Open Settings and Find the Display Options

To change your iPad screensaver, start by opening the Settings app from your home screen. Tap the gear icon, then scroll down and tap Display & Brightness. This is where iPad keeps all the controls for how your screen looks when you're not using it.

Once you're in Display & Brightness, look for the option labeled Lock Screen. This controls what appears on your screen when it's locked — including the screensaver that shows while your iPad sits idle. Tap it to open the lock screen settings.

Key Takeaways

  • The screensaver settings are in Settings > Display & Brightness > Lock Screen on all current iPad models.
  • You can choose from built-in options like Astronomy, Kaleidoscope, or Floating, or use a photo from your library.
  • The screensaver appears after your screen locks, which happens automatically after a time you set in Auto-Lock.
  • You can customize colors, add widgets to your lock screen, and set different screensavers for different times of day.
  • If you don't see Lock Screen in Display & Brightness, update your iPad to the latest version of iPadOS.

Choose a Built-In Screensaver Style

In the Lock Screen menu, you'll see a row of thumbnail images at the top showing the screensaver options available to you. These include Astronomy (a moving view of planets and stars), Kaleidoscope (colorful geometric patterns), Floating (shapes that drift across the screen), Gradient (smooth color transitions), and Color (a solid color that changes subtly). Tap any thumbnail to preview it in full screen.

Once you've chosen one you like, tap Add at the bottom right. The screensaver is now set as your lock screen. If you want to customize it further — for example, to change the color of a Kaleidoscope pattern or the speed of Floating shapes — tap Customize before tapping Add.

Use a Photo as Your Screensaver Instead

If you'd rather use a photo from your library as your screensaver, tap the + button in the Lock Screen menu and select Photos. Choose an album or select Recent to browse your most recent pictures. Tap the photo you want, then tap Add.

When you use a photo, iPad will automatically adjust how it displays based on the image — for example, dimming the brightness so the photo doesn't burn in your screen. You can also choose to show the date and time over the photo, or hide them entirely, by tapping Customize before you confirm.

Adjust When Your Screensaver Appears

Your screensaver only shows up after your iPad's screen locks. To control how long your iPad waits before locking, go back to Settings > Display & Brightness and tap Auto-Lock. Choose a time — options range from 30 seconds to 15 minutes, or Never if you want to lock it manually.

If you set Auto-Lock to Never, your screensaver will only appear when you manually lock the screen by pressing the top button (or the button combination for your model). For most people, setting Auto-Lock to 2 or 5 minutes strikes a balance between security and convenience.

Set Different Screensavers for Different Times

iPadOS allows you to create a Focus mode that shows a different lock screen and screensaver at different times of day. For example, you might want a calm Astronomy screensaver during work hours and a bright Gradient during the evening. To set this up, go to Settings > Focus and create a new Focus (like "Work" or "Evening").

Inside each Focus, tap Lock Screen and choose which screensaver you want to appear when that Focus is active. Then set a schedule for when that Focus turns on automatically. Your iPad will switch screensavers at the times you've set without you having to do anything.

Troubleshoot If Your Screensaver Won't Change

If you've followed these steps and your screensaver still isn't changing, the most common cause is that your iPad's software is out of date. Go to Settings > General > Software Update and install any available updates. Screensaver options have expanded in recent versions of iPadOS, so an older version may not show all the choices.

If you still don't see the Lock Screen option in Display & Brightness, restart your iPad by holding down the top button and the volume down button together until you see the power-off slider. Slide to power off, wait 10 seconds, then hold the top button again until the Apple logo appears. This often fixes display settings that aren't responding.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a video as my screensaver?

iPad screensavers are still images or animated patterns — you cannot use video files. However, you can use a photo from your library, and some built-in options like Floating and Kaleidoscope create the effect of movement through animation.

Why does my screensaver look different on my lock screen than in the preview?

iPad automatically adjusts brightness and contrast based on your screen's current settings and the time of day. If you're previewing in a bright room and then look at it in dim light, it will appear darker. This is normal and helps protect your screen from burn-in.

Does the screensaver use battery power?

Once your screen locks, it goes to sleep and uses very little power regardless of which screensaver is set. The screensaver itself does not drain your battery noticeably — the lock itself is what saves power by turning off the display.

Can I set a screensaver that only appears when my iPad is charging?

iPad does not have a built-in option to show a different screensaver only while charging. However, you can use Focus modes to switch screensavers at specific times, which is the closest alternative.

What if I want to go back to the default screensaver?

Open Settings > Display & Brightness > Lock Screen, tap the Astronomy thumbnail (the default option), and tap Add. This will reset your lock screen to the standard Astronomy screensaver that comes with iPadOS.