Like its predecessors, Windows 11 and Windows 10 also ship with a bunch of screensavers. 3D Text, Blank, Bubbles, Mystify, Photos, and Ribbons are the screensavers offered with Windows 10.
All screensavers offered with Windows 10/10 were part of Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1 as well. That is, Windows 11/10 doesn’t come with new screensavers. Besides that, screensavers are turned off by default in Windows 11/10, and accessing screensaver settings is not a straight-forward task as well.
If you have installed one or more third-party screensavers in Windows 10, you might want to back up screensaver files while reinstalling Windows 11/10.
Where are screensaver files in Windows 11/10?
NOTE: These directions can also be used on Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1 PCs.
Step 1: Open the drive where Windows 11/10 is installed and then navigate to the Windows > System32 folder. That is, for instance, if Windows 11/10 is installed on the “C” drive, then you need to navigate to the C:\Windows\System32 folder.
Step 2: Here, you will find Bubbles.scr, Mystify.scr, Ribbons.scr, ssText3d.scr (3D Text screensaver), and PhotoScreensaver.scr files. You can also use the File Explorer search functionality to find screensaver files quickly.
Most of the third-party screensavers show up in the System32 folder. If you cannot find a third-party or OEM screensaver, search in the Program Files and Program Files (x86) folders by using the screensaver name as the keyword.
Note that you need to configure the File Explorer to show file extensions to view the screensaver file extension. To do that, click the View tab and then select the File name extensions option.
You can double-click on any of them (.scr files) to launch that screensaver. You can also create a desktop shortcut for a screensaver to quickly start a screensaver. To do that, right-click on a screensaver file, click the Send to option, and then click the Desktop (create shortcut) option.
To change screensaver settings, refer to our how to change screensaver settings in Windows 10 guide.
Edward Byam-Cook says
My Microsoft screen shows an amazing picture of desert and an elevated road entering it ending in a circle, where is this and what is it’s purpose.
Diane says
I have tried just about everything. I’d like to know how to get a picture of the European Goldfinch that is my temporary Screensaver on Windows 11. So frustrating!!!!! I was only able to identify the bird with Google Lens.
Paul Reil says
I’m trying to change the file for my photos for the screen saver but I cannot locate the folder for the photos. I created the folder and there are pictures in the folder but when trying to change to thiis folder I cannot locate the folder.
Dick Cooper says
I have a Windows10 screensaver problem. I use my old pictures, shuffled, but the screensaver shows a little icon every time it finds a folder. Can I stop uthis ?
Sharon Lee Artman says
I would like information on each of the screensavers. Where do I find it and can’t some info be placed on the screen with the picture?
Jill Danner says
I also want to know the location of the pictures.
Sharon Davis Roberts says
I would love to know locations of screen savers and, if possible, what animal, flowers, castles, seas, etc. you are showing. Thanks
Phil says
Actually, when the *.scr file is double clicked, windows 10 opens a text file, it does not start the screen saver.
Newbie-wan Kenoobi says
To my thinking, this could have been a very short article with a short table:
WinXP ?
Vista. ?
Win10. ?
Win11. C:\?\Libraries\Pictures\*
But after years of using “Starfield simulation” (which is no longer available) I gave up clicking Settings because there were no options. (Why not gray out the settings box?)
But the path I sought was a SETTING, meaning I could change it!
lawrence olinde says
I have a screen on my comp. a lake with background mountians with a beautful castle could tell me the location of this beautful seen thank you so very much . I would like to visit there there soon so please try to help me.
Patsy m Ryburn says
I would like information on each screensaver as it pops up
Keith Reid says
Hi I am interested in knowing the location of Microsoft screensaver backgrounds. How do I get the information? Why? Some are very, very beautiful pictures.
Thanks.
Reid
Jonathan says
Why does the screen saver not recognize AM vs PM? It is currently 12:45 PM here but the screen saver shows 12:45 AM.
Zaff Chevik says
100% agree with everyone, location on screen savers. soooo frustrating I am made it just blank.
Sarge says
what’s the point of showing these Great pictures if you don’t put in the location of them? i know you guys are a little smarter than that?
Joseph Donoghue says
Often beautiful scenery on the screensaver but is there a way to identify same?
Chargen says
Microsoft would do justice IFF they would hire the person that wrote them XScreensavers