Popular YouTuber Marques Brownlee has announced that he plans to shut down his mobile phone wallpaper subscription app Panels.
Content creator whose sometimes sarcastic about new technological products helped him gather over 20 million YouTube subscribers, launching the app in September 2024.
The panels allow people to download a variety of digital wallpapers for their devices for a monthly fee, starting at $11.99 (£9) per month.
But more than a year after Brownlee came under scrutiny over its price and privacy, he told his followers that the app would be shutting down entirely on December 31.
“We made mistakes when creating our first app and ended up not being able to bring it to life like I had,” he said in a video on Sunday.
Brownlee, who goes by MKBHD on his social media, told viewers he wants it to “become a vibrant ecosystem” for wallpaper and support the artists who create it.
He said the app had some success, topping the app download charts at launch and seeing two million wallpaper downloads, calling it a “roller-coaster ride.”
“But in the end, it couldn't sustain itself,” he said, noting the app's “niche” appeal and audience.
Brownlee previously highlighted the app's potentially limited appeal when responding to criticism of it shortly after its launch.
“The target market for this is insanely small,” he said one user on X last September, which questioned his decision to launch a digital wallpaper app.
“Most people don't download a wallpaper app.
“This is for those who asked. If you're not interested in it, don't worry about it.”
He also thanked the artists who took part in creating wallpapers for the application.
Notification on the Panels website said users will be able to keep purchased or downloaded wallpapers from the app “forever” and receive refunds for any active subscriptions when it closes at the end of the month.
They will also be able to create their own spin-offs of the app, as the code behind it will be open source.
“This will allow anyone to build on what we have started – we are excited to see what new projects can grow from this,” the notice reads.
