How to Set a Screensaver on a Windows PC

A useful and fun thing to do on your computer is to set up a screensaver. It can help to protect your monitor’s screen when your computer has been idle for a while, provide security, and has the added benefit of letting you express your individuality and creativity. Setting your screen saver is quick and easy. All versions of Windows come with a built-in screensaver app.

If you’re uncertain how to do this, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll show you how to set your screensaver with several different versions of Windows.

Set a Screensaver on Windows 10

Windows 10 users can quickly set up a screensaver. They’re a fun way to express yourself while hiding whatever is on your screen if you are away from your computer. After a certain period of computer inactivity, the screensaver will automatically turn on and block others from seeing what was on your screen. This can prove to be invaluable in a workplace environment, especially if you work with sensitive material that other eyes shouldn’t see. To set up a screensaver on Windows 10, follow these steps:

1. Right-click in an empty space on your desktop.
   
2. From the “Context menu,” select “Personalize.”
   
3. Using the left-pane menu, click on “Lock screen.”
   
4. Located towards the bottom of the screen, select “Screen saver settings.”
   
5. Click on the “Down arrow” just under “Screen saver.”
   
6. Using the drop-down menu, choose a screensaver theme.
   
7. Tapping on the “Preview” button will show you what the screensaver looks like.
   
8. After you’ve selected one that you like, select the number of minutes that need to elapse before the screensaver becomes active.
   
9. Hit the “OK” button to save your settings.
   

When your monitor is inactive for the amount of time that you’ve selected, the screensaver will appear on the screen. To disable it, all you need to do is move your mouse or touch your touchpad. Doing this will turn the screensaver off.

Set a Screensaver on Windows 11

If your computer is running Windows 11, setting up a screensaver is a straightforward process. Its main function is to block roaming eyes from seeing what you were working on and is important if you deal with private information. You can set the amount of time that needs to pass before it turns on due to user inactivity. With several themes to choose from, you can vary what the screensaver displays. Here’s how you do it on Windows 11:

1. Click the “Start” menu and pick “Settings.”
   
2. From the left-pane menu, choose “Personalization.”
   
3. Click on “Lock Screen.”
   
4. Just under the “Related settings” heading, tap on “Screen saver.”
   
5. Click on the “Down arrow” located under the word “Screen saver” and select a theme that you like.
   
6. You can see what each one will do by selecting it and then hitting the “Preview” button.
   
7. After you’ve chosen a theme, select the amount of time to go by before activating the screensaver.
   Do this by using the up and down buttons next to “Time.”
   
8. Click the “OK” button to save your settings.
   

That’s all there is to it. After the amount of time that you’ve set without any computer activity, the screensaver theme that you picked will be displayed. To stop the screensaver, just move your mouse or touch your touchpad.

Set a Screensaver on Windows 7

A screensaver is essential if you use your computer for sensitive material or if you prefer to keep what you are working on private when you step away. Setting up a screensaver is easy, and you’ll have several different themes to choose from. You can even add your own photos or text. To do so, Windows 7 users should follow the instructions below:

1. Right-click on your desktop and select “Personalize.”
   
2. Click on “Screen Saver” located in the bottom right corner.
   
3. Just under the word “Screen saver,” tap the “Down arrow.”
   
4. From the drop-down menu, select a screensaver that you like. After selecting one, you can hit the “Preview” button to see how it will look on your screen when activated.
   
5. You can change the amount of time your computer will wait before activating the screensaver by using the up and down buttons.
   
6. Click “OK” to save your settings.
   

After the selected amount of time goes by with the computer being inactive, the screensaver you selected with be displayed. To go back to using your computer, all you need to do is wiggle your mouse or touch your touchpad and the screensaver with be deactivated.

Added Screensaver Protection

There’s a way to make it much more difficult for unwanted eyes to see what’s on your monitor when you’re away from your computer. You can require a password to unlock it once the screensaver is activated. The steps to do so are the same no matter what version of Windows you have. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Next to “Time,” you’ll notice a box and the words “On resume, display login screen.”
   
2. By clicking this box, after you’ve moved your mouse to turn off the screensaver, you’ll need to log in to your computer before the screensaver will be disabled.
   

Set Up a Screen Saver to Hide What’s on Your Monitor

Setting up a screensaver on your Windows PC is a great way to hide what’s on your computer screen. After a specified length of time passes (that you determine), the screensaver will appear on your monitor. This will block roving eyes from seeing what you were working on. The setup is easy and very similar no matter which version of Windows you’re running.

Have you set up a screensaver on your PC? Did you follow the same instructions outlined in this article? Let us know in the comments section below.