If you are temporarily leaving your computer, starting a screen saver is a great way to hide content on the display. But sometimes, the screen saver doesn't work, leaving you wondering what is blocking its startup. This guide will provide you with the help you need to resolve if a Windows screen saver does not work.

Tip: Once everything returns to normal, you can start over with these great Windows screen savers.

Table of contents

• A quick fix to try
• 1. Close all active applications
• 2. Reset the power plan
• 3. Run the power supply troubleshooter
• 4. Turn off demo mode
• 5. Prevent the mouse from waking the computer
• Frequently Asked Questions

A quick fix to try

Before we get into a more detailed fix, here are some simple solutions to get the screen saver to work again:

• Setting up a screen saver : Sometimes the reason why you can't see a screen saver is simple: you haven't set it up yet. To set it up, use the search box to launch the Screen Saver Settings dialog box and change the Screen Saver from there.
• Unplugging unnecessary peripherals : Some peripherals - such as joysticks, gamepads, and USB cameras - can keep your Windows computer awake. If Windows detects that the screen is still active, your screen saver will not be activated. Try disconnecting these devices from your computer to see if the screen saver appears.
• Clean the mouse and mouse pad : Dirty mouse sensors may also keep the screen awake by detecting ghost movements. To solve this problem, wipe the mouse's shell and sensor with a clean dust-free cloth and a gentle cleaning solution. You should also wipe the mouse pad or surface (if you are not using the mouse pad).
• Run System File Checker (SFC) : If there are corrupt system files on your Windows computer, it may affect various features, including screen savers. Running System File Checker (SFC) can fix these corrupt files.
• Run an antivirus scan : If SFC fixes your screen saver issue, you should ask yourself how these files are corrupted. The most likely reason is the virus, which you can easily remove with antivirus scan.

1. Close all active applications

If some applications are active, they may prevent the screen saver from working. A good example is the VLC media player that keeps your computer awake when it plays something.

Try closing all active apps and see if the screen saver starts working again. If the application refuses to close, learn how to force exit an unresponsive application.

2. Reset the power plan

Screen savers affect your PC's power management and vice versa. If the settings of the power plan fail, they may prevent the screen saver from turning on. Resolve this by resetting the settings of the power plan by following the steps below:

1. Press Win R , enter the control panel in the text box, and then click OK to launch the control panel.

2. Click "Hardware and Sound".

3. Click Edit Power Plan in the Power Options section.

4. Click "Restore default settings for this plan".

5. When asking whether to continue to restore the power plan to the default settings in the pop-up window, click Yes.

Tip: Learn how to restore Windows to default settings.

3. Run the power supply troubleshooter

If resetting the power plan does not work, running the power troubleshooter can fix any power-related issues that are not triggered by the screen saver. Follow these steps:

1. Click the search box, enter troubleshoot, and then click "Troubleshooting Settings" in the search results.

2. Click "Other Troubleshooter".

3. Click Run on the Power Troubleshooter.

4. Wait for the power troubleshooter to complete the diagnosis and repair of power problems on your computer.

5. Turn off demo mode

Demo mode is a feature that blocks several other features on Windows, such as notifications, to prevent them from bothering you during a demo. Another feature it may block is the screen saver. If you have already enabled Demo Mode, follow these steps to disable it to get the screen saver to work again:

1. Press Win X and select Move Center from the list of options.

2. Click Close above Demo Settings.

Learn: Learn how to use a game controller as a mouse.

5. Prevent the mouse from waking the computer

Anything that keeps your computer awake can interfere with the screen saver. Move the mouse a little bit is one of them. You can resolve this problem by disabling the mouse to wake the computer through the following steps.

1. Press Win R , enter the control panel, and then click OK to open the control panel.

2. Click "Hardware and Sound".

3. Activate the mouse properties by clicking on Mouse in the Devices and Printers section.

4. Click the Hardware tab, select the mouse you are using, and then click Properties.

5. Click "Change Settings".

6. Select the Power Management tab and uncheck Allow this device to wake up the computer.

Worth knowing: Do you like the screen saver on Apple TV? Learn how to get Apple TV screen saver on your PC.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can screen savers really prevent screen damage?

Yes, screen savers really protect your screen. When you display the same image on the screen for a long time, it can cause burns on the screen, which is a phenomenon that the area of ??your display is permanently discolored. Screen savers are a great way to prevent this from happening as it keeps pixels on the screen moving and changing.

Is it possible for me to lose data when the screen saver starts?

Won't. Although you cannot access data when the screen saver starts, you won't lose data.

Can screen savers save battery life?

Screen savers do not save battery life. In fact, they can drain battery life because they keep your screen on for a long time. If you want to save battery life on your laptop, consider configuring the monitor to turn it off after a certain amount of time in the power plan settings.

Image source: Pexels. All screenshots are courtesy of Chifundo Kasiya.

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