This article shows the steps by which you can enable and configure the screen saver (screen saver) in the Windows 10 operating system
Screen saver is a dynamic drawing or pattern that appears on the screen if the user does not perform mouse or keyboard actions for a specified period of time. Screensavers were originally used to protect monitors from phosphor burn-in when the computer is idle, this is no longer an issue and screensavers are now mainly used to personalize the computer or to increase its security with passwords.
How to open the screen saver settings window
To open the Screen Saver Options window, right-click on an empty area of the desktop and select Personalize from the context menu that appears.
In the "Options" window that opens, select the tab Lock screen, then scroll the side scrollbar down the window and click on the link Screensaver Options
Also, in order to open the "Screen Saver Options" window, sequentially open:
Start ➯ Settings ➯ Personalization ➯ Lock screen ➯ Screen saver settings
You can open the screen saver settings window using the search. To do this, click on the search icon on the taskbar or press + S , in the search bar, enter splash screen and in the search results select Turn the screen saver on or off
You can also open the "Screensaver Options" window using the "Run" dialog box, to do this, press the key combination + R, in the window that opens, enter (copy and paste) control desk.cpl,1 and click the OK button
As a result of performing any of the above actions, the "Screen Saver Options" window will open, which is shown in the image below.
How to enable or disable the screen saver
To enable the screen saver, in the Screen saver drop-down list, select any available screen saver and click the OK button
To turn off the screen saver, select (none) from the Screen saver drop-down list, and then click the OK button
You can also preview how the screen saver will look before a specified amount of time passes without the user taking any action in the Screen Saver Options dialog box. To do this, click the View button. To end the screen saver, simply move your mouse or press any key on your keyboard.
Screen saver settings
Most standard screen savers do not have the ability to customize settings. When you click on the Options button, instead of opening the screen saver settings window, only an informational message appears, which says that the selected screen saver does not have customizable settings.
There are only two screen savers that can be configured using the GUI, these are the "3D Text" and "Photos" screen savers.
The image below shows the window 3D text splash screen options, in which you can enable the display of the current time or change the standard text to your own, as well as select a font, change the type of rotation and other parameters.
The image below also shows the window Photo screensaver options in which you can choose from which folder to show photos or images, as well as the speed of the slide show, or turn on the random order of displaying images. You can read more about how to install and configure photos as a screen saver in the article ➯
Configuring Screen Savers in the Registry Editor
This method allows you to change various screen saver settings and involves changing settings in
Before making any changes to the registry, highly recommended
All standard screensavers can be customized using the Registry Editor. Let's look at the settings of some screen savers, including those that can also be configured using the graphical interface (read above in the section)
All screen saver settings that can be changed use DWORD (32-bit) parameters
● Screen saver Ribbons
Description of parameters:
"CameraFOV"=dword:00000010
"RibbonWidth"=dword:3dfd2400
"NumRibbons"=dword:00000008
"Blur"=dword:00000001
● Parameter value CameraFOV
● Parameter Ribbon Width determines the maximum width of the flying tapes.
● Parameter Num Ribbons is responsible for the number of tapes that fly across the screen.
● Parameter Blur affects the track of the tape. When set to 0 , the tape trail will not disappear. If set to a larger value, the ribbons will lean on each other.
● Parameter values SpanMultiMon
● Parameter AllScreensSame used for computers with multiple monitors. Only two values are available for this parameter. If this parameter is set to 1 , then the same configuration file will be used on all monitors and the same splash screen will be displayed.
● Screen saver geometric waltz
To change screen saver settings geometric waltz create and apply a registry file with the following content:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00Description of parameters:
"CameraFOV"=dword:00000002
"LineWidth"=dword:00000014
"NumLines"=dword:00000006
"SpanMultiMon"=dword:00000001
● Parameter value CameraFOV affects the camera zoom, the larger the value of the parameter, the closer the tapes are displayed.
● Parameter linewidth defines the maximum width of the line trace.
● Parameter Num Lines is responsible for the number of lines that fly across the screen.
● Parameter values SpanMultiMon only affects users with multiple monitors. Setting this parameter to 1 allows the splash screen to move between two monitors.
The result of making changes to the system registry is shown in the screenshots below.
