The fastest way to change your Chromebook screensaver

Open Settings on your Chromebook by clicking the time in the bottom right corner, then selecting the gear icon. From there, go to Device in the left menu, then Screen lock and sign-in. Under the "Show screensaver" section, you'll see a dropdown menu where you can pick from Google's built-in options: Aerial, Backdrops, Google Photos, or Slideshow. Select whichever one appeals to you, and it will take effect the next time your screen locks.

If you want to use photos from your own Google Photos library, choose the Google Photos option. If you'd rather cycle through a folder of images on your Chromebook, pick Slideshow and then select which folder to pull from. The screensaver will appear whenever your Chromebook locks due to inactivity—usually after a few minutes of no keyboard or trackpad use.

Key Takeaways

  • Access screensaver settings through Settings > Device > Screen lock and sign-in, not through a separate screensaver menu.
  • Chromebooks offer four built-in screensaver types: Aerial, Backdrops, Google Photos, and Slideshow.
  • Google Photos pulls images directly from your Google account, while Slideshow uses folders stored on your Chromebook itself.
  • Your screensaver appears only when the screen locks, which happens after your Chromebook detects no activity for a set time.

Understanding Chromebook screensaver options

Aerial shows moving video footage of landscapes and natural scenes—think drone footage of mountains and coastlines. It's visually striking but doesn't let you customize what you see. Backdrops displays static images from Google's collection, organized by theme (nature, cities, abstract, and so on). You can browse and pick a specific backdrop if one catches your eye.

Google Photos pulls from your Google Photos library and cycles through images you've uploaded or backed up to your account. This is useful if you want to see your own pictures on the screensaver. Slideshow works similarly but uses folders stored directly on your Chromebook—useful if you have images saved locally that you don't want to upload to Google Photos first.

How to set up Google Photos as your screensaver

If you choose the Google Photos option, your Chromebook will automatically pull from your entire Google Photos library. You don't need to do anything else—it will start showing random images from your account as soon as you lock the screen. If you want to limit which photos appear, you can create an album in Google Photos and then return to your Chromebook settings to select that specific album instead of your entire library.

To select a specific album, go back to Settings > Device > Screen lock and sign-in, find the Google Photos option, and look for a link or button that lets you choose which album to display. Not all Chromebook models show this option, so if you don't see it, your version may only support showing your full library.

How to set up Slideshow with local folders

The Slideshow option lets you pick a folder on your Chromebook and cycle through the images inside it. Go to Settings > Device > Screen lock and sign-in, select Slideshow, and then click the folder icon or "Choose folder" button. Navigate to the folder containing your images and select it. Your screensaver will now display those images in order whenever your screen locks.

This approach works well if you have a dedicated folder for screensaver images or if you prefer not to use Google Photos. The images will appear in the order they're stored in the folder, and the slideshow will loop back to the beginning once it reaches the last image.

Adjusting when your screensaver appears

Your screensaver only shows up when your screen locks, not when the screen straightforward turns off due to inactivity. To control when locking happens, go to Settings > Device > Screen lock and sign-in and look for the "Lock screen" or "Show lock screen" option. You can set it to lock after a certain amount of idle time—typically 30 seconds, 1 minute, 5 minutes, or longer.

If you want your screensaver to appear more often, set a shorter lock time. If you find it annoying, increase the idle time before locking. Keep in mind that locking your screen also requires you to enter your password or PIN to unlock it, so shorter lock times mean more frequent password entry.

Troubleshooting screensaver problems

If your screensaver isn't showing up, first check that you've actually enabled it in Settings > Device > Screen lock and sign-in. Look for a toggle or checkbox next to "Show screensaver" and make sure it's turned on. If it's already on, try restarting your Chromebook—sometimes settings don't take effect until after a reboot.

If you're using Google Photos and the images aren't loading, make sure you're signed into your Google account and that your Google Photos library actually contains images. If you're using Slideshow, verify that the folder you selected contains image files in a standard format (JPG, PNG, GIF, and WebP all work). If the folder is empty or contains only unsupported file types, the screensaver will have nothing to display.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my own images as a screensaver without uploading them to Google Photos?

Yes. Use the Slideshow option and select a folder on your Chromebook that contains your images. The screensaver will cycle through those local files without needing to upload anything to Google Photos first.

What image formats work with the Chromebook screensaver?

JPG, PNG, GIF, and WebP files all work. If you're using Slideshow with local folders, make sure your image files are in one of these formats. Google Photos handles most common formats automatically.

Does the screensaver drain my battery?

Screensavers use very little power on modern Chromebooks. If battery life is a concern, turning off the screen entirely (rather than showing a screensaver) saves more energy, but the difference is usually small.

Can I set different screensavers for different user accounts on the same Chromebook?

Yes. Each user account has its own Settings, so you can log in as a different user and set a different screensaver in that account's settings. The screensaver choice is tied to the account, not the device.

Why does my screensaver keep showing the same image?

If you're using Google Photos and it seems stuck on one image, try signing out and back into your Google account in Settings. If you're using Slideshow, check that your folder contains multiple images and that they're in a supported format.