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Windows 11 and Windows 10 still include the classic screen saver controls. The quickest way to change the delay is through Screen Saver Settings, where the Wait value is measured in minutes.
That setting controls when the screen saver starts. It does not control when the monitor turns off or when Windows puts the computer to sleep. Those are separate power settings.
Change the screen saver timeout in Windows 11
- Open Start and select Settings.
- Go to Personalization > Lock screen.
- Under Related settings, select Screen saver.
- In the Screen Saver Settings window, choose a screen saver from the Screen saver drop-down list.
- Set Wait to the number of minutes Windows should wait before starting it.
- Optionally select On resume, display logon screen if Windows should require sign-in when you move the mouse or press a key.
- Select Apply, then OK.
For example, setting Wait to 10 starts the screen saver after 10 minutes without keyboard or mouse activity.
Change the screen saver timeout in Windows 10
- Open Start > Settings.
- Select Personalization > Lock screen.
- Select Screen saver settings.
- Change the Wait value in minutes.
- Select Apply, then OK.
Windows 10 reached end of standard support on October 14, 2025. The screen saver controls continue to function, but Microsoft no longer provides normal Windows Update software updates, technical assistance, or security fixes for the operating system.
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Open Screen Saver Settings with a Run command
If you cannot find the link in Settings, open the classic dialog directly:
- Press Windows+R.
- Enter this command exactly: control desk.cpl,,@screensaver
- Select OK.
The Screen Saver Settings window opens. It includes the screen saver selection, Wait, On resume, display logon screen, Preview, Apply, OK, and Cancel controls.
Screen saver timeout versus screen-off and sleep timeout
These settings are often confused because all three respond to inactivity:
| Setting | What it controls | Where to change it |
|---|---|---|
| Screen saver: Wait | When the animated or static screen saver starts | Settings > Personalization > Lock screen > Screen saver |
| Turn my screen off after | When Windows turns off the display | Settings > System > Power & battery |
| Make my device sleep after | When Windows enters sleep mode | Settings > System > Power & battery |
On some Windows 11 builds, the power section is labeled Screen and sleep. On others, it appears as Screen, sleep, & hibernate timeouts. Look for Turn my screen off after and Make my device sleep after.
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Set the timeout from the Registry
The normal Settings method is safer and easier. Use the Registry only when you need to configure the current user with a script or command.
The signed-in user’s screen saver settings are stored at HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop.
The timeout value is ScreenSaveTimeOut.
Unlike the Settings dialog, the Registry value is measured in seconds, not minutes:
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors| Desired delay | Registry value |
|---|---|
| 1 minute | 60 |
| 5 minutes | 300 |
| 10 minutes | 600 |
| 15 minutes | 900 |
| 1 hour | 3600 |
To set a 10-minute timeout for the currently signed-in user, open Windows Terminal, Command Prompt, or the Run dialog and execute: reg add “HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop” /v ScreenSaveTimeOut /t REG_SZ /d 600 /f
To make sure the screen saver is enabled for that user, run: reg add “HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop” /v ScreenSaveActive /t REG_SZ /d 1 /f
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ScreenSaveActive uses 1 for enabled and 0 for disabled. The commands affect the current user only. You may need to sign out and back in before every application reflects the change.
Why changing the Registry timeout may not work
A timeout value alone does not guarantee that a screen saver will run. Check these conditions if nothing happens:
- Screen saver is disabled: ScreenSaveActive may be set to 0.
- No valid saver is selected: Windows needs a valid screen-saver executable, normally a .scr file.
- The selected file is missing or invalid: A deleted or damaged .scr file cannot start.
- A policy overrides the setting: A work or school administrator may disable screen savers or prevent users from changing them.
- Power management intervenes first: The display may turn off or the PC may sleep before the screen saver becomes visible.
For policy-managed configurations, the screen saver timeout policy uses this location: Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Control Panel\Desktop.
Its policy value is also named ScreenSaveTimeOut. A configured policy timeout can range from 1 to 86,400 seconds, which is 1 second through 24 hours. A value of 0 prevents the screen saver from starting.
The policy has no useful effect if Enable Screen Saver is disabled, the timeout is zero, no valid screen-saver executable is specified, or the specified .scr file does not exist. On managed PCs, the Prevent changing screen saver policy can stop the Screen Saver dialog from opening, while Enable Screen Saver can disable its controls.
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Configure the screen saver for the Windows sign-in screen
The ordinary screen saver settings apply to a user who is already signed in. The sign-in screen uses a different Registry profile: HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop.
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Its timeout value is also called ScreenSaveTimeOut and is measured in seconds. Microsoft documents a default of 900 seconds, or 15 minutes, for the logon screen saver.
This distinction matters:
- Changing HKEY_CURRENT_USER changes the normal screen saver for the current user.
- Changing HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT configures the no-user-signed-in logon screen saver.
- Changing one does not automatically change the other.
Do not edit the HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT profile unless you specifically need to configure the sign-in screen. Incorrect Registry changes can affect Windows behavior, so back up the relevant key before making manual edits.
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Selecting On resume, display logon screen determines whether Windows returns to the sign-in screen when activity resumes. It is separate from the timeout itself: the screen saver can start without requiring sign-in afterward.
On an organization-managed computer, the Password protect the screen saver policy can force password protection, disable it, or prevent users from changing the checkbox. If the option is missing, unavailable, or keeps reverting, a policy may be controlling it.
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What to do if the Screen Saver Settings page is unavailable
- Try the direct command control desk.cpl,,@screensaver.
- If the dialog still will not open, check whether the computer is managed by a workplace, school, or organization.
- Check whether a policy prevents changing screen saver settings.
- Confirm that the display is not simply turning off first because of the power timeout.
- Verify that a screen saver is selected and that ScreenSaveActive is enabled for the current user.
On a personal PC, the Settings route and the direct Run command are usually sufficient. Registry and policy changes are mainly useful for scripted, multi-user, or centrally managed configurations.
FAQ
How do I change the screen saver timeout in Windows 11?
Go to Settings > Personalization > Lock screen. Under Related settings, select Screen saver, change Wait, and select Apply > OK.
How do I change the screen saver timeout in Windows 10?
Go to Settings > Personalization > Lock screen > Screen saver settings. Change the Wait value in minutes, then select Apply and OK.
Does the screen saver timeout turn off the monitor?
No. The screen saver’s Wait setting only controls when the screen saver starts. Use Settings > System > Power & battery and change Turn my screen off after to control the display timeout.
What is the Registry value for the screen saver timeout?
For the current user, it is HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\ScreenSaveTimeOut. The value is stored as seconds, so 600 means 10 minutes.
Why does my screen saver not start after I set a timeout?
Check that the screen saver is enabled, a valid .scr file is selected, and no work or school policy disables it. Also check whether Windows turns off the display or enters sleep before the screen saver appears.
Can I open the screen saver settings without using Windows Settings?
Yes. Press Windows+R, enter control desk.cpl,,@screensaver, and select OK.
The Bottom Line
For most users, open Settings > Personalization > Lock screen, select Screen saver or Screen saver settings, change Wait, and apply the change. Remember that the value is in minutes in the dialog but seconds in the Registry, and that display-off and sleep timers must be changed separately under Power & battery.
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