● Screen saver Bubbles
To change the settings for the Bubbles screen saver, create and apply the following registry file:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00Description of parameters:
"ShowShadows"=dword:00000001
"MaterialGlass"=dword:00000000
"ShowBubbles"=dword:00000001
"TurbulenceForce"=dword:499602da
"TurbulenceSpeed"=dword:00000008
"SpanMultiMon"=dword:00000001
"SphereDensity"=dword:4153a200
"TurbulenceNumOctaves"=dword:00000055
"Radius"=dword:42294180
● Using the parameter ShowShadows you can specify whether the shadow under the bubbles will be displayed. If you set the value to 0 , there will be no shadow, and if you set the value to 1, then a shadow will be displayed under the bubbles.
● Parameter ShowBubbles defines the color of the screen. Also, only two values are available for this parameter. If set to 0 , the bubbles will move across a blank screen, and if set to 1 , the user's desktop will be visible when the splash screen appears.
● Parameter TurbulenceForce affects the color of the bubbles, and when set to 0, the color of the bubbles turns black. To set the desired color, you need to experiment with this parameter. For example, in order for all bubbles to shimmer in different colors, you can specify the value 499602da or 1234567898 in decimal.
● The parameter is responsible for the average speed of bubbles moving across the screen. Turbulence Speed. Parameter values can vary from 0 to 10 , ie 0 is set for minimum speed and 10 for maximum speed .
● Parameter values SpanMultiMon only affects users with multiple monitors. Setting this parameter to 1 allows the splash screen to move between two monitors.
● Using the SphereDensity you can specify the exact number of bubbles that will move around the screen. In order to find a certain amount, you need to experiment. For example, to have only 4 bubbles move across the screen, enter the value 3d278480 or 1026000000 in decimal. The maximum value in decimal is 2100000000.
● Using the parameter TurbulenceNumOctaves you can specify the rate at which the color of the bubble changes. The available values for this parameter range from 1 to 255 . The larger the value of the parameter, the faster the color of the bubble will change. And, accordingly, if you set the value to 1, the colors will practically not change.
● Parameter Radius is responsible for the size of the bubble. As well as with the TurbulenceForce and SphereDensity parameters, you need to experiment a little to specify the size you need. The maximum value of the parameter is 435a6e80 or 1130000000 in decimal.
The result of making changes to the system registry is shown in the screenshots below.
● Screen saver
To change the screen saver settings 3D Text, create and apply a registry file with the following content:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00Description of parameters:
"AllScreensSame"=dword:00000000
"SurfaceType"=dword:00000002
"Specular"=dword:00000001
"SurfaceColor"=dword:0040ff00
"CustomEnvironment"=""
"CustomTexture"=""
"UseCustomColor"=dword:00000000
"UseCustomTexture"=dword:00000001
"UseCustomEnvironment"=dword:00000000
"MeshQuality"=dword:00000258
"Size"=dword:0000000a
"RotationSpeed"=dword:0000000a
"RotationStyle"=dword:00000001
"DisplayString"="site"
"DisplayTime"=dword:00000000
"FontWeight"=dword:000002bc
"FontItalic"=dword:010000ff
"Font Face"="Times New Roman"
● Parameter AllScreensSame used for computers with multiple monitors. Only two values are available for this parameter. If this parameter is set to 1 , then the same configuration file will be used on all monitors and the same splash screen will be displayed.
● Using the surface type you can choose the text surface style. To set the Solid Color style, the value must be 00000000. To set the Texture Pattern style, set the value to 00000002 and the Reflection style to 00000001.
● You can display highlights with the option Specular. Only two values are available for this parameter. If you set the value of this parameter to 1 , then highlights will be displayed.
●With the option surface color you can specify the color of the text displayed on the screen. For example, if you specify a parameter value of 0040ff00, the text will be displayed in bright green.
● In a string parameter CustomEnvironment specifies the path to the image with reflection for the volume text surface style in the format *.bmp.
● In a string parameter CustomTexture specifies the path to the image with the texture for the volume text surface style in the format *.bmp.
● Parameter UseCustomColor Another color. Only two values are available for this parameter. If you set the value of this parameter to 1 , then the color is taken from the SurfaceColor parameter.
● Parameter UseCustomTexture responsible for whether the checkbox is checked Select Texture. Only two values are available for this parameter. If you set the value of this parameter to 1 , then the reflection is taken from the CustomTexture parameter.
● Parameter UseCustomEnvironment responsible for whether the checkbox is checked Select Reflection. Only two values are available for this parameter. If you set the value of this parameter to 1 , then the reflection is taken from the CustomEnvironment parameter.
