Animated New Tab Backgrounds for Chrome: Wallpapers, Orbs & Seasonal Themes
An animated new tab background chrome extension turns the blank page you see dozens of times a day into something a little more alive — drifting orbs, glowing particles, or a scene that changes with the season.
I make three of these extensions, each aimed at a different mood: one that runs all year and two built specifically for Halloween. Here's how they differ and which one might suit your new tab page.
An Animated New Tab Background Chrome Extension for Every Day
Not every new tab wallpaper needs a theme. Sometimes you just want motion — something calm to look at between tabs without it turning into a distraction.
Animated Wallpaper New Tab fills your new tab page with floating orbs, drifting particles, and sparkle effects that move gently in the background. It isn't tied to a holiday or season, so it works as a permanent replacement for Chrome's default new tab rather than something you'd swap out again in a few weeks. It's a low-effort way to make the browser feel a bit more like yours.
Two Ways to Get a Halloween New Tab
Around October, plenty of people want their new tab to match the season, so I built two different takes on a Halloween theme rather than cramming everything into one extension.
Halloween Pumpkin Animated Background Theme fills your new tab with animated pumpkin imagery, keeping the focus tightly on one classic Halloween symbol rather than a mix of spooky elements. It suits anyone who wants something recognizably festive without a lot of visual noise every time they open a tab.
Halloween Animated Theme Wallpaper takes a broader approach, letting you customize your new tab with animated GIF wallpapers built around a spooky Halloween vibe rather than one single image. If you want more variety across the season than a single pumpkin scene, this is the one to try instead.
Also worth a look: Halloween Backgrounds — Spooky Halloween backgrounds for your new tab page
Full disclosure: I build these apps, so take this as a rundown from the person who made them rather than an independent test. If you want an animated new tab background chrome extension that works all year, start with the orb-and-particle version; if October is what you're after, either Halloween extension will do the job.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free animated new tab background extension for Chrome?
Yes — Animated Wallpaper New Tab, Halloween Pumpkin Animated Background Theme, and Halloween Animated Theme Wallpaper are all available to install from the Chrome Web Store.
Can I use a Halloween new tab theme outside of October?
There's nothing stopping you keeping either Halloween extension installed year-round, though most people switch back to a non-seasonal wallpaper like the orb and particle theme once the season passes.