Panels — a project started by popular tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) has less than a year after its much-hyped launch, announced that the app will be taken offline permanently.
Panels arrived in September 2024 and immediately attracted attention, rising to the top of the Photos category on both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Its clean design, curated selections, and creator-focused approach helped it secure more than two million wallpaper downloads in a short time. Now, the team behind the app says the service will shut down by the end of the month, and all user data will be deleted shortly after.
Service Winds Down After Internal Assessment
According to Brownlee’s announcement, the decision to retire Panels came only after considerable internal discussion. The team ultimately decided that pulling the plug was the most responsible path forward. Users have been informed that the app will no longer function after the end of this month.
Anyone with an active subscription will automatically receive a pro-rated refund, meaning users will get back the portion of their subscription that covers the remaining period they paid for. No further steps are required from subscribers, though those who want to initiate their own refund request can do so before the automatic process begins.
The shutdown also means that all server-side data will be erased, including account information and cloud-stored content. Only wallpapers that users have already saved locally will remain available.
Download Your Wallpapers Before Panels Goes Dark
As part of the shutdown process, Panels has disabled all new purchases. Collections, premium wallpaper packs, and any additional paid content are no longer available. This ensures that users do not buy items they will soon be unable to access.
However, the wallpapers that users have already downloaded onto their devices will remain safe even after the app closes. The team has advised users to make sure they download anything they want to keep because once the app is removed from app stores and loses server access, previously un-downloaded content will not be retrievable.
The closure also means that reinstallation will not be possible. After the shutdown, if a user deletes the app or switches devices, Panels will not be able to restore purchases or download past wallpapers.
Panels Will Live On as an Open-Source Project
One notable part of Brownlee’s announcement is his intention to make Panels open-source after the shutdown is complete. Once the refund period ends and all user data is wiped, the source code will be released publicly under the Apache 2.0 license.
By doing this, Brownlee is leaving the door open for developers and wallpaper creators who may want to build new features, revive the project, or use Panels’ structure as the foundation for something entirely different. The open-source release also serves as a way to preserve the work that went into Panels, even though the official app itself will no longer be maintained.
How a Simple Wallpaper Question Turned Into an App
Panels began as a response to a frequent request Brownlee received from viewers. Fans of his smartphone review videos often wanted to know what wallpaper he was using on the devices he showcased. Rather than sharing one-off images, Brownlee and his team expanded the idea into a full-fledged platform — one that not only distributed his wallpapers but also supported artists and allowed users to discover unique, high-quality designs.
From that simple starting point, Panels evolved into a curated space for mobile personalization. It offered a series of Collections, artist collaborations, and organized categories designed to highlight creativity. The app earned praise for elevating wallpaper content beyond generic images found online.
Its strong debut in 2024 — topping app store charts and surpassing two million downloads — showed that there was real demand for a dedicated, design-focused wallpaper source.
Team Changes Prompt a Difficult Decision
Despite early success, the Panels project faced challenges behind the scenes. In the months following its launch, the composition of the development and operations team shifted. Brownlee’s group sought new collaborators who could help shape Panels’ long-term direction, but they were unable to find partners who matched the original vision for the app.
Rather than let Panels stagnate or drift away from its intended identity, the team decided it was better to close the chapter entirely. This allows them to end the project cleanly instead of maintaining an app that no longer aligns with their goals.
A Short but Influential Run
Although Panels was active for only a brief period, it managed to carve out a place in the crowded world of mobile personalization. The app offered a polished experience that resonated deeply with users looking for an alternative to generic wallpaper libraries. For creators, Panels provided a platform that treated digital artwork with intention and respect.
While the app experienced some early design hiccups and usability issues, Brownlee’s team addressed those problems quickly. Users responded positively to the improvements, and the app maintained a solid community through its run.
