rainmeter guides
How to use this list
Pick an install guide when you still need Setup. Pick a migrate guide when you are leaving another desktop skin tool. Pick a compare guide when you are choosing between doors. Each card opens one question and links back to the pillar for the live install panel.
Each guide answers one install, migration, or comparison question about this desktop skin tool. Start at the pillar if you still need the live install panel.
rainmeter home · download safely · installed
Install by operating system
- Install on WindowsInstall rainmeter on Windows with the verified winget package id, or download the Windows installer from GitHub Releases and run Setup.
- macOS noteThere is no official macOS release binary on the non-prerelease tags this guide verifies. Prefer the Windows installer path.
- Linux noteThere is no official Linux release binary on the non-prerelease tags this guide verifies. Prefer the Windows installer path.
- Ubuntu noteThere is no official Ubuntu release binary on the non-prerelease tags this guide verifies. Prefer the Windows installer path.
- winget installInstall rainmeter with winget when App Installer is present. That package id is YAML-verified in microsoft/winget-pkgs.
- Windows installerRun the Windows installer from a non-prerelease tag, approve UAC, then prove one skin load.
Comparisons
- vs Wallpaper Enginerainmeter vs Wallpaper Engine compares a lightweight GPL-2.0 Windows tray desktop skin platform with Wallpaper Engine. Pick based on layouts and platforms.
- vs Lively Wallpaperrainmeter vs Lively Wallpaper compares a lightweight GPL-2.0 Windows tray desktop skin platform with Lively Wallpaper. Pick based on layouts and platforms.
Switch and import
Setup and security
- Is it safe?Yes—prefer rainmeter from GitHub Releases the Windows installer or the verified winget package id, read the GPL-2.0 licence, and skip UNSTABLE unsigned builds.
- First runOn first run, confirm the tray / Manage window, set one skin binding, choose clipboard or file output, and prove a skin load before tuning plugins.
- HotkeysSet rainmeter skin bindings from the tray the Manage window menu, free desktop layout if another tool owns it, then prove a skin load.
- Update / uninstallUpdate rainmeter with winget upgrade or a newer the Windows installer. Uninstall from Windows Settings → Apps when retiring a machine.