How to Specify Screen Saver Timeout in Windows


A screen saver is a moving picture or pattern that displays on the screen(s) of your PC after you have not been active on the PC for specified period of time to wait. Screen savers were originally used to save older, monochromatic monitors from damage, but now they are mainly a way to personalize your PC or enhance its security by offering password protection.

By default, users are able to set in their screen saver settings how many minutes to wait while inactive before the screen saver is launched.

If you like, you can specify for users how much user idle time must elapse before the screen saver is launched.

If specified, users will not be able to change the wait timeout in their screen saver settings.

This tutorial will show you how to specify a screen saver timeout period for specific or all users in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.

You must be signed in as an administrator to specify a screen saver timeout.

If you specify a screen saver timeout period, you may also want to enable or disable screen saver password protection and specify a screen saver.



Contents

  • Option One: Specify Screen Saver Timeout in Local Group Policy Editor
  • Option Two: Specify Screen Saver Timeout for All Users in Registry Editor



EXAMPLE: Default and specified screen saver timeout
Specify Screen Saver Timeout in Windows-default_screen_saver_timeout.png Specify Screen Saver Timeout in Windows-specified_screen_saver_timeout.png






OPTION ONE

Specify Screen Saver Timeout in Local Group Policy Editor


In Windows 7, the Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Professional, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions.

In Windows 8, the Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Pro and Enterprise editions.

In Windows 10, the Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

All editions can use Option Two.


1 Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.

2 In the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor, click/tap on to expand User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Control Panel, and Personalization. (see screenshot below)

Specify Screen Saver Timeout in Windows-screen_saver_timeout_gpedit-1.jpg

3 In the right pane of Personalization, double click/tap on the Screen saver timeout policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)

4 Do step 5 (specify) or step 6 (default) below for what you would like to do.


5 To Specify Screen Saver Timeout

A) Select (dot) Enabled, enter the number of seconds you want to wait to enable the screen saver in Options, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

If you enter 0 (zero), the screen saver will never be started and effectively disables screen saver.


6 Default Screen Saver Timeout

A) Select (dot) either Not Configured or Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

Not Configured is the default setting.

Specify Screen Saver Timeout in Windows-screen_saver_timeout_gpedit-2.jpg

7 When finished, you can close Local Group Policy Editor if you like.






OPTION TWO

Specify Screen Saver Timeout for All Users in Registry Editor


1 Press the Win + R keys to open Run, type regedit into Run, and click/tap on OK to open Registry Editor.

2 Navigate to the key below in the left pane of Registry Editor. (see screenshot below)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Control Panel\Desktop

Specify Screen Saver Timeout in Windows-screen_saver_timeout_regedit-1.png

3 In the right pane of the Desktop key, double click/tap on the ScreenSaveTimeOut REG_SZ (string) value to modify it. (see screenshot above)

If you wanted to use the default screen saver timeout for users to set for themselves, you would want to delete the ScreenSaveTimeOut value (if there) instead, and go to step 5 below.

If you do not have a ScreenSaveTimeOut REG_SZ (string) value, then right click or press and hold on an empty area in the right pane of the Desktop key, click/tap on New, click/tap on String Value, type ScreenSaveTimeOut for the name, and press Enter.


4 Enter the number of seconds you want to wait to enable the screen saver, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

If you enter 0 (zero), the screen saver will never be started and effectively disables screen saver.

Specify Screen Saver Timeout in Windows-screen_saver_timeout_regedit-3.png

5 Navigate to the key below in the left pane of Registry Editor. (see screenshot below)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Control Panel\Desktop

Specify Screen Saver Timeout in Windows-screen_saver_timeout_regedit-2.png

6 In the right pane of the Desktop key, double click/tap on the ScreenSaveTimeOut REG_SZ (string) value to modify it. (see screenshot above)

If you wanted to use the default screen saver timeout for users to set for themselves, you would want to delete the ScreenSaveTimeOut value (if there) instead, and go to step 8 below.

If you do not have a ScreenSaveTimeOut REG_SZ (string) value, then right click or press and hold on an empty area in the right pane of the Desktop key, click/tap on New, click/tap on String Value, type ScreenSaveTimeOut for the name, and press Enter.


7 Enter the same number of seconds from step 4, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

If you enter 0 (zero), the screen saver will never be started and effectively disables screen saver.

Specify Screen Saver Timeout in Windows-screen_saver_timeout_regedit-3.png

8 You can now close Registry Editor if you like.


That's it,
Shawn


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