How to Get Screensaver on Both Monitors in Windows 11
Trying to get that screensaver to kick in on both screens in Windows 11? No worries, it’s usually just a matter of how your displays are set up. It’s not some fancy software trick, more about making sure your displays are extended properly. First up, head to Display Settings > Multiple displays and select Extend these displays. Do that, and Windows tends to sort the rest for you.
Here’s the thing: if you’ve accidentally got it set to duplicate (which most folks don’t), the screensaver won’t span both screens properly. It’ll just mirror on each monitor, which isn’t what you’re after, right?
Jump into Display Settings
Start by opening the Start menu and typing “Display Settings.” Click on it, or just go to Settings > System > Display. You can also quickly press Windows key + P, then pick Extend. Make sure your monitors are arranged correctly in Display Settings; you can drag and drop them if they’re out of order. And don’t forget to set your main display by clicking Make this my main display.
Adjust Multiple Display Options
Scroll down to the “Multiple displays” section and choose Extend these displays. This is a must-do, otherwise Windows treats the monitors like separate plain old screens. Switch between Duplicated and Extend with Windows key + P if the screensaver’s acting up—that hotkey often causes display issues if not set right.
Open Up Screensaver Settings
Go back to the Start menu and search for “Change screen saver.” That’ll bring up the old-school Screen Saver Settings. Alternatively, visit Control Panel > Appearance and Personalization > Personalization > Screen Saver. You can also right-click your desktop, choose Personalize, then go to Lock Screen and click on Screen Saver Settings at the bottom. If you wanna get fancy, running rundll32.exe user32.dll,LockWorkStation
will lock your PC manually, but it doesn’t open screen saver settings directly.
Select Your Screensaver
In that window, pick your screensaver—try not to go for anything too random. Look for ones that work well across multiple monitors, like Bubbles or Photos. If options are available, hit Settings to tweak it. After picking one, click Apply. Just a heads up: some screensavers—like 3D Text—are kinda stubborn and only show on your main screen.
Preview and Fine-tune
Hit Preview to see if all looks good. Fingers crossed! If not, double-check your display extension settings. You can also test the screensaver manually to make sure it’s working. Sometimes, a resolution tweak helps, or adjusting power settings in Settings > System > Power & battery. Making these changes can help the screensaver run smoothly.
Now you’re well on your way to having a decent multi-monitor screensaver setup. One tip: keep your graphics drivers up to date—either through Device Manager or using manufacturer tools like GeForce Experience or Intel Driver & Support Assistant. Updated drivers mean fewer glitches and sharper visuals. If things still look weird, check your High DPI scaling settings—it can make a difference.
Tips for an Easier Time
For smoother sailing, make sure your graphics drivers are current. You might also try enabling Dynamic Resolution or tweak Graphics in Settings > System > Display > Graphics. Fancying a more custom screensaver? Tools like Wallpaper Engine can give you more options. When testing, always check the behaviour in Screen Saver Settings with the Preview button. For more advanced setup, you might edit config files, usually found in:
C:\Windows\System32\ssText3d.scr
for the default- Or inside
C:\Program Files\YourApp\
orC:\Program Files (x86)\YourApp\
for custom ones
FAQs About Dual Monitors and Screensavers
Can I set different screensavers for each monitor?
Nah, Windows 11 doesn’t let you do that by default. For that kind of control, you’d need third-party apps like DisplayFusion.
Why won’t my screensaver stretch across both screens?
This usually happens when your display is still on “Duplicate these displays.” Make sure you’ve set Extend these displays (Windows key + P > Extend), and check if your screensaver supports multiple monitors—some older ones don’t.
My screensaver looks a bit pixelated, what’s up?
This could be a resolution mismatch. Check that your screensaver supports high DPI and your display resolution is set to the native one in Display Settings. Also, tweak ClearType settings under Control Panel > Appearance and Personalization > Display > Adjust ClearType text for better clarity.
How do I turn the screensaver off?
Easy peasy. Just go back into Screen Saver Settings, choose None, and hit Apply. If you’re game, you can also edit the registry to disable it altogether, but best to be careful with that.
Can I create my own screensaver?
You bet! Tools like Visual Studio or third-party apps let you build your own. Just save your screensaver file into C:\Windows\System32\
so Windows can use it.
And that’s about it—a quick and easy guide to getting your screensaver working nicely on both monitors. It’s not too tricky once you get the hang of the settings and drivers. A bit of trial and error, and you’ll have your screensaver flashing away in no time. Cheers and happy tweaking!