.
  • If a Focus does not switch collections, verify the Focus Filter name exactly matches the collection.
  • If playback pauses, check battery, screen-lock, full-screen app, and thermal conditions.
  • If Lock Screen Still does not update, turn it off and on after confirming the current file is available.
  • If a problem continues, generate a support file from Settings before contacting Cherrium.

Privacy and Legal

Flow’s Library, collections, favorites, file permissions, thumbnails, and related wallpaper settings are intended to remain on your Mac. Library exports and support files are saved or shared only when you choose to create them.

Need More Help?

Return to the documentation hub to browse the rest of the Cherrium help pages.