Screen Savers not working.

Question

Screen Savers not working.

Richie Chrzanowski 5

For some reason my Screen Savers have stopped working on 2 of my Laptops running Windows 11 and my PC running Windows 10. I have done so much research and troubleshooting on how to resolve the issues from watching UTube videos to Co-Pilot trouble shooting and nothing is working; I don't know what else to do or try.

Please advise,

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3 answers

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Answer 1

Horace Wiggins 535

Are the screen savers used as a personal like? Most of today's computer screens don't need screen savers.

https://techterms.com/definition/screen_saver

Richie Chrzanowski 5 Reputation points

2026-09-22T14:04:40.86+00:00

yes more for personal. But right now my issue is with my PC that I stated in previous comment

Answer 2

Vikki-T 11,870 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hi Richie Chrzanowski,

Thank you for the update. Since you have already completed the previously suggested steps, I would avoid making any further registry changes for now.

Because the same behavior is occurring on two Windows 11 laptops and one Windows 10 PC, could you clarify the following?

Does the screen saver start when you select Preview?
Which screen saver is selected: Blank, Photos, or a third-party screen saver?
Do the three computers share any common hardware or software, such as a wireless mouse receiver, docking station, controller, remote-access software, or synchronization utility?

As a focused test, please select Blank, set Wait to 1 minute, and disconnect non-essential USB or Bluetooth devices. Then leave the computer at the desktop without touching the keyboard or mouse.

If the screen saver still does not start, try a clean boot on just one of the affected computers. This can help determine whether a background service or startup application is continually registering activity and preventing the idle timer from being reached. Microsoft’s clean boot instructions are available here: How to perform a clean boot in Windows.

Please let me know whether Preview works and whether the screen saver starts during the clean boot test. Those two results will help distinguish a screen saver configuration problem from interference caused by software or connected hardware. Thank you so much for your understanding.

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

Richie Chrzanowski 5 Reputation points

2026-09-19T21:13:07.7933333+00:00

Screen Saver does show when I select Preview. I have change from Ribbons to Mystify to Blank. Have change to 1 minute. Both Laptops only have wireless mouse. PC on Windows 10 has wireless mouse and keyboard, disconnected Logitech Cam. No synchronization on any.

I have followed all the Clean Boot and gone into MSConfig and disabled and reabled and no resorluion. I tried to go back to known restore but only takes me back to the 18th which wouldn't help cause the problem was still there

Let me know what else I can do
Richie Chrzanowski 5 Reputation points

2026-09-20T16:11:40.5+00:00

Prior to all the other steps I did do. Today 9/20 I went into Sys Config and to Startup and went thru each one individually and restarted and waited 2 minutes and screen saver never came on.
Richie Chrzanowski 5 Reputation points

2026-09-22T12:53:29.2666667+00:00

Hello,

I have not received any type of resolution. As stated in previous comments I have done all the step required and scree saver still not working on my Laptop Windows 11.

My PC on Windows 10 for some reason with following the steps has now locked me out completely. When it boots up asking to reset my PIN, but unfortunately my PC isn't getting connected to the WIfi or even attached the cable to router. I would like some assistance in getting both of these problems resolved. I have tried to get into DOS but having a issue with that.

Please advise.
Vikki-T 11,870 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-09-22T13:18:08.92+00:00
Hi Richie Chrzanowski,

Thank you for the detailed update. Since the Windows 10 PC is now inaccessible, I recommend pausing the screen saver troubleshooting and addressing the sign-in issue first. Please avoid making any further registry, Command Prompt, or System Configuration changes for now.

On the Windows sign-in screen, please check the following:

Select the Network icon in the lower-right corner and see whether Wi-Fi networks appear. If possible, temporarily connect the PC directly to the router using an Ethernet cable.

Select Sign-in options and look for the password or key icon. If available, try signing in with the Microsoft account password or local account password instead of the PIN.

If I forgot my PIN is displayed, use it only after the PC is connected to the internet. You can review Microsoft’s official guidance here: Change or reset your PIN in Windows.

If the network option is unavailable, you may try Safe Mode with Networking. Please note that PIN and biometric sign-in are unavailable in Safe Mode, so you will need the account password. The steps are available here: Troubleshoot problems signing in to Windows.

Could you confirm whether Sign-in options shows a password icon and whether any Wi-Fi networks appear from the sign-in screen? Also, please share the exact message shown when Windows asks you to reset the PIN, but make sure not to include your PIN, password, email address, or any recovery key.

Because this is a user-to-user support forum and I cannot remotely inspect or restore the PC, I also recommend contacting Microsoft Support before resetting or reinstalling Windows. Enter “Windows sign-in issue after clean boot”, select Get Help, and then choose Contact Support. If the Support Assistant appears, type “Talk to a live agent” or “Contact support” to check the available support options.

Once access to the Windows 10 PC has been restored, the screen saver issue can be revisited separately without making further changes on all three devices.
Richie Chrzanowski 5 Reputation points

2026-09-22T13:33:17.7433333+00:00

Hi,

Attach is a pic of my PC. This is as far as I can get. I have attached a ethernet cable and rebooted but as you can see I only have the 2 options at the bottom right ease of access and power
Richie Chrzanowski 5 Reputation points

2026-09-22T13:38:23.6833333+00:00

here is a pic of PC
Vikki-T 11,870 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-09-23T13:24:49.8133333+00:00

Hi Richie Chrzanowski,

Thank you for the update. However, I’m unable to see the image attached to your comment. Could you please try uploading it again? Before posting, please make sure the image does not contain any personal information, such as your email address or sign-in details.
Vikki-T 11,870 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-09-24T14:23:03.94+00:00

Hi Richie Chrzanowski,

If you still have further concerns, please feel free to let me know.
Richie Chrzanowski 5 Reputation points

2026-09-24T15:21:35.2133333+00:00

Not concerned about PC anymore, still having issues with Laptop screen saver not working. Worked with agent via the Live Chat Widget. He remote in and looked at several things, finally he download to reinstall the Windows 11. After down load and rebooting this error popped up We couldn't install Windows 11. We set your PC back to the way it was before you started installing Windows 11. 0xC1900101 - 0x20017 The installation failedin the SAVE_OS phase with an error during BOOT operation.

Also here is the case# he assigned [moderator's note: PII removed]

Screen Saver still not working.
Vikki-T 11,870 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-09-25T12:45:58.2433333+00:00

For your privacy and security, I have covered the personal information included in your post. Please avoid sharing any personal or sensitive information publicly, such as serial numbers, order details, email addresses, phone numbers, or case-related information.

Hi Richie Chrzanowski,

Thank you for the detailed update. I can see you've already spent quite a bit of time troubleshooting this, including having a Microsoft Support agent remotely check the laptop and attempt to reinstall Windows 11, so I understand why it is frustrating to still have the screen saver issue afterward.

Please note that this is a user-to-user support forum, so I don't have access to your Microsoft Support case or the tools needed to review what happened during the previous remote support session

Since you already have Microsoft Support case, I recommend contacting Microsoft Support again and providing that case number. This should allow the support agent to review the previous troubleshooting and the failed Windows 11 installation rather than starting the investigation from scratch.

When speaking with the agent, please also mention that the original issue remains unchanged: the screen saver works when Preview is selected, but it does not start automatically after the configured wait time.

If the Support Assistant appears first, you can enter: “I need to speak with a live support agent about an existing Windows support case.” Then follow the prompts to reach the available support options.

I hope they can pick up from the previous case history and get this resolved without putting you through the same troubleshooting again.

Answer 3

Richie Chrzanowski 5

I have tried every step as posted and no resolution.

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