How to set the Screen Saver Grace Period for Windows 8?

I manually added the ScreenSaverGracePeriod (REG_DWORD) value in seconds to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon registry key and it didn't enable the screen saver grace period in Windows 8 (64-bit consumer preview). Has this functionality been removed, or is there a different way of doing this?

Jim McKeeth

Posted 2012-04-28T17:43:47.240

Reputation: 4 907

Answers

I have added ScreenSaverGracePeriod as a REG_SZ (string value) as I remember reading something about a controversy of REG_DWORD v REG_SZ in Windows 7.

It worked for me in Windows 8 consumer. I used ScreenSaverGracePeriod values such as 5 and 60, and I did not even have to sign out for it to give me the grace period. The time before the screen actually locked when once the screen saver activated.

Guy Thomas

Posted 2012-04-28T17:43:47.240

Reputation: 3 160

Worked once I changed it to a REG_SZ and removed the trailing space from the value name. Thanks! – Jim McKeeth – 2012-05-02T20:34:12.553

An integer stored as a string? Well that makes sense! Also interesting, according to MS KB221784, it value had to be REG_SZ in NT4 and 2000, but REG_DWORD in XP and 2003. And now it seems, we're back to REG_SZ. WHY?

– abstrask – 2014-04-22T07:38:00.720

I gave registry settings a try, but no luck, I think because of domain caveats. Here's a workaround that works for me.

Go to Power Options
Click “Change plan settings” for your current plan
Click “Change advanced power settings”
Expand the Display item
Change “Dim display after” to a number that you’re happy with
Change “Turn off display after” to one minute more than the dim value that you just set
Change “Dimmed display brightness” to 10% (or a value that you’re happy with)

I changed mine only for “Plugged in” but I may change it in “On battery” as well.

GaTechThomas

Posted 2012-04-28T17:43:47.240

Reputation: 1 734