Screensaver won't go on... I fixed it once and need to again!

Question

So recently I've found my factory screensaver keeps not switching on. I've had this PC for many years and nothing much ever changes with it, so I don't know what this keeps happening.

Anyhoo, after the first time I searched here and elsewhere and found lists of things to try, but none of them ever worked.

Eventually I DID find the culprit deep in SETTINGS. THING IS, stupid me didn't write the fix down!!!

I swear, for some reason, the usual fix-suggestions never seem to apply to my machine ;-)

Perhaps someone here knows a trick/setting that worked for them that isn't listed in the usual fix-list?

(Windows 10)

Answer 1

OK, I THINK I found the answer to my own question. I have NEVER seen this as a possible cause of the factory screen savers not going on with Windows 10 (BUT the 'net is a big place!).

There are TWO ways to turn on the screen saver... or there USED to be. I have always RIGHT-CLICKED THE DESKTOP, the old-fashion way, to turn it on. That doesn't seem to work anymore. It simply goes into various display settings within Windows.

This could have nothing to do with the issue, but one setting I found had to do with 3D RENDERING. I made sure to disable it, just in case:

Next, I went into the LOCK SCREEN page, and when I clicked on SCREEN SAVER SETTINGS, I found the s.s was OFF, even though I never shut it off!

SO MAYBE it is actually the graphics card/system that keeps shutting the screen saver off. I know recently the computer switched the CPU graphics back on on its own.

Answer 2

On Windows 10, a screensaver that suddenly stops starting is often caused by either missing timeout settings, policy/registry entries, or a broken photo/screensaver configuration. Work through these checks, in order:

1. Confirm timeout and basic settings

• Open Settings → Personalization → Lock screen → Screen saver settings.
• Ensure Screen saver is not set to None.
• Set Wait to a value like 10 minutes.
• If you want it to lock, tick On resume, display logon screen.
• Click Apply → OK.

2. Make sure a timeout actually exists (common with policy-managed systems) On some systems, the screensaver won’t start if the timeout value is missing in the registry.

If Group Policy is used (work/school PC):

• In Group Policy, ensure both are configured under:
  • User Configuration → Administrative Templates → Control Panel → Personalization
  • Enable screen saver = Enabled
  • Screen saver timeout = Enabled and set (for example, 600 seconds).

If using Group Policy Preferences instead:

• Configure a registry preference for users:
  • Hive: HKEY_CURRENT_USER
  • Key: Control Panel\Desktop
  • Value name: ScreenSaveTimeOut
  • Type: REG_SZ
  • Data: 600 (or desired seconds).

Without a defined ScreenSaveTimeOut, the screensaver may never start.

3. Fix “can’t change / won’t save” screensaver settings If the screensaver settings keep reverting or won’t save, reset them via a .reg file:

• Open Notepad and paste (including blank lines):

    Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
    
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
    "ScreenSaverIsSecure"="0"
    "ScreenSaveTimeOut"="600"
    "ScreenSaveActive"="1"
    
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Control Panel\Desktop]
    "ScreenSaveActive"=dword:00000001
    "SCRNSAVE.EXE"=-
    
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Group Policy Objects\LocalUser\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Control Panel\Desktop]
    "ScreenSaveActive"="1"
    
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
    "NoSaveSettings"=dword:00000000
    
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Group Policy Objects\LocalUser\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
    "NoSaveSettings"=dword:00000000
    
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Group Policy Objects\LocalUser\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
    "**del.NoSaveSettings"=-
  

• Save as something like screen-saver-fix.reg on the desktop.
• Double-click it and allow it to merge into the registry.
• Reopen Screen saver settings, set the desired screensaver and timeout, and test.

This resets screensaver-related values to defaults so they can be changed and saved again.

4. If using a Photos / slideshow screensaver If the screensaver is set to show pictures and then stops working, invalid shortcuts or paths in the configured folder can break it.

• Check which screensaver executable is in use via Screen saver settings.
• If it’s a photo-based screensaver, locate the configured folder and remove any invalid or broken shortcuts inside that folder and its subfolders.
• After cleaning the folder, reselect the photos/screensaver and test again.

5. If screensaver is controlled by policy (work/school) If this is a domain-joined PC, Group Policy may override local changes. In that case, ensure:

• Enable screen saver and Screen saver timeout are both configured as described in step 2.
• Any conflicting policy entries (for example, a forced SCRNSAVE.EXE under Policies) are reviewed by the administrator.

If, after these steps, the screensaver still never starts, check for:

• Third-party utilities that keep the system “active” (mouse jigglers, media players, etc.).
• Power settings that might conflict, then test with a simple built-in screensaver (e.g., Blank) and a short timeout.

---

References:

• You cannot change or save Screen Saver settings
• Group Policy Screensaver setting isn't working in Windows
• A screen saver that displays pictures stops working in Windows

Answer 3

Hi Jonelle DeFelice,

Thanks for coming back and sharing what you found.

What likely happened: the screensaver in Windows depends on both the screensaver selection and its hardware rendering configuration. When the system switched back to the integrated/CPU graphics on its own, it invalidated the previous 3D rendering settings, causing Windows to reset the screensaver to "None" silently — even though it was never manually turned off. Disabling hardware 3D rendering removes that dependency, so the screensaver no longer relies on which GPU is currently active. Also worth noting: the correct entry point in Windows 10 is Settings > Lock Screen > Screen saver settings, not the old desktop right-click method, which no longer leads there directly.

I really appreciate you taking the time to update the thread with the full details and screenshots. This firsthand documentation will help other users who run into the same problem.