To enable a screen saver, open Screen Saver Settings on Windows or the Screen Saver pane in Mac System Settings, then choose and customize one from the list.
A screen saver brings a little personality to your paused screen and can lock things down when you step away. Both Windows and Mac include built-in options that take only a couple of clicks to turn on. Below are the official steps for each platform, plus tips on timing, security, and what to do if the saver won’t start.
Enable a Screen Saver on Windows 10 and 11
The screen saver settings in Windows live inside a classic dialog you can reach from the Settings app. Open Settings and click Personalization, then Lock screen. On that page, select Screen saver to open the Screen Saver Settings dialog.
In the dialog, pick one of the available screen savers from the drop-down list. Microsoft bundles six options: 3D Text, Blank, Bubbles, Mystify, Photos, and Ribbons. Click Settings… if the option appears to tweak the saver’s appearance and speed. Next, set the Wait time in minutes — this is how long the PC stays idle before the saver kicks in.
For extra privacy, check On resume, display logon screen. With that box checked, Windows locks the machine when the saver ends and requires your password or PIN to get back in. Hit Apply, then OK to save your choices.
The same dialog can also be opened by typing Change screen saver into the Windows search bar and selecting the matching result.
Enable a Screen Saver on Mac (macOS Sonoma and Later)
On a modern Mac, the screen saver controls sit inside System Settings. Open System Settings from the Apple menu, then click Wallpaper in the sidebar, and select Screen Saver. From there, you can choose a saver from any of the available categories.
Categories in recent macOS versions include macOS Beta, Tahoe, Sequoia, Sonoma, Ventura, Monterey, and older groups such as Landscape, Cityscape, Underwater, Earth, Shuffle Aerials, or Other. Each category typically contains multiple aerial videos or animated scenes. Click one to preview it and apply it directly.
To adjust the start timing, turn back to the Wallpaper pane and look for Start Screen Saver near the bottom. Set it to the idle time you prefer. For testing, 5 minutes works well.
For security, open Lock Screen in System Settings and set Require password after screen saver begins or display is turned off to Immediately or the shortest delay you’re comfortable with. This locks your Mac as soon as the saver appears.
Common Screen Saver Settings at a Glance
The table below summarizes the built-in screen savers available on Windows and what you can customize for each.
| Screen Saver | Type | Customization |
|---|---|---|
| 3D Text | Animated text | Font, text string, rotation speed, resolution |
| Blank | Black screen | None |
| Bubbles | Floating bubbles | Transparency, size, number of bubbles |
| Mystify | Colorful moving lines | Line count, color palette, speed |
| Photos | Slide show | Folder selection, display speed, shuffle order |
| Ribbons | Curling ribbons | Color, width, pattern density |
On the Mac side, the screen saver options are grouped into visual categories rather than named individual screens. You can preview any category by clicking it in the list.
| Category | Content Type | Example Content |
|---|---|---|
| macOS Beta | Aerial video | Slow-motion drone and nature footage |
| Tahoe | Aerial video | Vistas of Lake Tahoe and surrounding mountains |
| Sequoia | Aerial video | Scenes from Sequoia National Park |
| Sonoma | Aerial video | Coastal and redwood forest footage |
| Ventura | Aerial video | California coastal landscapes |
| Monterey | Aerial video | Monterey Bay and Big Sur scenery |
| Landscape / Cityscape | Photo slide show | Still images of landscapes or city skylines |
Why Your Screen Saver Might Not Start
If you’ve set everything up but the saver never appears, a few common culprits are usually at fault. On Windows, the device may be going to sleep or turning off its display before the saver’s wait time expires. Make sure your power settings don’t turn off the screen sooner than the saver timer by checking Settings > System > Power & sleep.
Video playback or full-screen apps can also prevent the saver from starting. Close any open videos or exit the full-screen app, then wait for the idle period. On Mac, the same logic applies — check that the display sleep delay in System Settings is longer than your chosen screen saver start time.
Getting the Most from Your Screen Saver
For a quick recap: on Windows, go to Settings > Personalization > Lock screen > Screen saver to pick and customize a saver. On Mac, use System Settings > Wallpaper > Screen Saver. In both cases, set the wait time to your liking, enable lock-on-resume for security, and confirm no power or video settings are overriding the saver. The built-in options are ready to go in a few clicks with no extra software needed.
References & Sources
- Microsoft Support. “Configure a screen saver in Windows.” Official steps for enabling a screen saver on Windows 10 and 11.
- Apple Support. “Use a screen saver on your Mac.” Official guide for selecting and customizing a screen saver in macOS.