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Windows 10 does not create a separate screen-saver password. Instead, you can require Windows sign-in whenever the screen saver ends. Open Settings > Personalization > Lock screen > Screen saver settings, choose an idle timeout, and enable On resume, display logon screen. Windows will then use your normal sign-in method, such as a password, PIN, fingerprint, or facial recognition.
Enable sign-in when the screen saver resumes
- Open Start > Settings.
- Select Personalization, then choose Lock screen.
- Under the related settings, select Screen saver settings.
- Choose a screen saver from the drop-down menu. Do not leave it set to None.
- Set Wait to the number of minutes Windows should remain idle before starting the screen saver.
- Check On resume, display logon screen.
- Select Apply, then OK.
Microsoft documents this procedure in its screen-saver configuration guide.
Test the setting
For a quick test, temporarily set Wait to 1 minute, confirm that On resume, display logon screen is selected, and leave the PC untouched until the screen saver starts. Move the mouse or press a key. Windows should show the sign-in screen instead of returning directly to the desktop.
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The Preview button only shows the screen saver animation; it does not test the configured idle timeout. Restore your preferred timeout after testing.
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Password, PIN, or Windows Hello?
The checkbox requires authentication, but it does not force a password-only prompt. Depending on the account and hardware, Windows may request:
- Your account password
- A Windows Hello PIN
- A fingerprint
- Facial recognition
- A configured physical security key
These options are controlled by the account and device configuration. See Microsoft’s Windows sign-in options documentation for the available methods.
Screen saver, lock, sleep, and display power-off
A screen saver is a visual animation or image that appears after inactivity while your Windows session remains active. On resume, display logon screen tells Windows to require sign-in when that screen saver is dismissed.
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Locking the PC is different: it takes you to the sign-in screen immediately. Press Windows key + L before walking away when you want protection without waiting for the timeout. You can also use Start > your account picture > Lock, where that option is available.
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Sleep and display power-off are separate power-management events. Screen-saver sign-in settings do not by themselves confirm what happens when the PC wakes from sleep or when the display turns back on. Configure and test those behaviors separately if they matter to your security requirements.
Microsoft notes that modern displays are less affected by the burn-in problem that originally motivated screen savers and recommends sleep for energy savings. A screen saver remains useful for personalization and as an automatic sign-in trigger. Read the Microsoft screen-saver guidance.
Choose an appropriate timeout
- 1–5 minutes: Better for shared offices, public areas, or sensitive work, but more disruptive.
- 5–15 minutes: A reasonable compromise for many personal PCs.
- Longer timeouts: Less interruption, but a longer period in which an unattended session remains accessible.
There is no universally correct value. Choose one based on the physical environment, the sensitivity of your work, and how often you leave the computer unattended. A weak, shared, exposed, or absent account credential also weakens the protection.
If the screen saver does not work
The screen saver appears but the desktop opens without sign-in
Open Screen saver settings again and enable On resume, display logon screen. Selecting a screen saver alone does not enable sign-in on resume.
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The screen saver never starts
Check that:
- A screen saver other than None is selected.
- Wait is not zero and is long enough for you to notice.
- The mouse is not producing accidental movement.
- A video, presentation, game, remote-session tool, or other application is preventing idle detection.
- An organization’s policy has not overridden the setting.
On managed computers, Microsoft warns that enabling the screen saver without configuring a timeout can prevent it from starting. See its screen-saver policy troubleshooting article.
“Screen saver settings” is missing or greyed out
Search for screen saver from the Windows 10 Settings search box and open Screen saver settings from the results. You can also right-click the desktop, select Personalize, open Lock screen, and use the related-settings link.
If the control remains unavailable, verify that you are changing the correct Windows account. On a work- or school-managed PC, an administrator may have prevented users from changing screen-saver settings or disabled password protection by policy.
Windows asks for a PIN instead of a password
That is expected when Windows Hello or another sign-in method is configured. The screen-saver option requires authentication; it does not determine which enabled credential Windows must use.
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Administrator configuration with Group Policy
On editions and managed environments that provide Local Group Policy or domain policy tools, the relevant policies are located at:
User Configuration
└─ Administrative Templates
└─ Control Panel
└─ PersonalizationConfigure these policies as appropriate:
- Enable Enable screen saver.
- Enable Password protect the screen saver.
- Configure Screen saver timeout.
- Optionally enable Prevent changing screen saver to stop users from modifying the configuration.
After applying the policy, refresh policies or wait for normal policy processing, then test with a standard user account. Microsoft’s Windows hardening guidance describes the relationship between enabling the screen saver, password protection, and the timeout. Microsoft also documents the Password protect the screen saver policy.
Higher-assurance inactivity locking
Organizations that need a separate inactivity control can use:
Computer Configuration
└─ Policies
└─ Windows Settings
└─ Security Settings
└─ Local Policies
└─ Security Options
└─ Interactive logon: Machine inactivity limitThis policy locks the device after the configured period without user input and may lock it when the screen saver activates or when the display turns off because of power settings. It is an enterprise security policy, not a requirement for the normal consumer procedure. See Microsoft’s machine inactivity limit documentation.
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Advanced policy troubleshooting
Do not edit the registry unless you administer the PC and understand the consequences. Back up the registry first. Microsoft identifies this user-level location and timeout value when troubleshooting policy issues:
HKEY_CURRENT_USERControl PanelDesktop
ScreenSaveTimeOutThe value contains the timeout in seconds; Microsoft uses 600 as an example for 10 minutes. A missing or zero timeout can prevent the screen saver from starting. Prefer correcting the applicable Windows or Group Policy setting rather than making a manual registry change.
Windows 10 support status
Windows 10 version 22H2 was the final version of Windows 10 Home and Pro. Microsoft ended normal support for those editions on October 14, 2025. The operating system can continue to run, but ordinary editions no longer receive normal security updates or technical support unless covered by an applicable extended-support arrangement. Where practical, move the PC to a supported Windows release; the steps above remain the built-in Windows 10 method.
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