How to Find a Screensaver in Windows

If you can't find that screensaver you downloaded, you might not have installed it yet.

You can build them, download them and even receive them from friends. You will find them installed on your computer when you first open the box. Screensavers have become a part of our shared computing experience and have evolved over the years to high degrees of complexity and graphic excellence. Windows usually stores screensavers in its system file. You can find them by viewing your Windows settings. Screensaver files that you haven't installed might also exist on your hard drive. Find those by searching for them.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Find Installed Screensavers

1. Right-click the Windows desktop and select "personalization". If you are using XP, click "Properties" instead. This will open a window showing customizable Windows settings.

2. Click "Screen Saver" to open the screen saver properties window.

3. Click the drop-down arrow to view the screensavers installed on your computer.

Find Other Screensaver Files

1. Click the "Start" menu to open it.

2. Type "*.scr" (without quotes) in the search box. Windows will display a list of files with the "scr" file extension.

3. Double-click a file if you want to use it as a screensaver. Windows will install it. The screensaver will appear in the settings window along with the other screensavers.

Tips & Warnings

• Install screensavers from sources that you trust. Microsoft reports that Trojans can hide inside a screensaver file and infect your computer.

References

• Microsoft: Windows XP: Instantly Activate a Screen Saver
• Filesuffix: Detailed Information About the .scr File
• Microsoft: Understanding Security and Safe Computing

Resources

• Microsoft: Set Up Your Screen Saver
• Microsoft: Screensaver Tip Reduces CPU Cycle Waste