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How to Customize Screen Saver Settings in Windows 11 and Windows 10

Choose a screen saver in Windows 11 or 10, set its idle delay, and decide whether Windows should show the sign-in screen when you return.
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To customize a screen saver, open Settings > Personalization > Lock screen, then select Screen saver under Related settings. Choose a saver, adjust its options if available, set its idle delay, and decide whether Windows should show the sign-in screen when you return.

Change your screen saver settings

  1. Open Settings.

  2. Go to Personalization > Lock screen.

  3. Under Related settings, select Screen saver. This opens the Screen Saver Settings window.

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  4. Choose a screen saver from the dropdown menu.

  5. If the selected saver has options, select Settings to customize it. For example, the 3D Text saver can display a custom message, while Photos lets you choose a picture.

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  6. Set Wait to the number of minutes of inactivity before the screen saver starts.

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  7. Optionally select On resume, display logon screen to require returning to the sign-in screen after the screen saver is interrupted.

  8. Select Apply, then OK, to save the settings.

Available screen savers and options can vary with Windows version and device configuration, so not every PC will show the same choices.

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What the Wait and resume options do

Microsoft Support describes screen savers as a way to personalize a device and add an extra layer of security, while noting that modern LCD and LED monitors are less susceptible to burn-in.

Screen saver, screen-off, and sleep are different

A screen saver displays moving or changing visuals while the PC is idle; it does not by itself turn off the display. If your goal is to reduce power use, configure the screen-off or sleep timeout instead. Microsoft recommends display sleep and says it uses significantly less power than running a screen saver.

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On Windows 11, find these separate controls at Settings > System > Power & battery > Screen, sleep, & hibernate timeouts. Set the screen-off timeout to control when the display goes dark, and the sleep timeout to control when the PC enters sleep. These timers are separate from the screen saver’s Wait value.

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Windows 10 support status

Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. Microsoft says it no longer provides free Windows Update software updates, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10. The screen saver instructions apply to Windows 10, but this dated support status matters if you are deciding whether to keep using that version.

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