What a screen saver is and why you might want to change it

A screen saver is a program that displays moving images or patterns on your monitor when you haven't used your keyboard or mouse for a set amount of time. It was originally designed to prevent image burn-in on older monitors, though modern screens don't have that problem. Today most people use screen savers for privacy (the screen goes blank or shows a pattern instead of your work) or simply because they prefer a particular look.

Changing your screen saver takes about two minutes and requires no special software or downloads. The steps differ slightly between Windows and Mac, but both operating systems store screen saver settings in the same general location: your display or personalization settings.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows users access screen saver settings through Display Settings, while Mac users find them in System Settings under Desktop & Screen Saver.
  • You can choose from built-in screen savers that come with your operating system, or use a blank screen or custom image folder.
  • You set how many minutes of inactivity trigger the screen saver, and you can require a password to wake the screen.
  • Most screen savers let you preview how they will look before you save your choice.

Changing your screen saver on Windows 10 and Windows 11

Open the Settings app by pressing the Windows key and typing "settings," then click the Settings icon. Once Settings opens, select System from the left menu, then click Display. Scroll down until you see Screen saver settings and click that link.

A window titled "Screen Saver Settings" will open. In the dropdown menu at the top labeled Screen saver, click the arrow to see all available options. Windows includes built-in choices like Blank, Bubbles, Mystify, Ribbons, and others. Click on any option to see a preview in the small window below. Once you find one you like, click Apply at the bottom of the window.

Below the screen saver dropdown, you will see a field labeled Wait with a number in it (usually 10 minutes). This controls how long your computer sits idle before the screen saver starts. You can change this to any number of minutes you prefer. If you want to require a password to wake your computer from the screen saver, check the box labeled On resume, display logon screen, then click OK.

Changing your screen saver on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS versions). In the sidebar, look for Desktop & Screen Saver and click it. You may need to scroll down in the sidebar to find it.

Click the Screen Saver tab at the top of the window. On the left side you will see a list of available screen savers organized by category: Classics, Nature, Patterns, and others. Click any option to preview it in the large window on the right. Mac also includes a Shuffle option that rotates through different screen savers automatically.

Below the screen saver list, you will see a slider labeled Start after with a time in minutes. Drag this slider left to make the screen saver start sooner, or right to make it start later. If you want to require a password to wake your Mac, check the box labeled Require password after screen saver begins. Close the System Settings window when you are done.

Using a blank screen or custom images as your screen saver

If you prefer a simple blank screen instead of moving images, both Windows and Mac offer this option. On Windows, select Blank from the screen saver dropdown menu. On Mac, select Disable Screen Saver or choose Blank if available, depending on your macOS version.

If you want to use your own photos or images as a screen saver, Mac makes this straightforward. In System Settings under Desktop & Screen Saver, look for an option labeled Photos or Custom Folder. Click it, then navigate to the folder containing your images. Mac will cycle through those images as your screen saver. Windows does not have a built-in photo screen saver in recent versions, but you can set a static image as your desktop background instead.

Troubleshooting common screen saver problems

If your screen saver is not starting even though you have set it up, check that your computer's power settings are not overriding it. On Windows, go to Settings > System > Power & battery and make sure your screen is not set to turn off before your screen saver time. On Mac, go to System Settings > Displays > Lock screen and check that your screen is not locking too quickly.

If you want to disable your screen saver entirely, set the screen saver to Blank on Windows or Disable Screen Saver on Mac, then set the wait time to a very high number like 999 minutes. This effectively prevents the screen saver from ever starting while keeping the setting in place if you want to re-enable it later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a video file as my screen saver?

Mac does not support video files as screen savers through the built-in settings. Windows also does not have native video screen saver support in recent versions. Both systems can display photo slideshows, but not video playback.

Will my screen saver use extra electricity?

Modern screen savers use very little power compared to older systems. If you want to save the most energy, set your monitor to turn off entirely after a certain time rather than using a screen saver. This is controlled in your power settings, separate from screen saver settings.

What if I don't see the screen saver I want in the list?

Both Windows and Mac come with a fixed set of built-in screen savers. You cannot add new ones through the standard settings. However, you can use your own photos as a slideshow on Mac, or set a static image as your desktop background on Windows.

Does the screen saver protect my privacy if someone walks by my desk?

A screen saver hides what is on your screen, but it does not lock your computer. Anyone can move your mouse or press a key to wake it and see your work. If you need real privacy protection, enable the password requirement so your computer locks when the screen saver starts.