How to Change the Screen Saver on Any Device
Screen savers have come a long way from their original purpose — preventing phosphor burn-in on old CRT monitors. Today they serve more as a personalization feature and a light security layer, locking your screen after a period of inactivity. Whether you're on Windows, macOS, or a mobile device, changing your screen saver is straightforward once you know where to look — and the options vary more than most people expect.
What a Screen Saver Actually Does Today
On modern displays — LCD, OLED, and LED panels — burn-in is rarely a concern in the traditional sense (though OLED screens can experience image retention with static content over time). So the screen saver's role has shifted. Most people use them to:
- Trigger automatic screen lock after a set idle period
- Display a clock, photos, or artwork when the device isn't in active use
- Reduce visible screen brightness in ambient settings
Understanding this helps you decide which screen saver settings actually matter for your situation.
How to Change Your Screen Saver on Windows
Windows has had a screen saver settings panel in roughly the same place for years, though the path to get there has shifted slightly across versions.
On Windows 10 and Windows 11:
- Right-click the desktop and select Personalize
- Navigate to Lock screen in the left sidebar
- Scroll down and click Screen saver settings
- In the dialog box, use the dropdown menu to choose a screen saver
- Set your wait time (how many minutes of inactivity before it activates)
- Check "On resume, display logon screen" if you want it to lock automatically
The built-in options include Blank, Bubbles, Mystify, Photos, Ribbons, and 3D Text. The Photos option lets you point it at a specific folder on your computer.
Third-party screen savers (downloaded as .scr files) can be installed by right-clicking the file and selecting Install, after which they appear in the same dropdown.
How to Change Your Screen Saver on macOS
Apple has moved screen saver controls around a bit depending on your macOS version.
On macOS Ventura and later:
- Open System Settings
- Click Screen Saver in the sidebar
- Browse and select from the available options — Apple includes several landscape and aerial options
- Adjust the "Start after" timer
On macOS Monterey and earlier:
- Open System Preferences
- Click Desktop & Screen Saver
- Select the Screen Saver tab
- Choose your screen saver and set the activation delay
macOS screen savers tend to be more visually polished out of the box, with options like Floating, Flurry, and high-resolution aerial slideshows. You can also set a Hot Corner (under Mission Control settings) to trigger the screen saver instantly when you move your cursor to a corner of the display.
Screen Savers on Mobile Devices 📱
The concept works differently on smartphones and tablets.
On Android, there's a feature called Daydream (or Screen Saver depending on your Android version and manufacturer skin):
- Go to Settings → Display → Screen saver (or Daydream)
- Toggle it on and choose what displays — options typically include Colors, Photo Table, Photo Frame, and Clock
- Set when it activates: while charging, while docked, or both
On iPhone and iPad, Apple doesn't offer a traditional screen saver in iOS or iPadOS. The closest equivalent is the StandBy mode introduced in iOS 17, which activates when the device is charging and placed horizontally — displaying clocks, widgets, and photo slideshows.
Key Variables That Affect Your Options
Not every setup gives you the same choices. A few factors that shape what's available:
| Variable | How It Affects Screen Saver Options |
|---|---|
| OS version | Older Windows/macOS versions have different menu paths and fewer built-in options |
| Display type | OLED users may want shorter activation times to reduce image retention risk |
| Account type | Work/domain-managed PCs may have screen saver settings locked by IT policy |
| Third-party software | Some display managers or security tools override system screen saver settings |
| Hardware | Older or low-spec machines may lag with animated screen savers |
The Security Setting Worth Knowing 🔒
If you're using a screen saver primarily for security — requiring a password when the screen wakes — the resume/lock setting matters more than the screen saver itself. On both Windows and macOS, this is a separate checkbox or toggle, not automatically enabled when you activate a screen saver.
On Windows, it's the "On resume, display logon screen" checkbox. On macOS, it's controlled under Lock Screen settings, where you set how long after the screen saver starts before a password is required.
Getting this wrong is a common mistake — the screen saver activates, but the machine wakes up without asking for credentials.
When "Blank" Is the Best Option
For most modern monitors, the Blank screen saver — which simply turns the screen dark — is often the most practical choice. It reduces power draw, eliminates distracting motion, and activates the lock screen without any additional overhead. Users running media center setups, ambient displays, or shared office machines tend to have different priorities, which is where the visual options earn their place.
What Differs Across Setups
Someone on a corporate Windows machine with Group Policy restrictions will have a very different experience than someone customizing a personal iMac with third-party screen savers downloaded from independent developers. A person using their laptop docked to an external OLED monitor has different considerations around image retention than someone on a standard LCD.
The steps above cover the mechanics — but whether you want a timer set to 2 minutes or 20, whether you prioritize visual appeal or battery preservation, and whether security locking is a requirement or an afterthought, depends entirely on how and where you actually use your device.