Unable to change screen saver settings? All screen saver options are greyed out or disabled? Low noise preamp using tlo71. This problem is caused by a group policy setting that got screen saver disabled. In this tutorial we’ll show you 2 simple ways to fix this problem in Windows 10, 8 and 7.
Method 1: Fix Screen Saver Settings Greyed out Using Group Policy
- Press the Windows key + R to open the Run box. Type gpedit.msc and press Enter.
- In the left pane of Local Group Policy Editor, navigate to:
User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel > Personalization
- In the right pane, locate the following two policies:
- Enable screen saver
- Password protect the screen saver
- Double-click on each policy to modify, set both of them to Not Configured. Click Apply and then OK.
- Reboot your computer and you should be able to change the screen saver settings.
Method 2: Fix Screen Saver Settings Greyed out Using Registry Hack
- Press the Windows key + R to open the Run box. Type regedit and press Enter.
- In the left pane of Registry Editor, navigate to the following key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwarePoliciesMicrosoftWindowsControl PanelDesktop
- Delete both ScreenSaveActive and ScreenSaverIsSecure in the right pane. Reboot your computer and the screen saver settings should be editable from now on.
Related posts:
How to Enable or Disable Changing Screen Saver in Windows
A screen saver is a moving picture or pattern that displays on the screen(s) of your PC after you have not been active on the PC for specified period of time to wait. Screen savers were originally used to save older, monochromatic monitors from damage, but now they are mainly a way to personalize your PC or enhance its security by offering password protection.
Screen Saver Settings allows users to turn on or off screen saver and password protection on resume in Windows.
This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable changing screen saver for specific or all users in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.
You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable changing screen saver.
- Option One: Enable or Disable Changing Screen Saver in Local Group Policy Editor
- Option Two: Enable or Disable Changing Screen Saver for All Users using a REG file
EXAMPLE: Changing screen saver enabled and disabled
Enable or Disable Changing Screen Saver in Local Group Policy Editor
In Windows 7, the Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Professional, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions.
In Windows 8, the Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Pro and Enterprise editions.
In Windows 10, the Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.
All editions can use Option Two.
1. Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.
2. In the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor, click/tap on to expand User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Control Panel, and Personalization. (see screenshot below)
3.
In the right pane of Personalization, double click/tap on the Prevent changing screen saver policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)
4. Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you would like to do.
5. To Enable Changing Screen Saver
A) Select (dot) either Not Configured or Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)
Not Configured is the default setting.
A) Select (dot) Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)
Group Policy Screensaver Settings For Android
7. When finished, you can close Local Group Policy Editor if you like.
Enable or Disable Changing Screen Saver for All Users using a REG file
The downloadable .reg files below will add and modify the DWORD value in the registry keys below.
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesSystem
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesSystem
NoDispScrSavPage DWORD
(delete) = Enable
1 = Disable
1. Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.
This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Enable_changing_screen_saver.reg
3. To Disable Changing Screen Saver for All Users
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Disable_changing_screen_saver.reg
4. Save the .reg file to your desktop.
5. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
6. When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
7. You could now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn
Unable to change screen saver settings? All screen saver options are greyed out or disabled? This problem is caused by a group policy setting that got screen saver disabled. In this tutorial we’ll show you 2 simple ways to fix this problem in Windows 10, 8 and 7.
Method 1: Fix Screen Saver Settings Greyed out Using Group Policy
- Press the Windows key + R to open the Run box. Type gpedit.msc and press Enter.
- In the left pane of Local Group Policy Editor, navigate to:
User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel > Personalization
- In the right pane, locate the following two policies:
- Enable screen saver
- Password protect the screen saver
- Double-click on each policy to modify, set both of them to Not Configured. Click Apply and then OK.
- Reboot your computer and you should be able to change the screen saver settings.
Method 2: Fix Screen Saver Settings Greyed out Using Registry Hack
- Press the Windows key + R to open the Run box. Type regedit and press Enter.
- In the left pane of Registry Editor, navigate to the following key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwarePoliciesMicrosoftWindowsControl PanelDesktop
- Delete both ScreenSaveActive and ScreenSaverIsSecure in the right pane. Reboot your computer and the screen saver settings should be editable from now on.
Related posts:
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Applies to
- Windows 10
Windows 10 has a brand new Start experience. As a result, there are changes to the Group Policy settings that you can use to manage Start. Some policy settings are new or changed, and some old Start policy settings still apply. Other Start policy settings no longer apply and are deprecated.
