Windows 10: Screen Saver Selection is Grayed Out or Disabled

You cannot select a screen saver in Microsoft Windows 10 because the option to choose it is grayed out or disabled. These steps will usually solve the problem.

1. Hold the Windows Key then press “R” to bring up the Run dialog box.
2. Type “regedit“, then press “Enter“.
3. Navigate to the following location in the registry:
   • HKEY_CURRENT_USER
   • Control Panel
   • Desktop
4. Find the entry that says SCRNSAVE.EXE and delete the key. Also, if you have an entry that says ScreenSaveActive, delete this key as well.

If the above steps don’t work for you, you may also want to try to check the following path for the same registry values specified in Step 4:

• HKEY_USERS
• Control Panel
• Desktop

If you still have problems, it could be caused by a third-party screensaver applications installed on the computer. Check “Control Panel” > “Programs” > “Programs and Features” to see if there are any applications listed that may install a screensaver. If so, you will need to remove it by uninstalling it.

If you still have trouble and you are in a corporate environment, you may want to check with your helpdesk or system admin to see if they have an policies implemented on your computer to prevent Screen Saver selections.