How to Change the Screensaver in Ubuntu

Ubuntu is a free Linux operating system that offers security, stability and ease of use. Many users across the globe have switched to Ubuntu causing it to be the fastest growing version of Linux. One of the outstanding features of Ubuntu is the amount of control users have over their operating system. For example, changing the screensaver in Ubuntu is very easy. A screensaver is a program that takes over the display screen if there are no keystrokes or mouse movements for a certain period of time. With only a few clicks you can change the screensaver to suit your computing and viewing preferences.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Ubuntu

Instructions

1. Click the "Main Menu" icon which is located on the left side of the panel. The default Ubuntu panel is located at the top of the screen. This will open a list of programs and services that are available on your computer.

2. Click "System" which is located near the bottom of the list. Now click "Preferences" and then "Screensaver." This will open the Screensaver Preferences window.

3. Change the screensaver. Use the selection panel on the left to scroll and select a screensaver. After you have selected a screensaver, it will be previewed in the panel at the right of the window.

4. Preview the screensaver. Click the "Preview" button to see a fullscreen version of the screensaver. To exit from the fullscreen version, click the "Leave Fullscreen" button at the top-right of the preview window.

5. Set the screensaver delay. Screensaver delay is the time between your last keystroke or mouse movement and when the screensaver is activated. Drag the "Regard the computer as idle after:" bar to the desired time length.

6. Activate the screensaver. To activate the screensaver check the "Activate screensaver if computer is idle" box. If this box is unchecked the screensaver will not appear when your computer is inactive.

7. Lock the screensaver. If you check the "Lock screen when screensaver is active" box you will need to enter your account password when you return to your computer. This is a great security feature. Leave the box unchecked if you do not want the screensaver to lock the screen.

8. Save your choices. After you have made your selections click the "Close" button at the bottom of the window to finalize your choices.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid choosing screensavers that require high resolution graphics cards if you have an older machine or a low amount of memory. If the screensaver seems choppy in the preview, don't use it. Screensavers can cause your system to hang if you don't have enough memory to support it.

Resources

• Ubuntu