Quick answer: Go to Settings > Personalization > Screen saver to turn it on and choose what shows while your Chromebook is idle: a clock, Google Photos slideshow, or curated art and nature images. It’s separate from your desktop wallpaper.
What the Chromebook Screen Saver Does
ChromeOS shows a screen saver after a period of inactivity, before the screen locks or turns off entirely. Unlike the wallpaper you see on your desktop, the screen saver only appears when the Chromebook is idle — useful as a photo frame, a clock display, or simply to add a bit of personality to an otherwise plain lock experience.
How to Turn On and Customize the Screen Saver
1. Open Screen saver settings
Go to Settings > Personalization > Screen saver. If you don’t see this option, make sure ChromeOS is fully updated (Settings > About ChromeOS > Check for updates).
2. Turn the screen saver on
Toggle Screen saver on. By default, it activates after several minutes of inactivity, before the screen locks.
3. Choose what to display
Pick from the available sources:
- Clock — a large, minimal clock display.
- Google Photos — a slideshow from a specific album in your Google Photos library.
- Art gallery / Earth and space / Feature photos — curated image collections provided by Google, refreshed periodically.
4. Set the idle delay
Choose how long the Chromebook should sit idle before the screen saver kicks in. A shorter delay is useful for shared or public-facing Chromebooks; a longer delay suits a personal device.
5. Preview it instantly
Most versions of the Screen saver settings page include a “Preview” button so you can see exactly how your chosen source will look without waiting for the idle timer.
Screen Saver vs. Wallpaper vs. Lock Screen
These are three separate ChromeOS settings that are easy to mix up: the wallpaper is your active desktop background, the screen saver appears only during idle time before locking, and the lock screen background shows once the device is actually locked. You can set each independently — see our guide on changing your Chromebook wallpaper and theme for the desktop background.
FAQ
Does the screen saver use my Google Photos data or storage?
It streams images from the album you select; photos aren’t downloaded permanently to the Chromebook.
Can I use a screen saver on a shared or school Chromebook?
On managed devices, the option may be locked or hidden by an administrator, especially in school or business fleets managed through the Google Admin console.
Does the screen saver drain the battery faster?
Slightly, since the screen stays on longer than it would if it simply dimmed and locked — a shorter idle delay minimizes the impact.
