Windows 11 Screensaver / Display Sleep functions not working

Hi MattS_871,

Thanks for reaching out here at Microsoft Community.

It sounds like your Windows 11 Screensaver / Display Sleep functions not working. The following steps could be applied to troubleshoot:

1. Confirm the power option has been set to allow the computer to sleep.

2. Hold down Windows + R to launch RUN > Type: regedit and hit Enter > locate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\desktop\ScreenSaveActive, and create this string if there is no ScreenSaveActive. > Right click on it, and edit the key valule to 1.
3. Hold down Windows+X to run Windows PowerShell (Administrator), and execute the following commands respectively in sequence:

sfc /SCANNOW

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth

DISM /Online /Cleanup-image /RestoreHealth

Allow the process to finish and see if it solves any issues. Restart the device afterward.

(Ａpply this method several times to see the effect.)　

4. If the problem is still there, you could consider to perform an in-place update on your system to upgrade/repair the system (this is a non-destructive repair of the system, which is different from reinstalling the system. Normally, installed applications remain the same and update the system to the latest version.)
5. Click hereto download the installation media.

2. After the creation tool is created, go to Settings > Windows Update, and select Check for updates. (it is recommended to back up important data to avoid data loss)

Note:

• Your system disk may require 15-20G of free space (similar to upgrading to Windows 10)
• If the system is installed in an unsupported directory or under other abnormal conditions, it may not be able to be repaired without damage.

 Let us know if you need any further assistance, we will be glad to assist you. Wishing you a happy new year!

Best Regards,

Lynn Sun | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

* Beware of scammers posting fake support numbers here.

* Kindly Mark and Vote this reply if it helps, as it will be beneficial to more community members reading here.

So I ran all of the steps you recommended.

The DISM commands once again fixed the issue, and it was working immediately after reboot. Then I rebooted again and it still worked immediately after the reboot. Then after I moved the mouse a few minutes later to discard the screensaver it never came back on again...??? I checked to make sure it was still enabled and it was but no screensaver returned. Very strange, why would it work one minute and not the next? Could a problem be loading that is interfering with it?

Then I ran the final steps you mentioned for installation media and updated windows. I never ran the installation tool though, was I supposed to run that off a USB and use the repair feature?

Please see the other post, I wrote as L8NightAssassin (didn't realize I was under my other account). Is there any more assistance you can provide?

Hi MattS_871,

Here is the detailed steps for performing an in-place update on your Windows 11 (It is recommended to back up important data to avoid data loss):

Go to Windows 11 website: https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/software-download/windows11

Under Create Windows 11 Installation Media click Download Now or simply click this link to download the Media creation tool: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2156295

Run the media creation tool. You'll need to be an administrator to run this tool.

1. If you agree to the license terms, select Accept.
2. Under Select language and edition make sure to check Use the recommended options for this PC.
3. Select which media you want to use: Select ISO file then save the ISO file to your PC specifically on your desktop.
4. Once done downloading the ISO, kindly right-click on ISO then click Mount> then Click Setup.exe
5. You may be prompted by User Account Control. Click on Yesif so
6. In the Install Windows 11 dialog, click Next
7. Setup will check your PC and show a license agreement. Click on Acceptin the license terms dialog.
8. Wait for the setup program to check for the available free space.
9. On the Ready to install page, make sure Keep personal files and apps have been checked.
10. Then click Install and just follow the prompt.
11. Windows 11 will restart your device several times, and lead you to the lock screen. Depending on the options you set, it will keep all your files, apps, and user accounts.

Feel free to let me know if any update.

I followed the in-place update process. Just like with the DISM commands it worked initially upon the first boot, and now it's no longer working again.