How to Get Screensaver on Both Monitors in Windows 11
Getting that screensaver to show up on both monitors in Windows 11? Yeah, it can be a bit of a puzzle. But don’t worry, it’s more about how you set up your displays than any software magic. So, first off, make sure your displays are set to extend—this is done in Display Settings > Multiple displays and selecting Extend these displays. Get this right, and Windows usually takes care of the rest.
Here’s the deal: if you’ve set it to duplicate (which you probably haven’t), the screensaver won’t span both screens properly. It’ll just mirror on each monitor, which is… not the point, right?
Jump into Display Settings
Kick things off by opening the Start menu and typing “Display Settings.” From there, click on it, or just hit Settings > System > Display. A quick way is to press Windows key + P, then select Extend. Make sure each monitor is lined up correctly in the Display Settings. You can drag them around if they’re not in the right order. Don’t forget to make your main display active by clicking Make this my main display if you haven’t already.
Adjust Multiple Display Settings
Next, scroll down to the “Multiple displays” section. Select Extend these displays. This is crucial; without it, Windows treats the monitors like they’re solo artists, which is kind of annoying. Flip between Duplicated and Extend with Windows key + P if the screensaver isn’t working right—seriously, sometimes this setting is the culprit for weird display behavior.
Open Up Screensaver Settings
Pop back to the Start menu and search for “Change screen saver.” This brings up the old-school Screen Saver Settings. Alternatively, head over to Control Panel > Appearance and Personalization > Personalization > Screen Saver. You can even right-click on the desktop, select Personalize, go to Lock Screen, and click on Screen Saver Settings at the bottom. And if you wanna get fancy, running rundll32.exe user32.dll,LockWorkStation can manually lock your screen but won’t directly open settings.
Select Your Screensaver
In that settings window, choose your screensaver—don’t just pick any random one. Look for ones that actually work across multiple monitors, like Bubbles or Photos. Click Settings if it’s available to see if you can tweak options for the screensaver. Click Apply after you pick one. Keep in mind that some (like 3D Text) are kind of rude and only want to show up on your main display.
Preview and Adjust
Hit Preview to see if it all plays nice. Fingers crossed! If not, go back and double-check those extension settings. Forcing the screensaver to kick in can also be a good test—just try running the screensaver manually. You might dabble with resolution settings too; sometimes, it just needs a tweak. And don’t forget the power settings: head into Settings > System > Power & battery to adjust how long till the screensaver kicks in.
So now you’re on the right track for a slick multi-monitor screensaver experience. Just a tip: keep your graphics drivers updated—either through Device Manager or using your manufacturer’s tools like GeForce Experience or Intel Driver & Support Assistant. Having the latest drivers means less chance for glitches and better visuals. Also, check out High DPI scaling settings if things don’t look sharp.
Tips to Make It Even Easier
Want things to run smoother? Make sure those graphics drivers are current. Look into enabling Dynamic Resolution or Graphics settings under Settings > System > Display > Graphics. Using customizable screensavers is fun too—tools like Wallpaper Engine could give you more flexibility. When testing screensavers, check the Screen Saver Settings for behavior in the Preview option. For advanced tweaks, editing the configuration files can yield great results, and they’re usually in:
C:\Windows\System32\ssText3d.scrfor defaults- Custom screensavers might be lurking in
C:\Program Files\YourApp\orC:\Program Files (x86)\YourApp\
FAQs About Dual-Monitor Screensavers
Can I set different screensavers for each monitor?
Nope! Windows 11 doesn’t let you do that out of the box. For that kind of control, you might need third-party tools like DisplayFusion.
Why won’t my screensaver stretch across both monitors?
This often happens when the display setting is still on “Duplicate these displays” or something similar. Make sure Extend these displays is the selected mode (Windows key + P > Extend), and check if your screensaver actually supports multiple monitors—some older ones just don’t.
What if my screensaver looks pixelated?
That usually means a mismatch in resolution. Make sure that your screensaver is meant for high DPI and that your screen resolution matches its native resolution (check this in Display Settings). Also, you can tweak ClearType settings for better clarity under Control Panel > Appearance and Personalization > Display > Adjust ClearType text.
How do I turn off the screensaver?
Simple! Just go back to Screen Saver Settings, select None, and click Apply. If you’re up for it, you can even go into the registry to disable it, but tread carefully if you go that route!
Can I create my own screensaver?
Absolutely! You can craft custom screensavers with tools like Visual Studio or some third-party creators. Just ensure you drop your new screensaver files in C:\Windows\System32\ to get Windows to recognize them.
So there it is—a straightforward guide to getting that screensaver to look good on both monitors. Setting this up isn’t as annoying as it seems, especially once you get the hang of settings and drivers. A little trial and error, and those monitors will be flashing your favorite screensaver in no time. Happy tweaking!