Start policy settings supported for Windows 10 Pro, Windows 10 Enterprise, and Windows 10 Education
These policy settings are available in Administrative TemplatesStart Menu and Taskbar under User Configuration.
Policy | Notes |
---|---|
Clear history of recently opened documents on exit | Documents that the user opens are tracked during the session. When the user signs off, the history of opened documents is deleted. |
Do not allow pinning items in Jump Lists | Jump Lists are lists of recently opened items, such as files, folders, or websites, organized by the program that you use to open them. This policy prevents users from pinning items to any Jump List. |
Do not display or track items in Jump Lists from remote locations | When this policy is applied, only items local on the computer are shown in Jump Lists. |
Do not keep history of recently opened documents | Documents that the user opens are not tracked during the session. |
Prevent changes to Taskbar and Start Menu Settings | In Windows 10, this disables all of the settings in Settings > Personalization > Start as well as the options in dialog available via right-click Taskbar > Properties |
Prevent users from customizing their Start Screen | Use this policy in conjunction with a customized Start layout to prevent users from changing it |
Prevent users from uninstalling applications from Start | In Windows 10, this removes the uninstall button in the context menu. It does not prevent users from uninstalling the app through other entry points (e.g. PowerShell) |
Remove All Programs list from the Start menu | In Windows 10, this removes the All apps button. |
Remove and prevent access to the Shut Down, Restart, Sleep, and Hibernate commands | This removes the Shut Down, Restart, Sleep, and Hibernate commands from the Start Menu, Start Menu power button, CTRL+ALT+DEL screen, and Alt+F4 Shut Down Windows menu. |
Remove common program groups from Start Menu | As in earlier versions of Windows, this removes apps specified in the All Users profile from Start |
Remove frequent programs list from the Start Menu | In Windows 10, this removes the top left Most used group of apps. |
Remove Logoff on the Start Menu | Logoff has been changed to Sign Out in the user interface, however the functionality is the same. |
Remove pinned programs list from the Start Menu | In Windows 10, this removes the bottom left group of apps (by default, only File Explorer and Settings are pinned). |
Show 'Run as different user' command on Start | This enables the Run as different user option in the right-click menu for apps. |
Start Layout | This applies a specific Start layout, and it also prevents users from changing the layout. This policy can be configured in User Configuration or Computer Configuration. |
Force Start to be either full screen size or menu size | This applies a specific size for Start. |
Deprecated Group Policy settings for Start
The Start policy settings listed below do not work on Windows 10. Most of them were deprecated in Windows 8 however a few more were deprecated in Windows 10. Deprecation in this case means that the policy setting will not work on Windows 10. The “Supported on” text for a policy setting will not list Windows 10. The policy settings are still in the Group Policy Management Console and can be used on the operating systems that they apply to.
Policy | When deprecated |
---|---|
Go to the desktop instead of Start when signing in | Windows 10 |
List desktop apps first in the Apps view | Windows 10 |
Pin Apps to Start when installed (User or Computer) | Windows 10 |
Remove Default Programs link from the Start menu. | Windows 10 |
Remove Documents icon from Start Menu | Windows 10 |
Remove programs on Settings menu | Windows 10 |
Remove Run menu from Start Menu | Windows 10 |
Remove the 'Undock PC' button from the Start Menu | Windows 10 |
Search just apps from the Apps view | Windows 10 |
Show Start on the display the user is using when they press the Windows logo key | Windows 10 |
Show the Apps view automatically when the user goes to Start | Windows 10 |
Add the Run command to the Start Menu | Windows 8 |
Change Start Menu power button | Windows 8 |
Gray unavailable Windows Installer programs Start Menu shortcuts | Windows 8 |
Remove Downloads link from Start Menu | Windows 8 |
Remove Favorites menu from Start Menu | Windows 8 |
Remove Games link from Start Menu | Windows 8 |
Remove Help menu from Start Menu | Windows 8 |
Remove Homegroup link from Start Menu | Windows 8 |
Remove Music icon from Start Menu | Windows 8 |
Remove Network icon from Start Menu | Windows 8 |
Remove Pictures icon from Start Menu | Windows 8 |
Remove Recent Items menu from Start Menu | Windows 8 |
Remove Recorded TV link from Start Menu | Windows 8 |
Remove user folder link from Start Menu | Windows 8 |
Remove Videos link from Start Menu | Windows 8 |