● The text resolution level is selected using the MeshQuality. This parameter can have 10 values. Namely: 00000064, 000000c8, 0000012c, 00000190, 000001f4, 00000258, 000002bc, 00000320, 00000384 and 000003e8.
● Parameter size controls the size of the displayed text. Available values are from 1 to 0a (10 in decimal).
● Parameter rotation speed controls the speed of text rotation. Available values are from 1 to 14 (20 in decimal).
● Using the RotationStyle you can specify the type of text rotation. There are 5 types of rotation − No, Torsion, Swing, Waves And Coups. To specify the type of rotation No, set the parameter value to 00000000. For the type Torsion - 00000001, Swing - 00000002, Waves- 00000003, and to set the type Coups, the value must be 00000004
● Using a string parameter DisplayString You can set the text that will be displayed during the screen saver.
● Parameter display time is responsible for displaying the current time instead of text. Only two values are available for this parameter. If you set this parameter to 1 , then the current time will be displayed during the screensaver.
● Using the FontWeight, you can specify whether the text style will be normal or bold. In order for the text style to be normal, specify the value equal to 00000190, and if you want to make the text bold, specify the parameter value 000002bc.
● Parameter FontItalic responsible for italic text. In order for the text style to be normal, specify the value equal to 01000000, and for italic style - 010000ff.
● Using a string parameter font face you can specify the font for the displayed text.
The result of making changes to the system registry is shown in the screenshots below.
Other screen saver settings
Using the Registry Editor, you can also completely disable the screen saver, select the specified screen saver, and prohibit changing it, set the screen saver timeout, and specify password protection.
Turning off the screensaver
With this registry setting, you can disable the launch of screensavers. To do this, create and apply a registry file with the following content:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
"ScreenSaveActive"="0"
After you apply the registry file, the Screen Saver Options dialog box will no longer be available. As a result, you will not be able to change the screensaver settings.
Prevent splash screen change
Using this registry setting, you can disable the change of splash screens. In addition, the setting prevents you from using Control Panel and Personalization to add, configure, or change the screen saver on your computer. In this case, the launch of the screen saver is not prohibited.
For this setting, create and apply a registry file with the following content:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
"NoDispScrSavPage"=dword:00000001
After applying the registry file, when you try to open the Screen Saver Settings window using any of the methods described at the beginning of the article, you will receive a message Your system administrator has disabled the screen customization option in Control Panel.
Applying a Specified Screensaver
When applying this registry file, only the splash screen that was specified in the registry file is used. Also, in this case, the screensaver drop-down list in the Screensaver Options dialog box in the personalization control panels becomes unavailable. In order for the registry file to be applied correctly, you must enter the name of the splash screen file, including the extension SCR. If the splash file is not in the directory %Systemroot%\System32, enter the full path to the file.
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
"SCRNSAVE.EXE"="C:\\Windows\\System32\\Mystify.scr"
Screen saver timeout
Using the system registry, you can also determine the time of user inactivity, after which the screensaver starts. You can set this parameter to an idle time value between 1 second and 86400 seconds (24 hours). In the following example, the time is set to 60 minutes:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
"ScreenSaveTimeOut"="3600"
Protecting the screensaver with a password
In this article, we want to present the most beautiful and pleasing to the eye screensavers for Windows 10, which can please with their originality and appearance in those moments when your PC has been idle for a long time.
At one time, splash screens were very popular and could be found on almost every Windows design site. Today, the fashion for them has largely passed. It affects the elementary lack of need, which disappeared a long time ago with the advent of modern monitors.
Therefore, this collection has rather aesthetic and nostalgic purposes: perhaps some of the users, like us, will be pleased to see / remember something beautiful, since some screensavers are a real work of art. By the way, despite the title, screensavers should work in any version of Windows, although we tested screensavers for Windows 10.
Alas, most, despite their respectable age by computer standards, will somehow ask you to register, but all of them have trial versions that offer many features and for free.
To begin with, let's clarify one important point: in the "Personalization" interface in Windows 10, unlike previous versions of the OS, there is no section with splash screens itself, which may even make it seem that this function has been cut out of the system. But it's not.
