Steps to Fix the Screensaver Error in Windows 10

This practical guide walks through steps to fix the screensaver error in Windows 10, explains the main requirements, and highlights common issues that may appear along the way.

1. Turn on screensavers via Settings

By default, Windows screensavers are disabled. So if you don't remember configuring this setting, you'll likely need to enable it from the Windows settings. Follow these steps to enable screensaver and personalize it:

Step 1: Open Settings by pressing Windows key + I.

Step 2: Go to Personalization.

Step 3: From the left, select Lock screen.

Step 4: Click Screen saver settings.

Step 5: Use the Screen saver drop-down menu to select screensavers. You can check the appearance of screensavers by clicking Preview.

Step 6: Use the field next to Wait to set how many minutes of screen inactivity the screensaver will start working.

Step 7: Click Apply > OK to save the new screensaver settings.

To lock your computer when the screensaver starts, select the option On resume, display logon screen. Also, set the timeout to one or two minutes when you turn on the screensaver for the first time so you can check if it works properly.

Note: If you have not activated Windows, you cannot adjust the settings of screensavers.

2. Disconnect any external devices you don't need anymore

If you have a screensaver set up and it doesn't activate, try removing some devices that you no longer use. External devices such as joysticks, cameras or headsets may prevent the system from activating screensavers.

If you disconnect all unnecessary devices and screensavers still won't start, you should try other solutions.

3. Change the time the computer goes to sleep

If the computer takes less time to go to sleep than it takes to activate the screensaver, you will never see the screensaver. This is because your computer was in sleep mode before the screensaver was activated.

To fix it, you need to adjust the time the computer goes to sleep or the screensaver timeout. Follow the steps outlined above to change the screensaver timeout. To adjust how long the computer goes to sleep, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open Settings.

Step 2: Go to System > Power & sleep.

Step 3: Under Sleep, use the drop-down menu to set a new time.

Note: You should set a new time for both the On battery power option, PC goes to sleep after and When plugged in, PC goes to sleep after.

4. Check Presentation Settings

Windows has many tricks up your sleeve that you may not be aware of, and Presentation mode could be one of them. While this is great for business environments as it doesn't interrupt your speech, it will also turn off screensavers.

To disable Presentation mode, right-click Start and go to Mobility Center. Then, click the Turn Off button under Presenting. To check more settings, click the Projector icon.

5. Run the Power troubleshooter

If you can't find anything wrong with the screensaver settings, it's time to turn to Windows troubleshooting tools. Running the Power troubleshooter can fix problems with screensavers.

Step 1: Click Start and go to Settings > Update & Security.

Step 2: From the left, select Troubleshooter.

Step 3: Click Additional troubleshooters.

Step 4: Go to Find and fix other problems.

Step 5: Click Power > Run the troubleshooter.

The troubleshooter will fix any problems found on its own. Then check if the screensaver is working or not.

6. Run an SFC . scan

If there are corrupted system files or there is a problem that causes screensavers to function properly, System File Checker will fix the problem. Launch Command Prompt with admin rights and use the sfc /scannow command to start the scan.

This can take a while, so make sure you or anyone else doesn't close the Command Prompt window. If any corrupted or problematic files are found, SFC will automatically replace them.

7. Reset power plan settings

Because screensavers are a power feature, some incorrect power settings may prevent screensavers from activating. In this case, reverting the power plan settings to default will fix the problem. Here's how you can do it:

Step 1: Open Control Panel.

Step 2: From the View by menu, select Large icons or Small icons.

Step 3: Open Power options.

Step 4: Click Change plan settings > Restore default settings for this plan.

8. Update the display driver

If your computer screensaver works, but freezes, you should update your display driver.

Although graphics card drivers are usually updated through Windows updates, it is likely that you are using drivers that are not included in Windows updates.

In this case, you can update the display driver manually through Device Manager. Here's how you can do it:

Step 1: Type device manager in the Start menu search bar and select Best match.

Step 2: Expand the list of Display adapters.

Step 3: Right-click on the graphics driver and select Update driver.

Step 4: In the pop-up window, select Search automatically for drivers.

You can also find available updates on the manufacturer's website as long as you make sure you're installing one that's compatible with your system.

Good luck with your troubleshooting!

Key Takeaways

Use the information above as a practical reference for steps to fix the screensaver error in Windows 10. Review each step carefully, confirm any requirements, and choose the option that best fits your situation.

FAQ

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