Microsoft’s new wallpapers for 12 years of the Windows Insider Program list “Adobe Photoshop 27.10 (Macintosh)” in their file properties. The gift is inspired by the latest Surface design, and it’s funny that even last year’s wallpapers had a MACOSX subfolder, too.
The software giant has taken considerable care in an ad pushing Windows 10 holdouts to buy new Windows 11 PCs, and it has 674+ million views, almost 50 times more than any video on the Windows YouTube channel, and isn’t that enough to convince teams in Microsoft to use the OS? (Undoubtedly, I’m being sarcastic)
Also, in recent news, even Xbox reportedly didn’t want Windows on its next handheld. Now, the thank-you gift for the company’s most loyal testers turns out to be made on a Mac!
Here are all 10 Windows Insider 12th anniversary wallpapers in 4000×4000 resolution:
Microsoft’s Windows Insider anniversary wallpapers came out of Photoshop for Mac
I got an email from the Windows Insider Program on Wednesday, October 21, saying, “As a thank-you, we created new backgrounds for all Insiders inspired by 12 years of the Windows Insider Program and the latest Surface design aesthetic.” The ZIP has 10 square 4000 x 4000 PNGs, with Bloom-like ribbons in five colors, each in light and dark.
ViVeTool co-developer and reverse engineer Rafael Rivera spotted the Mac details on October 15, saying that these were “Created on a Mac.” The screenshot had the proof with the Details tab for WP12-DM.png listing “Adobe Photoshop 27.10 (Macintosh)” as the Program name and October 1, 2026, as the Date taken.
Interestingly, the Title field starts with “ProEXR File Description.” ProEXR is a free Photoshop and After Effects plugin for multi-layer OpenEXR files, the format 3D apps use for render passes. So, the ribbons were likely rendered in a 3D app and finished in Photoshop on a Mac.
The wallpapers actually came from Microsoft’s in-house design team.
Microsoft’s wallpaper files no longer show the Mac details
I downloaded the ZIP from the email, and the Title, Date taken and Program name fields of WP12-DM.png are all blank on my PC. One reply under the post says the files were updated, and Microsoft obviously hasn’t publicly explained anything about any of this.
It happened last year, too, as the 11th anniversary ZIP had a __MACOSX folder, which macOS adds when compressing files. A leftover folder was enough proof that the ZIP was packed on a Mac.
Using a Mac isn’t purely for a particular app, like how some YouTubers swear by Final Cut Pro. Photoshop runs on Windows 11, including Arm PCs like the Surface Laptop Ultra, which Microsoft pitched as a MacBook Pro rival for creators. The Surface Pro even has pen support. So, I wonder if this is a device choice or an OS choice?
Some people on X defended the team, saying Macs and PCs have their own use cases, while one reply said, “That would explain windows 11 inconsistencies.”
Microsoft employees have used Apple devices for years
In 2009, Steve Ballmer pretended to stomp on a Windows team member’s iPhone at a company meeting. Months later, The Wall Street Journal reported that roughly one in ten Microsoft employees used iPhones, often hiding them from executives.
In 2015, Microsoft designer Andrew Kim told Core77 he used a Surface Pro 3 for rendering in KeyShot and SolidWorks, and a 15-inch MacBook Pro “for most of the Adobe programs, like Illustrator and InDesign.”
Ironically, Microsoft’s VP of Product Design, Diego Baca, recently said that designers are using AI to contribute code fixes to Windows 11. So, they use AI to code Windows and a Mac to make its wallpapers. Where is the love for Windows?
Windows Insiders deserve a wallpaper made on Windows
I’m not asking Microsoft to ban Macs from its offices. But Insiders are the most ardent Windows fans out there, putting up with bugs, the countless number of VMs to test features, all the feedback, finding ViveTool IDs, and the least we deserve is a gift made on a Windows PC.
Frankly, the wallpapers are mid. I downloaded all ten, and none convinced me to change my desktop background. But I could’ve changed my mind if there was a compelling story behind these wallpapers, especially because the past year has been great for Windows 11, with a bunch of new features, and even more in the pipeline.
Imagine a short video of an artist sketching these ribbons with a Slim Pen on a Surface Pro and finishing them in Photoshop on Windows 11. I would have set it as my wallpaper even if I didn’t love it; just for the story.
Apple is great at this. It shot its “Scary Fast” event in 2023 on the iPhone 15 Pro Max, edited it on a Mac, and published a behind-the-scenes post about it.
Also, if you want to build an iPhone app, Apple’s Xcode only runs on macOS, making a MacBook purchase inevitable.
Steve Jobs once said Microsoft has “absolutely no taste.” Apple has had its own tasteless moments lately, but it has loyal fans, while Microsoft, funnily enough, has loyal haters. A Mac-made Windows wallpaper only gives them more to laugh about.
It’s not that Microsoft doesn’t know how to make wallpapers. I don’t even have to mention Bliss. Windows 10’s default lock screen is now a popular tourist destination. Even the OS that has reached end of life has a memorable and real default wallpaper.
I wish Microsoft’s designers worked on Windows PCs, so they’d at least make things they want to use every day. If Microsoft’s design team isn’t convinced to use a Surface, or Windows 11 for that matter, why should the rest of us buy a Windows PC?