Using the built-in search on the taskbar, start typing "splash screen" or "change screen saver" and you should see the following result:
Clicking on it will open a window that is well known from previous versions of Windows, where you can turn on, change the Windows 10 screen saver or change its settings:
One more detail: we marked the link with an arrow in the screenshot above. You may need to follow it to increase the time after which the system automatically turns off the display. The default is 10 minutes.
If for some reason you may need a screen saver for a long time, then the display turn-off interval will have to be increased, since this is done in just a couple of clicks:
We will start our short review with one very famous screensaver, which you may well have seen on various working devices in computer stores. This Mechanical Clock is a watch screensaver with amazing attention to detail that mimics a clock mechanism that always displays the exact time.
This screensaver, like most of the screensavers for Windows 10 in our review, is far from new, but the highly detailed, literally magical picture looks attractive to this day.
An unusual effect is created by the smooth movement of all, even the most distant elements in this mechanism.
The sound part also did not let us down: in addition to the usual “tick-tock”, the live clock is greeted with a fight and every 60 minutes. This, as well as the volume level of the effects, can be adjusted in the options.
By the way, this one, as well as some other screensavers in the review, can also be used as animated wallpaper on the Windows desktop.
Christmas Evening is a very cute Christmas and New Year theme for Windows 10. The picture shows us a cozy corner, where in the center of the table there is a miniature clock, stylized as a snow-covered house, which is surrounded by gifts, New Year's toys, candles and other decorations.
On the street, which is visible through the windows of the room, it is snowing, there is a decorated fir tree with flashing garlands, and passers-by are walking, wrapped in warm scarves. Since the graphics of this screensaver are very good, there is even a slider in the settings to weaken it, which is useful for the weakest Windows 10 computers.
In turn, the audio sequence is well-known New Year's and Christmas themes, accompanied by the accurate sound of a running clock. This screensaver can also be used for the desktop.
If fancy, "heavy" screensavers like the ones above and below are not what you need, then check out the screensaver called Helios. It's free, weighs less than 300 kb, and is similar in style to the animations built into previous versions of Windows. It just looks a little more interesting.
When launched on a dark background, graceful soap bubbles begin to form smoothly, with many beautiful particles. Some, changing shape and size, slowly flow into others and vice versa, and the camera sometimes looks deep into this action.
Helios then slows down, then accelerates, unobtrusively changing the angle and viewing angle. The effect of iridescent color on the bubbles themselves looks quite unusual, making the screensaver more attractive.
Note that Helios, unlike other reviewers, must be manually placed in the Windows\System32 folder. This is where splash screens are stored in Windows 10. Helios can also freeze noticeably if you don't have graphics drivers installed/updated.
One of the most attractive types of computer screensavers is, of course, live aquariums with swimming fish. They are represented in our selection by the third version of Marine Aquarium - one of the most famous virtual 3D aquariums.
In the free version (in the window that appears, enter “testfish”), alas, only six types of fish are available to the user. More than twenty will open only after paid registration. In addition to the usual inhabitants of the aquarium, starfish and a moray eel living in a cave will also become available there.
The camera of the aquarium is not static: it smoothly moves left and right, in addition, it can be moved using the corresponding keys on the keyboard. In the settings, you can adjust the music volume, bubbles, frame rate, total and specific fish, as well as background colors. Here is the intro video:
In addition, you can choose a playlist of your music, and replace the developer's logo with a digital or analog clock.
Another stunningly beautiful aquarium screensaver for your screen. This virtual world also offers several different landscapes to choose from. By default, they alternate, but you can choose one if you wish.
Settings are opened by pressing Enter directly in the splash screen itself. Here you can add and remove aquarium inhabitants. There are 26 fish to choose from, as well as the opportunity to create your own fish with a unique color, and there is also a cute fiddler crab.
The rest of the settings allow you to adjust the backlight of the aquarium, air bubbles and feeding the fish. Noteworthy is the option that fixes the camera to the general view of the aquarium or dynamically moves it behind the fish. I was amused by the ability to set your own image as the screensaver background. So we made the header image for this text.
Another type of screensaver is different in that it adds all sorts of effects to your desktop when nothing happens to it for a long time. There are many such screensavers, but, unfortunately, since most of them were made a long time ago, some are simply incompatible with Windows 10.
Luckily, this does not include Icy Christmas, which freezes your screen. From every corner, an ice crust gradually begins to appear, which slowly captures the entire space. Despite its simplicity, the screensaver has a lot of parameters: the appearance of the ice can be adjusted in detail, there is even the ability to specify the direction of the light rays.
