Help & FAQ
Quick fixes, a full FAQ, and system requirements for Christmas Twinkle. Looking for the app itself? Head to the Christmas Twinkle page.
Quick Tips
Turn effects on: from the menu bar icon on Mac, or the settings button on iPhone and iPad. Toggle Lights, Sky Effects, Snow, or Tree.
Christmas Twinkle creates an overlay per display. If your display layout changed, a quick toggle usually fixes it. Quitting and reopening also refreshes overlays instantly.
macOS may require approval. Go to System Settings, General, Login Items and allow Christmas Twinkle.
Make sure Tree is enabled, then drag it, on your desktop (Mac) or anywhere on screen (iPhone and iPad). Its position is remembered between launches.
Try a single effect such as Lights only or Snow only, lower the snow speed, or turn off Shuffle, especially on laptops or high refresh-rate displays.
FAQ
Which devices are supported?
Christmas Twinkle is universal: Mac (macOS 14.6 or later) and iPhone and iPad (iOS / iPadOS 18 or later).
Does this replace my wallpaper or change my system?
No. On Mac it draws a transparent overlay above your desktop and apps. On iPhone and iPad it's a full-screen app you open. Either way it doesn't modify system files or settings.
Will it block clicks or typing on my Mac?
No, the Mac overlay is click-through, so you can keep using your apps normally. The Christmas tree is the one exception: you can grab it to drag it around.
Can I use my own background?
On iPhone and iPad, yes, pick any photo from your library to sit behind the effects, or keep the cozy night sky. On Mac, the effects appear over your real desktop and wallpaper.
What's the difference between Lights and Sky Effects?
Lights are the classic string lights that sparkle along the top edge of your screen (5 styles). Sky Effects are larger animated scenes: Starfall, Fireworks, Icicles, and Aurora. Use either, or both together.
What is Shuffle?
Shuffle automatically rotates between styles so the look stays fresh. You can enable it independently for Lights and Sky Effects and pick how often it changes, from every 1 minute up to every 60 minutes.
How do I turn everything off?
Toggle Lights, Sky Effects, Snow, and Tree off. On Mac, choose Quit to stop it completely; on iPhone and iPad, just close the app.