MKBHD is taking down his wallpaper app | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessCreatorsMobilePolicySecurityTransportationReviewsExpandLaptopsPhonesHeadphonesTabletsSmart HomeSmartwatchesSpeakersDronesScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthEntertainmentExpandGamesTV ShowsMoviesAudioAIVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee All ShoppingCarsExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersOther TransportationFeaturesVideosExpandYouTubeTikTokInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersExpandThe Verge DailyInstallerVerge DealsNotepadOptimizerRegulatorThe StepbackArchivesStoreSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.MKBHD is taking down his wallpaper appComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...NewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsStreamingCloseStreamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All StreamingTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechMKBHD is taking down his wallpaper appPanels users will retain all downloaded wallpapers after the app shuts down on December 31st.Panels users will retain all downloaded wallpapers after the app shuts down on December 31st.by Jess WeatherbedCloseJess WeatherbedNews ReporterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Jess WeatherbedDec 1, 2025, 7:35 PM UTCLinkShareJess WeatherbedCloseJess WeatherbedPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Jess Weatherbed is a news writer focused on creative industries, computing, and internet culture. Jess started her career at TechRadar, covering news and hardware reviews.Marques Brownlee’s Panels wallpaper app is shutting down on December 31st, barely a year after its controversial launch. “We made mistakes making our first app, and ultimately, we weren’t able to turn it into the vision I had,” Brownlee said in a video on the MKBHD YouTube channel.The Panels launch in September 2024 was met with a flood of criticism over its expensive subscription pricing and advertising setup. “Earlier this year, the makeup of the development team changed, and despite our best efforts to bring in collaborators who shared our passion and vision, we weren’t able to find the right fit,” reads a message on the Panels website. “Rather than keeping the app running without being able to grow it in the way we originally envisioned, we felt it was best to make a clean break.”All user data will be deleted following the app shutdown, with Brownlee then planning to make the Panels code open source and available on GitHub. 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Marques Brownlee’s “Panels” wallpaper application, launched in September 2024, is ceasing operations effective December 31st, a decision attributed to a series of challenges encountered by the developer. This development, outlined in a video published on Brownlee’s MKBHD YouTube channel and detailed in accompanying website statements, represents a significant shift following an initial release met with considerable critique. The core issues stemmed from a combination of factors including a highly contentious subscription pricing structure and difficulties in establishing a sustainable development model due to changes within the development team. Initial attempts to recruit collaborators with a similar vision had proven unsuccessful, leading to a divergence in strategic direction and ultimately preventing the app from evolving in the manner originally conceived.

The decision to wind down Panels was framed not as a failure, but rather as a pragmatic assessment of the project’s viability. Brownlee and his team recognized the inability to cultivate the app’s potential amidst these obstacles, prioritizing a clean termination over continued operation with diminished prospects. This action reflects a measured response to the pressures of app development and the complexities inherent in translating a creative vision into a commercially successful product.

Crucially, Brownlee is committing to transparency and support for existing users. All user data will be deleted upon the app’s removal from app stores, a standard practice designed to protect user privacy. Furthermore, subscriptions will be automatically canceled, and refunds will be issued to all active subscribers by December 31st, demonstrating a commitment to fulfilling contractual obligations and mitigating consumer dissatisfaction. The developer intends to release the Panels code under an open-source license on GitHub, signifying a desire to contribute back to the community and potentially allow for future development or modifications by other developers. This approach prioritizes the return of assets to the public domain, rather than perpetuating a stagnant and ultimately unsuccessful project. This move acknowledges the initial venture's shortcomings while simultaneously attempting to salvage a valuable technical resource and demonstrate accountability.