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

Windows 11 comes with a clean, modern interface, but many users still enjoy personalizing their PCs with classic features like screen savers. While screen savers aren’t as necessary today as they were in the CRT monitor era, they remain a fun way to add personality to your device, save your screen from burn-in (on some displays), or even add a layer of privacy when you step away.

In this step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through how to change, customize, and manage screen savers in Windows 11.

Table of Contents

Why Use a Screen Saver in Windows 11?

Even though Windows 11 includes sleep and display-off options, screen savers still have their place:

✅ Personalization – Add a touch of creativity with images, text, or animations.
✅ Privacy – Screen savers can be set to require a password on resume.
✅ Nostalgia – Classic 3D animations and moving text bring back the Windows XP/Vista vibe.
✅ Prevent Burn-in – Useful for some OLED monitors where static images could leave marks.

Step 1: Open the Screen Saver Settings in Windows 11

Unlike older Windows versions where the option was front-and-center, Windows 11 hides the screen saver settings inside the personalization menu. Here’s how to get there:

Right-click on the desktop and choose Personalize.
In the left sidebar, select Lock screen.
Scroll down and click Screen saver under Related settings.
- This opens the Screen Saver Settings dialog box.

Step 2: Choose Your Screen Saver

In the Screen Saver Settings window, you’ll find a drop-down menu with available screen savers. Common options include:

3D Text – Customizable 3D text that rotates.
Blank – A simple black screen.
Bubbles – Floating bubbles over your desktop background.
Mystify – Colorful lines moving around the screen.
Photos – Displays a slideshow of your chosen images.

👉 Pro Tip: If you want more screen savers, you can download third-party ones online.

Step 3: Customize Your Screen Saver

Each screen saver has its own settings.

Select a screen saver from the drop-down.
Click Settings… (if available).
- Example: For 3D Text, you can type custom text, choose fonts, and adjust effects.
- For Photos, you can set the folder where your pictures are stored.
Click Preview to see how it looks.

Step 4: Set the Wait Time

The Wait box lets you decide how long your PC should remain idle before the screen saver activates.

Enter the number of minutes (e.g., 5 or 10).
Shorter times are better for privacy, longer times if you don’t want it to trigger too often.

Step 5: Add Security with “On Resume, Display Logon Screen”

If you want your PC to lock when the screen saver appears:

Check the box On resume, display logon screen.
This ensures you’ll need to enter your PIN/password after the screen saver stops.

Step 6: Save Your Changes

Once you’re satisfied:

Click Apply.
Click OK.

Your new screen saver is now active!

Bonus: How to Turn Off Screen Saver in Windows 11

If you don’t want a screen saver at all:

In the Screen Saver Settings window, set the drop-down menu to None.
Click Apply and then OK.

This completely disables the screen saver feature.

Troubleshooting Screen Saver Issues

Screen saver not starting?
- Check that your wait time is not set too high.
- Ensure your PC isn’t set to sleep before the screen saver activates.
Photos screen saver not working?
- Verify the folder has supported images (JPG, PNG, BMP).
- Ensure the folder path is correct.
Performance issues with 3D screen savers?
- Update your graphics drivers.
- Try reducing 3D effects in the settings.

Summary

Changing your screen saver in Windows 11 is easy once you know where to look. Just head to:

Desktop → Personalize → Lock Screen → Screen saver settings

From there, you can:

Pick your favorite style (Bubbles, Photos, 3D Text, etc.).
Customize it with settings.
Choose the wait time.
Add password protection for extra security.

With these steps, you can bring a touch of personalization — or even nostalgia — to your modern Windows 11 PC.

FAQs

1. Can I use custom screen savers in Windows 11?
Yes, you can download .scr files and place them in the C:\Windows\System32 folder. They’ll appear in the screen saver list.

2. Does a screen saver save power?
Not really. Sleep mode or turning off your display saves more energy. Screen savers are mainly for aesthetics and privacy.

3. Can I set different screen savers on multiple monitors?
Windows 11 applies the same screen saver across all monitors. Third-party tools may allow more flexibility.

4. What’s the best screen saver for OLED displays?
A simple moving option like Mystify or Bubbles helps reduce burn-in risk.

5. How do I go back to default settings?
Open Screen Saver Settings and select None, then hit Apply.