Log On Screen Saver - Enable or Disable

How to Enable or Disable the Windows 7 Log On Screen Saver​

   Information

By default the log on screen saver is disabled in Windows 7. This will show you how to enable a blank screen saver to run at the log on screen after an amount of idle time that you specify. This affects all log on screens in Windows 7 including the Welcome, Lock computer, Log off, and Switch User log on screens.

   Note

Enabling the log on screen saver will add these registry entries, and disabling it will remove them.

This will only work using the blank black C:\Windows\System32\scrnsave.scr screen saver as the value for SCRNSAVE.EXE. Using any other screen saver will result in this error below when it tries to run from the log on screen.

   Warning

You can only do this tutorial while logged on as an administrator.

EXAMPLE: Log On Screen Saver in Windows 7
NOTE: This is the log on screen (left screenshot below) and the blank log on screen saver (right screenshot below).

STEP ONE

Enable or Disable the Log On Screen Saver

1. To Enable the Log On Screen Saver
NOTE: This will enable the log on screen saver with a 300 second (5 minute) idle wait time. If you would like to change this wait time to what you would like instead, then see the STEP TWO section below after finishing this STEP ONE section to change it. A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below. Enable_Log_on_Screen_Saver.reg

Download


B) Go to step 3.
2. To Disable the Log On Screen Saver A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below. Disable_Log_on_Screen_Saver.reg

Download


3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the desktop.

4. Right click on the downloaded .reg file and click on Merge.

5. Click on Run, Yes, Yes, and OK when prompted.

6. Log off to test the screen saver.

7. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file on the desktop if you like.

STEP TWO

Change the Log On Screen Saver Wait Time

NOTE: After you have enabled the log on screen saver in the STEP ONE section above, you can change the 300 second (5 minutes) idle wait time to what you would like it to be instead if you would like to. 1. Open the Start Menu, and type regedit in the search box and press enter.

2. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes.

3. In regedit, navigate to: (see screenshot below) HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop


4. In the right pane, right click on ScreenSaveTimeOut and click on Modify. (see screenshot above)

5. Type in how long you want the idle wait time to be for in seconds (60 seconds = 1 minute) before the screen saver will run, then click on OK. (see screenshot below)
6. Close regedit.

7. Log off to test the screen saver.
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Change the Windows 7 Log On Screen Text Shadow
• How to Change the Windows 7 Log On Screen Text Shadow
• How to Change the Windows 7 Log On Screen Background
• How to Change the Screen Saver in Windows 7
• How to Turn Screen Saver On or Off in Windows 7
• How to Make Windows 7 Require a User Name and Password at Log On
• How to Add or Remove Ease of Access Center from Windows 7 Log On Screen
• How to Set or Change the Screen Saver Timeout Period in Windows 7
• How to Specify a Default Screen Saver for All Users in Windows 7

 

[Kitti Ritter]

I found the following instructions elsewhere which differ from yours in a couple of areas.

First choose the screensaver you want. Look in C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32 for files with the .SCR extension.
Typically there are the following . . .
- SSTEXT3D - 3D Text
- BUBBLES.SCR - Bubbles
- MYSTIFY.SCR - Mystify
- PHOTOSCREENSAVER.SCR - Photos
- RIBBONS.SCR - Ribbons
If you do not want to use one of the above, add one you like to System32 and name it LogOn.scr or a name of your choice. Once you have your screensaver, open your registry editor and navigate to the following key:
HKEY_USERS \ .Default \ Control Panel \ Desktop
Below this key create the following REG_SZ values
SCRNSAVE.EXE = C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\LOGON.SCR (or whatever your file is called).
ScreenSaveActive = 1
ScreenSaveIsSecure = 0
ScreenSaveTimeOut = 60 (or whatever timeout you want in seconds)

First, you say to only use the blank one, screensave.scr, where the other says to choose one. If I were to choose the blank one, and change the registry settings as you show, what will appear on the blank screen besides a blank screen since nothing has been added to it?

The second difference I noticed is this other one contains: ScreenSaveIsSecure = 0

Hope you understand what I am attempting to explain.

 

[Brink]

Hello Kitti,

If you choose another screen saver other than the solid black blank screensave.scr one, you will get the black message screenshot in the blue NOTE box at the top of the tutorial instead of a solid black blank screen.

ScreenSaveIsSecure = 0 is to enable (1) or disable (o) the screen saver password. Since it will not work at log on anyway, it is not necessary to have that DWORD value added.

 

[Kitti Ritter]

Brink:

Ok, you've made that part clear. However, if I use the blank one, there will be no animation on the page to act as a screensaver. Is that correct?

