This article applies to: Secure Your Computer and Mobile Device

Screensaver Start Screen

1. A screen saver is a computer program that fills the screen with moving images or patterns when the computer is idle. In another word, a screen saver is an animated image which will be activated on your PC when there is no user activity detected for a certain time.
2. The screensaver will continue to run until Windows detects input from the keyboard or mouse. With most screensavers, moving the mouse or pressing any key will immediately terminate the screensaver. But screensavers can be programmed to stop when only certain keys or buttons are pressed, or when the mouse is moved a certain distance.

Starting a screen saver by double-clicking the.SCR file runs it as a standard program, with a normal priority. When Windows starts the screen saver, it is run with a lower priority and could also be on its own desktop, depending on the version of Windows and the security settings. Check out this discussion: Screensaver 'start time' option grayed out. The system administrator has probably set the screensaver timeout in a user profile. You can't change it without removing the profile, which will probably cause you to lose network access.

Screensaver Startup Windows

When you leave your computer, it’s best to start a screen saver that can only be turned off with a password. You should set up a screen saver that will start after your computer has been idle for a set interval (15 minutes or less).

You can also lock your screen manually.

How to Set Your Computer to Lock Your Screen Automatically: Windows 7 and 8

When you leave your computer, it’s best to start a screensaver that can only be turned off with a password.

1. Open the Control Panel.
   • For Windows 7: on the Start menu, click Control Panel.
   • For Windows 8: see documentation from Microsoft.
2. Click Personalization, and then click Screen Saver.
3. In the Wait box, choose 15 minutes (or less)
4. Click On resume, display logon screen, and then click OK.

When your computer has been inactive for the set amount of time, the screen saver starts. Your password is required to start using the computer again.

How to Lock Your Screen Manually

Use this procedure to lock your screen without waiting for the screen saver to start.

Free Screensavers Without Downloading

1. Press the Windows logo key + L.
   The Windows logo key is near the Spacebar on your keyboard.

Screensaver Start Windows

Your password is required to start using the computer again.