Quick answer: the screen saver settings are a little hidden in Windows 11. To customize them:
- Open Settings › Personalization › Lock screen and click Screen saver (under Related settings).
Faster: press Windows + R, typecontrol desk.cpl,,@screensaverand press Enter. - In Screen Saver Settings, choose a screen saver (Photos, Ribbons, 3D Text…).
- Set Wait (minutes of inactivity) and tick On resume, display logon screen to protect your PC.
- Click Preview, then OK.
Sommaire
- How to open the screen saver settings
- The built-in screen savers
- Use your own photos as a screen saver
- Show your own message or the time (3D Text)
- Set the wait time and lock on resume
- Screen saver, screen off or sleep: what’s the difference?
- For administrators: enforce the screen saver
- Screen saver not working? Fixes
- Related guides on les-imprimantes.com
- Frequently asked questions
How to open the screen saver settings
| Method | How |
|---|---|
| Settings (Windows 11) | Settings › Personalization › Lock screen › Screen saver |
| Settings (Windows 10) | Settings › Personalization › Lock screen › Screen saver settings |
| Search | Type screen saver in the Start menu and choose Turn screen saver on or off or Change screen saver |
| Run command | Windows + R › control desk.cpl,,@screensaver |
The built-in screen savers
| Screen saver | What it shows | Settings available |
|---|---|---|
| (None) | Screen saver off | – |
| 3D Text | Your own text or the time, rotating in 3D | Text, font, motion, size, surface style |
| Blank | A black screen | – |
| Bubbles | Transparent bubbles floating over the desktop | – |
| Mystify | Moving colored lines | – |
| Photos | A slideshow of your pictures | Folder, speed, shuffle |
| Ribbons | Colorful ribbons drawing on screen | – |
Click Settings… next to the list to customize the selected screen saver (when available), and Preview to see it full screen. Move the mouse to exit the preview.
Use your own photos as a screen saver
- Choose Photos in the list, then click Settings….
- Click Browse and select the folder that contains your pictures.
- Choose the Slide show speed (Slow, Medium, Fast) and tick Shuffle pictures if you like.
- Click Save, then Preview.
Store the photos in a permanent folder such as Pictures, not Downloads, so they aren’t deleted when you clean up.
Show your own message or the time (3D Text)
- Choose 3D Text, then click Settings….
- Select Custom Text and type your message (a company name, “Back in 5 minutes”), or select Time to show a clock.
- Adjust the font, motion type and speed, then click OK.
Set the wait time and lock on resume
- Wait: number of minutes without mouse or keyboard activity before the screen saver starts. 5 to 10 minutes suits most people.
- On resume, display logon screen: when ticked, you need your PIN or password to get back to the desktop. Keep it on for any PC in an office or shared space.
Tip: to lock instantly when you leave your desk, press Windows + L. It doesn’t depend on the screen saver timer.
Screen saver, screen off or sleep: what’s the difference?
| Feature | What happens | Energy use | Where to set it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen saver | Animation or photos on screen, PC keeps running | Screen stays on | Screen Saver Settings |
| Turn off screen | Screen goes dark, PC keeps running | Lower | Settings › System › Power & battery › Screen and sleep |
| Sleep | PC pauses, wakes in seconds | Very low | Same page, sleep timeout |
Modern screens don’t need a screen saver for protection. On OLED screens, turning the screen off is better than a static image or a slow animation, to reduce the risk of burn-in. Use the screen saver for its look, a message or a photo slideshow, and set the screen to turn off a few minutes later.
For administrators: enforce the screen saver
In Windows Pro, Enterprise and Education, an administrator can enforce a screen saver and password with Group Policy:
- Press Windows + R, type
gpedit.msc. - Go to User Configuration › Administrative Templates › Control Panel › Personalization.
- Configure Enable screen saver, Password protect the screen saver and Screen saver timeout.
On a work PC, these policies explain why some options are greyed out.
Screen saver not working? Fixes
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Screen saver never starts | An app or device keeps the PC awake (video, game, browser tab, wireless mouse) | Close media apps; in an admin Terminal run powercfg /requests to see what blocks it |
| Starts then stops immediately | Sensitive mouse or vibration on the desk | Unplug the mouse to test; turn off the mouse’s wake option in Device Manager |
| Options greyed out | Group Policy on a work PC | Ask your IT department |
| Screen turns off before the screen saver | Power timeout shorter than the Wait time | Set Screen off later than the screen saver in Power & battery |
| Photos screen saver shows nothing | Empty folder or unsupported files | Select a folder with JPG or PNG images |
| No password asked on resume | Option not ticked | Tick On resume, display logon screen |
Security: third-party screen savers are .scr files, which are programs. Only install them from trusted sources; fake “free screen savers” are a classic way to spread malware.
🛠️ Real-world case: a reception PC that never locked
| Situation | Reception desk PC under Windows 11; the screen saver never started, so the session stayed open all day |
|---|---|
| Diagnosis | powercfg /requests showed a browser tab playing a muted video in the background, keeping the PC “active” |
| Fix | Tab closed, Photos screen saver set to 5 minutes with On resume, display logon screen, and screen off after 10 minutes |
| Result | The PC now locks itself; about 5 minutes of work |
Takeaway: when the screen saver never starts, something is keeping the PC awake. powercfg /requests tells you what.
Related guides on les-imprimantes.com
Frequently asked questions
Where are the screen saver settings in Windows 11?
Open Settings › Personalization › Lock screen and click Screen saver under Related settings. You can also press Windows + R and type control desk.cpl,,@screensaver.
How do I use my photos as a screen saver?
In Screen Saver Settings, choose Photos, click Settings, browse to your photo folder, choose the speed and click Save.
How do I make the screen saver ask for a password?
Tick On resume, display logon screen in Screen Saver Settings. Windows will ask for your PIN or password when you come back.
Do I still need a screen saver?
Not to protect modern screens. It’s mainly decorative or useful to show a message. Turning the screen off saves more energy, and is better for OLED screens.
Why doesn’t my screen saver start?
An app, a video or a device keeps the PC awake. Run powercfg /requests in an administrator Terminal to see what is blocking it.
How do I turn off the screen saver?
In Screen Saver Settings, choose (None) in the list and click OK.
Are third-party screen savers safe?
Only from trusted sources. Screen saver files (.scr) are programs and can contain malware.