Kitti

 

[Brink]

Correct. By default, you have no screen saver at log on. With this, you only have the option of a black blank screen saver instead if one is wanted or needed at log on.

The ability to use any other, or animated screen savers, at log on has been removed by Microsoft.

 

[Kitti Ritter]

At least I know I'm not as dumb as I was beginning to think. Microsoft sure knows how to screw up that which could be good. Thanks again for your help.

Kitti

 

[Brink]

It was removed back since Vista SP2 for security purposes to prevent a screen saver that may have malware in it from running before the OS and bypassing all security measures (ex: antivirus program) and causing more security risks. It may be less customizable, but it is a very good move for security purposes.

 

[Kitti Ritter]

Wanted to let you know, I finally got around to trying the instructions highlighted in my first post. I typed in the name of one of my own screensavers in place of the LOGON.SCR in the referenced instructions above and it works as any normal animated screensaver. Try it and you will see for yourself.

 

[Brink]

Hello Kitti,

Sorry, but I still get the screen in the NOTE box at the top of the tutorial instead. It does not work for me.

 

[Kitti Ritter]

More info

Make sure a copy of the preferred screensaver has been added to System 32. Here is a copy of the registry changes made.

 

[Brink]

Yep, that's what I used with a 5 second timout for testing purposes, and with the Bubbles.scr. Still will not work with that screen saver, or any other one that came with Windows 7 other than the blank scrnsave.scr one.


Could you upload your screen saver in a ZIP file to see if something may be with it?

 

[Kitti Ritter]

I'm unable to create a zip file of an scr file, the option does not appear in my right click menu. The option does appear in the right click menu for other files. ??? Your uploader does not accept scr files either. Any suggestions?

 

[Brink]

Strange, you should be able to right click on the .scr file and click on Send To and Compressed (zipped) folder. Do you have this option for other files?

 

[Kitti Ritter]

I am able to create a zip file from all files other than scr. There is no zip option under send to. The zip option is at the top of the right click menu, directly under Open.

I created a folder and put a copy of the screensaver in it and was able to then create a zip file. Hope it works for you this way.

 

[Brink]

Well, the screen saver works normally, but still will not run at log on for me.

 

[Kitti Ritter]

Could the problem have anything to do with the fact that you have the 64 bit version of Windows 7?

Most of what I have learned about computers is by trial and error. So far, I have not managed to screw up anything so bad that it can't be fixed. If that should happen, I do know how to do a clean install, which I have always done about once a year to clean the system anyway. By skipping Vista and going to Windows 7 I'm not happy with it and still attempting to change as much as possible to the way I like it. Since you are the expert, can you tell me why Microsoft does not create an operating system which contains all possible bells and whistles with the option to turn each of them on or off?

 

[Brink]

Could be a 64-bit issue.

Well, that question is for another thread to keep this one topic. While most items can be turned off, some may not be so easy to do.

 

[Kitti Ritter]

Thanks for everything. Hope it helps someone else.

Kitti

 

[henryb]

Windows 7 Blank Screen saver

Can someone tell me how to fix this problem with windows 7 Professional? The screen saver no longer works the way screen savers are supposed to. In selecting blank as the screen saver type (or any other, I would assume), I have to set a wait time period and tick on resume, display logon screen.

Windows then proceeds to wait the number of minutes indicated then display the logon screen.

So if someone interrupts the screen saver by touching the keyboard or mouse before that wait time elapsed, the logon screen would not be displayed. Also, when the minutes indicated elapsed, the logon screen is displayed immediately thereafter.

Screen savers are supposed to run forever until a key is touched or the mouse is pressed and whenever such actions occur, the logon screen should be presented. This is how screen savers used to work in previous versions of windows - suddenly the numskulls effectively remove the very essence of a screen saver.

Can someone help me with getting a screen saver that runs forever and only present the logon screen when interrupted by either pressing a key or the mouse. Windows 7 is worthless as far as this screen saver function is concerned and I cannot find an independent free program that gives me a blank screen, and remains blank until either a key on the keyboard or the mouse is pressed, at which time it should give me a logon screen.

Help!

 

[asteidl]

Woke up this morning, to find my computer had been sitting at the logon screen since at least 2am (automatic updates time for my pc). Was disappointed to see no screensaver, as I usually never do any unattended updates, so I never have to leave my computer at the logon screen. Ever. However, for my LCD TV's sake, I appreciate this tut to no end! Thanks again, Brink, for making things easy, and helping keep my LCD safe.


EDIT: @HenryB: Not sure if you found a solution yet, but try this: