Windows Screen Saver Not Working? 5 Ways to Fix Issue

Windows Screen Saver Not Working? 5 Ways to Fix the Issue

If your Windows screen saver has stopped working, it can be frustrating, especially if you rely on it to protect your screen or add a personal touch to your system. Here are five comprehensive steps to help you troubleshoot and fix the issue.

1. Check and Adjust Screen Saver Settings

The first step is to ensure that your screen saver settings are correctly configured. Here’s how to do it:

• Access Screen Saver Settings:
  • Click the Start menu and select Settings.
  • Navigate to Personalization > Lock screen > Screen saver settings.
• Configure Settings:
  • Select your preferred screen saver from the list.
  • Set the desired wait time before the screen saver activates.
  • Ensure that the box behind On resume, display logon screen is checked if you want to require a login after the screen saver activates.
  • Click Apply and OK to save the changes.

2. Disable Third-Party Software and Utilities

Sometimes, third-party software can interfere with the screen saver. Try disabling or uninstalling any recently installed programs or utilities to see if they are causing the issue:

• Identify Potential Conflicts:
  • Look for any software that might be running in the background and could be interfering with the screen saver.
  • Common culprits include security programs, remote access tools, and other system utilities.
• Disable or Uninstall:
  • Temporarily disable these programs to see if the screen saver works.
  • If disabling them resolves the issue, consider uninstalling the problematic software or finding an alternative.

3. Update Graphics Drivers and Other Device Drivers

Outdated or incompatible drivers can cause issues with the screen saver. Here’s how to update your drivers:

• Update Graphics Drivers:
  • Right-click on the Start menu and select Device Manager.
  • Expand the Display adapters category.
  • Right-click on your graphics device and select Update driver.
  • Follow the on-screen instructions to search for and install the latest driver updates.
• Update Input Device Drivers:
  • Expand the Mice and other pointing devices category.
  • Right-click on your mouse device and select Update driver.
  • Follow the on-screen instructions to search for and install the latest driver updates.

4. Reset Power Management Settings

Power management settings can sometimes conflict with the screen saver. Here’s how to reset them:

• Access Power Options:
  • Click the Start menu and select Control Panel.
  • Navigate to System and Security > Power Options.
• Reset Power Plan:
  • Click Change plan settings next to your selected power plan.
  • Click Change advanced power settings.
  • In the Advanced settings section, click the Restore plan defaults button.

5. Perform a Clean Boot and System File Check

A clean boot can help identify if any third-party software is causing the issue, and a system file check can repair corrupted system files:

• Perform a Clean Boot:
  • Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
  • Type msconfig and press Enter.
  • In the System Configuration window, go to the Boot tab and select Safe boot.
  • Reboot your computer and see if the screen saver works in Safe mode.
• Run System File Checker (SFC):
  • Open the Command Prompt as an administrator.
  • Type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
  • Wait for the scan to complete and see if it repairs any corrupted system files.

By following these steps, you should be able to identify and fix the issue with your Windows screen saver.