By default, the screen saver for Windows 10 works with the desktop, but in the settings you can instead set a picture or a set of pictures (for example, photos) that will be covered with ice while the computer is idle.
This screen saver also affects your desktop in Windows 10, only it doesn't freeze, but floods it with rain or even submerges it under water. Effects - raindrops and waves, we note, are made very high quality. Obviously, for this reason, the options even have the ability to weaken their visual performance.
Initially, the screensaver starts an arbitrary action, but you can choose something specific. You can choose from light or heavy rain, three types of waves and a storm. You can also adjust the strength of the water vibrations themselves. Again, everything looks very realistic, take a look for yourself:
The Lost Watch is one of the most beautiful screensavers in our review, not only in terms of graphics, but also in general the idea itself. Before us is the cutest pocket watch with a chain that was under water. Droplets of water fall from above, leaves of trees float slowly.
The clock, despite the original location, always shows the exact time. They even have a second hand. The current date and day of the week are also displayed.
In the settings, you can specify the volume level, reduce the quality of graphics for not the most powerful computers, select your own composition for background music and set a screen saver on your Windows 10 desktop. A particularly interesting option: you can add a miniature pendant under the clock, where your chosen photo will be displayed.
In the settings, in addition to the standard options for volume level and graphics quality, it is possible to select the type of fireplace. You can choose from stone, traditional brick and a special Victorian style fireplace (pictured above). Of course, you can put your own music and use it on your desktop.
The final participant in our review is not even a screensaver, but a full-fledged creative application, the result of which, among other things, can be used as a screensaver. Photo! 3D Album offers several virtual locations - galleries, parks, beaches, where various paintings can be placed on stands in neat frames.
Images from your computer can be used as these pictures, whether they are any drawings or photographs. You, at your discretion, can fit them into free frames that are hung around the locations. For convenience, there are options that “adjust” the picture so that it looks better in the frame.
Once everything is ready, you can launch any of the virtual worlds that you have added your images to. Agree, this is much more interesting than a regular slide show.
By default, the program "walks" there by itself, looking at your illustrations, but by pressing F1 you will take control into your own hands. This will already resemble almost a computer game, where WSAD is used for movement, Shift for acceleration, etc. If you use Photo! 3D Album as a screensaver, then in its parameters you will see a few more additional options.
As we noted at the beginning, traditional screensavers are practically a thing of the past today, since there are no specific functions for them, and on modern portable devices, when the user is idle, it is more reasonable to simply turn off the screen than to waste the battery on the screensaver, especially if the latter also consumes a lot of resources.
On stationary PCs, where screen savers came from, there are no such restrictions. However, the screensavers still go away, which is perfectly visible on Windows 10, where the screensavers settings did not even make it into the main personalization options.
On the other hand, at the time of the popularity of screensavers, several such good and creative works were made that users cannot forget about them to this day. We have shown ten such memorable screen savers in this article. We hope you enjoyed it.
I note that screensavers today are no longer used as widely as they were 5-6 years ago. These days, people tend to prefer wallpaper over an animated scene. More and more wallpaper is a photo from a personal photo archive or just a cool photo from the Internet. However, there are still those who like the idea of a desktop screensaver, and I want to show you a good resource that Windows screensaver lovers can't help but love.
This is another stunningly beautiful and realistic screensaver that you can enjoy. If you are looking for a screensaver that is not dark and emotional, then the Japanese Spring screensaver is perfect. Installing the screensaver is just as easy, and it will run on the same number of operating systems.
The screensaver is also realistic, created on the basis of a video specially for nature lovers who don't want to forget all the beauty of a mountain river even at a computer. Use this screensaver to enjoy the endless murmur of the raging water of a mountain river.
Fire is one of the natural phenomena that fascinates any person. The contemplation of a burning flame calms and gives a sense of calm.
I propose a very summer screensaver - Herbal clock, which is made as if from the freshest grass. It seems a little more and we will hear her summer meadow smell. The screensaver is very colorful and extraordinarily generous for emotional upsurge even in cloudy weather in autumn and winter evenings in winter.
On the site SaversPlanet.com You can download other equally wonderful screensavers for every taste, which can cheer you up on weekdays at work or in a warm home environment with a laptop.
Do you use a screensaver for your computer? Tell us about it in the comments.
