How to Change Your Screensaver on Windows, Mac, and More
Screensavers have been around since the early days of personal computing, and while modern displays don't technically need them the way old CRT monitors did, they remain a popular way to personalize your computer, display a slideshow, or add a layer of privacy when you step away from your desk. Changing your screensaver is straightforward — but the exact steps depend on your operating system, version, and how your system settings are organized.
What Is a Screensaver, Actually?
A screensaver is a program that activates after your computer sits idle for a set period of time. It replaces your static desktop with an animation, image, or blank screen. Originally, screensavers prevented phosphor burn-in on old CRT monitors — a problem where static images would permanently ghost onto the screen. Modern LCD, OLED, and LED displays don't suffer from the same issue, but screensavers still serve real purposes:
- Privacy — obscuring your screen when you walk away
- Aesthetics — displaying photos, artwork, or animations
- Power signaling — acting as a visual cue before sleep mode kicks in
It's worth noting that a screensaver is not the same as your lock screen or sleep mode. Sleep mode cuts power to the display entirely. A screensaver keeps the display on but shows different content.
How to Change Your Screensaver on Windows 🖥️
Windows has supported screensavers for decades, and the setting lives in a slightly different place depending on your version.
Windows 11 and Windows 10
- Right-click on your desktop and select Personalize
- Go to Lock screen in the left sidebar
- Scroll down and click Screen saver (it may appear as a link at the bottom)
- In the Screen Saver Settings dialog, use the dropdown menu to choose a screensaver
- Set your wait time (how many minutes of idle before it activates)
- Check "On resume, display logon screen" if you want it to lock when you return
- Click Apply, then OK
Built-in Windows screensavers include options like Blank, Bubbles, Mystify, Photos (which pulls from your Pictures folder), and Ribbons. Third-party screensavers can also be installed and will appear in the same dropdown once set up.
Windows 7 and Earlier
Right-click the desktop → Personalize → Screen Saver (bottom-right corner of the window). The same core settings apply.
How to Change Your Screensaver on macOS 🍎
Apple handles screensavers through System Settings (macOS Ventura and later) or System Preferences (older macOS versions).
macOS Ventura and Later
- Click the Apple menu → System Settings
- Select Screen Saver from the sidebar
- Browse the available screensavers — macOS offers options like Shuffle, Hello, Drift, Floating, and more
- Click a screensaver to preview it
- Adjust the "Start after" timer under Screen Saver or via Lock Screen settings
macOS also lets you use your own photos as a screensaver by selecting the Photos-based options and pointing them to a specific album.
macOS Monterey and Earlier
Open System Preferences → Desktop & Screen Saver → click the Screen Saver tab. Same idea, slightly different layout.
Factors That Affect Which Screensavers Are Available
Not every screensaver option is available on every system, and a few variables determine what you'll actually see when you open these settings.
| Factor | What It Affects |
|---|---|
| OS version | Newer macOS versions have different built-in options than older ones |
| Graphics capabilities | GPU-intensive screensavers may run poorly on older or integrated graphics |
| Third-party installations | Custom screensavers expand your options but require installation |
| Administrator rights | On managed or work computers, screensaver settings may be locked by IT policy |
| Energy settings | Some configurations override screensaver timing with aggressive sleep policies |
On work or school computers, screensaver settings are frequently controlled by a system administrator through Group Policy (Windows) or MDM profiles (Mac). In these cases, the settings panel may be greyed out or restricted entirely — not a bug, just policy.
Third-Party and Custom Screensavers
If the built-in options feel limited, third-party screensavers are widely available. On Windows, screensavers use the .scr file format — they install like regular programs and then appear in your screensaver dropdown. On Mac, screensaver packages typically install into ~/Library/Screen Savers/ or /Library/Screen Savers/.
Popular categories of third-party screensavers include:
- Clock and time displays — large, minimalist time readouts
- Nature and ambient visuals — oceans, forests, fireplace loops
- System monitors — real-time CPU, RAM, or network usage displays
- Photo slideshows — more customizable than the built-in photo options
- Retro and artistic animations — pixel art, generative patterns, etc.
When downloading third-party screensavers, stick to reputable sources. Because .scr files are executable, they carry the same security risks as any other downloaded program.
Screensavers vs. Sleep Mode: Timing Matters
One thing that trips people up: your power/sleep settings can override your screensaver if they're configured to kick in sooner. For example, if your screensaver is set to activate after 5 minutes but your display sleep is set to 2 minutes, your screen will go dark before the screensaver ever appears.
To avoid this, check that your screensaver wait time is shorter than your display sleep timer. On Windows, this is under Settings → System → Power & Sleep. On Mac, it's under System Settings → Battery or Lock Screen.
What Varies by User
Changing a screensaver is a simple task on the surface, but what makes sense for any given person depends on factors that aren't universal. Someone on a tightly managed corporate laptop has different constraints than someone on a personal machine with full admin rights. A user who wants a photo slideshow needs to think about where those photos are stored and how the OS accesses them. A gamer with high-end graphics might enjoy an animated screensaver that would stutter on an older integrated GPU.
The steps above cover the mechanics — but which screensaver to use, how long to set the timer, and whether a third-party option is worth installing all come down to what your setup looks like and what you're actually trying to accomplish.