Desktop pets — little animated buddies that live on your screen — are one of the most charming ways to personalize a Windows PC. This page covers the best way to get them running, what to expect, and answers the common questions.

Why Pets Therapy on Windows

  • 100+ pets included — no hunting for downloads; a huge library ships with the app.
  • Multi-monitor support — pets roam across all your displays, not just the primary one.
  • Custom pets — add your own characters via the PetsAssets/Species folders or the in-app tools.
  • Free on the Microsoft Store — one-click install, automatic updates, no sketchy downloads.
  • Random events — occasional surprises like weather and UFOs drift across your desktop.

How to install desktop pets on Windows

  1. Open the Pets Therapy listing on the Microsoft Store.
  2. Click Get / Install.
  3. Launch the app — your first pet appears on the desktop immediately.
  4. Open the pet menu to add more pets, adjust size and speed, or enable multiple displays.

Windows alternatives worth knowing

Pets Therapy is our top pick, but if you want something different: Shimeji-ee is great for anime character packs, and Desktop Goose is a comedy prank pet rather than a calm companion. See our full best desktop pets apps comparison and Shimeji alternatives guide.

FAQ

Do desktop pets slow down my PC?

They use a small amount of resources while animating, but Pets Therapy is designed to stay lightweight during normal use. You can reduce the number of active pets any time.

Are they safe to install?

Installing from the official Microsoft Store means the app is sandboxed and vetted — much safer than random executables from unknown sites.