How to Turn Off Screen Saver in Windows 11: A Step-by-Step Guide

Screen savers were once essential for preventing screen burn-in on old CRT monitors. But in Windows 11, screen savers are more of a legacy feature. Most users prefer to disable them because they interfere with watching videos, working presentations, or simply keeping the screen active.

In this guide, we’ll show you step by step how to turn off the screen saver in Windows 11 using multiple methods — via Settings, Control Panel, and Group Policy.

Table of Contents

📝 Quick Summary (Key Takeaways)

Screen savers are mostly unnecessary in Windows 11.
You can turn them off using:
- Settings app
- Control Panel (Screen Saver Settings)
- Group Policy Editor / Registry Editor (advanced users)
Disabling helps improve battery life on laptops and reduces interruptions.

Why Disable Screen Saver in Windows 11?

While screen savers look cool, here are reasons to turn them off:

✅ Prevents interruptions during work or presentations.
✅ Saves battery on laptops by avoiding unnecessary graphics.
✅ Avoids conflicts with apps (especially when gaming or watching media).
✅ Modern displays don’t need screen savers for protection.

Method 1: Turn Off Screen Saver via Settings

The easiest way is through Windows 11 Settings:

Press Windows + I to open Settings.
Go to Personalization > Lock screen.
Scroll down and click Screen saver settings.
In the new window, open the Screen Saver Settings dialog.
Under Screen saver, choose None from the drop-down menu.
Click Apply > OK to confirm.

👉 Your screen saver is now disabled.

Method 2: Disable Screen Saver from Control Panel

For users who prefer the traditional Control Panel:

Press Windows + R, type control, and press Enter.
Navigate to Appearance and Personalization > Change screen saver.
In the Screen Saver Settings window, select None.
Click Apply > OK.

This method works the same way as Settings but is more familiar to Windows 7/10 users.

Method 3: Disable Screen Saver Using Group Policy Editor

If you’re using Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise, you can disable screen savers system-wide:

Press Windows + R, type gpedit.msc, and hit Enter.
Navigate to:

User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel > Personalization
Double-click Enable screen saver.
Select Disabled, then click Apply > OK.
Restart your computer for changes to take effect.

Method 4: Disable Screen Saver via Registry Editor (Advanced)

If you’re on Windows 11 Home (no Group Policy), use Registry Editor:

⚠️ Warning: Editing the registry can affect system stability. Proceed carefully.

Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
Navigate to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Control Panel\Desktop
Right-click in the right pane → New → DWORD (32-bit) Value.
Name it: ScreenSaveActive.
Set its value to 0.
Restart your PC.

This disables the screen saver completely.

How to Check if Screen Saver is Disabled

Open Screen Saver Settings again → confirm that None is selected.
Wait for the set idle time → if no screen saver appears, it’s disabled.

Troubleshooting: Screen Saver Still Turning On?

If your screen saver still activates:

Make sure power settings aren’t turning off the display instead.
Check third-party apps (like display managers or GPU software).
Verify Group Policy/Registry settings (they may override your changes).

Pros and Cons of Turning Off Screen Saver

✅ Pros

Uninterrupted workflow
Longer laptop battery life
No unnecessary GPU/CPU usage

❌ Cons

No animated effects when idle
Screen may stay on longer (adjust sleep settings if needed)

Conclusion

Turning off the screen saver in Windows 11 is quick and easy, and for most modern PCs, it makes sense to disable it. Whether you prefer using Settings, Control Panel, Group Policy, or Registry Editor, you now have multiple ways to get it done.

By disabling screen savers, you’ll avoid unnecessary interruptions and improve battery efficiency — especially useful on laptops.

FAQs About Screen Savers in Windows 11

1. Does Windows 11 have a screen saver?
Yes, but it’s a legacy feature kept for compatibility.

2. Where are screen saver settings in Windows 11?
Go to Settings > Personalization > Lock screen > Screen saver.

3. Can I still use custom screen savers?
Yes, Windows 11 supports .scr screen saver files.

4. Will disabling screen saver improve performance?
Yes, it prevents unnecessary GPU/CPU cycles, especially on laptops.

5. What’s the difference between sleep and screen saver?

Screen saver → runs an animation while display is on.
Sleep → suspends the system to save power.