Windows 10 Screensaver Not Working – Easy Fixes

Windows Screensaver is no longer needed in the current time as most monitors are LED or LCD. Very few users still use CRT and Plasma displays that needed screensavers to prevent display burns. Nowadays, screensavers are used for hiding sensitive information when leaving the PC alone for short periods, watch old pictures in spare time, or simply to make the display beautiful when the PC is not in use. Users also change the Windows 10 lock screen timeout for this reason.

However, for many users Windows 10 screensaver is not working. Some have said that the issue started after a recent Windows update, others have said that it started randomly for them. In this article, I have discussed what to do when screensaver not working Windows 10.

Why Windows 10 Screensaver Not Working?

The screensaver not working can be due to various different causes. Here are some potential causes that can trigger this error:

1. Outdated Windows: For many users, this issue was triggered after a Windows update. Updating to a more recent version of Windows may fix this issue.
2. Outdated drivers: Outdated drivers are known to trigger various bugs and errors and it can be the reason why Windows 10 screensaver won’t start.
3. Wrong Screensaver Settings: The screensaver settings can be set wrong, which prevents it from working correctly.
4. Peripherals: Devices connected to the PC like game controllers can prevent the screensaver from working.
5. Incorrect Power Management settings: Screensaver is a Power Management feature, which means that incorrect power management settings will affect it. It is possible that the wrong Power management settings are behind the screensaver not working in Windows 10.
6. Corrupted system files: Uncommonly corrupted system files can also trigger this issue. Generally, nothing as serious prevents the screensaver from working, but it is still possible.

What To Do When Windows 10 Screensaver Won’t Start?

The screensaver not working is not a serious issue and should get fixed after performing the following troubleshooting procedure.

How To Enable Screensaver?

Before we move further with troubleshooting, try enabling the screensaver one more time using the steps given below:

1. Press the Windows + I keys to open the Settings app.
2. Click on the Personalization option.
3. Select the Lock screen option.
4. Scroll down and click on the Screen saver settings option.

5. Click on the drop-down menu under Screen saver and select the screen saver you want to set.
6. Set the timeout period of inactivity for the screen saver to start working in the Wait section. You can also check the On resume, display logon screen box to lock Windows every time the display resumes.
7. Click on Apply and OK to save the changes.

Now, check if still the Windows 10 screensaver starts or not. If the issue persists, then you should start the troubleshooting procedure given below.

Solution 1: Update Windows

The first thing you can try when your Windows 10 screensaver is not working is to update Windows 10. Outdated Windows is susceptible to many old bugs and errors. Also, this issue seems to have started after a particular Windows update (some say updating to the 1903 version). Updating to a newer version can fix this issue. To update Windows 10, follow the steps given below:

1. Press the Windows + I keys to open the Settings app.
2. Select the Update & Security option.
3. Click on the Windows Update option.
4. Select the Check for updates option. Windows will start to check for any latest updates.

5. Download and install the latest update if available.
6. Restart the PC to complete the process.

If you have recently updated and this issue has started since then, then you can roll back the update. To do that, follow the steps given below:

1. Press the Windows + I keys to open the Settings app.
2. Select the Update & Security option.
3. Click on the Recovery option.
4. In the Get back to the previous version of Windows 10 section, select the Get started option.
5. Follow the instructions on your screen to complete the process.

After the update has been rollbacked, check if you are able to enable the screensaver again.

Solution 2: Update Drivers

Outdated drivers are known for triggering bugs and errors. It is possible that Windows 10 screensaver not working can be related to this. This can easily be fixed by updating outdated drivers. To do it, follow the steps given below:

1. Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run utility.
2. Type devmgmt.msc and press Enter to open the Device Manager.
3. Locate the outdated drivers and right-click on them.
4. Select the Update Driver option.

5. Click on the Search for updated drivers option.
6. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.
7. Restart the PC.

Solution 3: Disconnect Unnecessary Devices

When the devices connected to your PC are moved, it will cause the Screensaver to not work. Devices like a mouse, keyboard, game controllers, etc. If you are not even moving or using these devices, still a faulty device can trigger it.

Keyboard and mouse are important for using the PC, so leaving them you should disconnect every other unnecessary device. After you have done that, check if still the screensaver is not working.

Solution 4: Clean The Mouse Sensor And Mouse Pad

If disconnecting the unnecessary device didn’t fix this issue, then try clearing the mouse sensor and mouse pad. The mouse sensor detects the direction you are moving the mouse. Over time dust can accumulate on the sensor or the mouse pad and it can make the mouse detect false actions. This can be the reason why Windows 10 screensaver not working.

Use a small brush and slowly clean the mouse sensor. Do not use excessive force. Next, clean the mouse pad. Now keep the mouse still and wait for the screensaver to start working.

Solution 5: Reset The Power Management Option

The screensaver is basically a power-saving feature so if the Power management settings are incorrect, then the screensaver may not start. Fortunately, there is an easy way to fix this, you can simply reset the Power Management option. To reset the Power Management options, follow the steps given below:

1. Type Control Panel in the Windows search bar and select the top result.
2. Change the View by to Large Icons.
3. Click on the Power Options.
4. Select the Change plan settings option beside the plan you have selected. If you have selected the High-performance power plan, then change it to Balanced or Power saver.
5. After you have selected the Change plan settings option, click on the Restore default settings for this plan option.

6. Confirm the dialog that appears.
7. Click on the Save Changes option.

After you have restored the default settings, check if the screensaver is working or not. If the issue persists then try the next solution.

Solution 6: Run The SFC And DISM Scan

If none of the above solutions worked, this issue can be due to corrupted system files and windows image. Run SFC scan and DISM scans to fix these issues. To run them, follow the steps given below:

1. Right-click on the Start menu and select the Run option. It will open the Run utility.
2. Type cmd and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open command prompt with administrative privileges.
3. Now, type the following command and press Enter to initiate it:
   sfc /scannow

4. Wait for the command to run. It will take a long time to finish scanning so do not close it until it finishes.
5. Restart the PC after the scan is over.
6. Again open the Run utility.
7. Type cmd and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open an elevated command prompt.
8. Now, type the following commands and press Enter after each command to initiate them:
   a) Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
   
   b) Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
   
   c) Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
   
   
9. Wait for the commands to finish running and then restart the computer.

After your PC restarts Windows 10 screensaver not working issue should be fixed.

Wrapping Up

So, there you have it. Now you know what to do when Windows 10 screensaver not working. The above solutions should help you fix this issue. If you have any questions related to this topic, ask them in the comment section below.