September 9, 2024

How to Set Up and Customize a Screensaver on Raspberry Pi

Ben

@benjislab

Screensavers are a great way to add a personalized touch to your Raspberry Pi, while also protecting your display from burn-in. Whether you want to use a traditional screensaver, show off a slideshow of your favorite images, or even display real-time system stats, setting up a screensaver on your Raspberry Pi is easy. This guide will walk you through the steps to install and customize a screensaver on your Raspberry Pi.

Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have the following:

Raspberry Pi with Raspberry Pi OS installed
Monitor or display connected to your Raspberry Pi
Access to the Raspberry Pi via SSH or connected peripherals

Step 1: Install xscreensaver

The most popular tool for setting up and managing screensavers on Linux, including Raspberry Pi OS, is xscreensaver. It comes with a wide variety of screensavers and is highly customizable.

Update your system: Open a terminal on your Raspberry Pi or SSH into it, then update your package list:
```
sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade -y
```
Install xscreensaver: Install the xscreensaver package along with some optional extras:
```
sudo apt install xscreensaver xscreensaver-data-extra xscreensaver-gl-extra -y
```
Launch xscreensaver: After installation, you can launch the xscreensaver configuration tool:
```
xscreensaver
```
This will open the xscreensaver settings window, where you can configure various screensaver options.

Step 2: Set xscreensaver to Start on Boot

To ensure that your screensaver starts automatically when your Raspberry Pi boots up, you need to add xscreensaver to your startup applications.

Open the autostart file: Edit the lxsession autostart file:
```
nano ~/.config/lxsession/LXDE-pi/autostart
```
Add xscreensaver to the autostart file: Add the following line to the end of the file:
```
@xscreensaver -no-splash
```
Save and exit: Save the changes and exit the text editor. Now, xscreensaver will start automatically each time you boot your Raspberry Pi.

Step 3: Configure Screensaver Preferences

Once xscreensaver is installed and set to start on boot, you can customize it to suit your preferences.

Open the xscreensaver settings: Open the xscreensaver settings window by running the following command:
```
xscreensaver
```
Choose a screensaver:
- In the settings window, you'll see a list of available screensavers on the left.
- Select a screensaver from the list to see a preview in the window on the right.
Set the screensaver timeout:
- Adjust the "Blank After" slider to set the amount of time your Raspberry Pi should wait before activating the screensaver.
- You can also set how long the screensaver should run before the screen is locked or powered down.
Configure specific screensaver settings:
- For each screensaver, you can click the "Settings" button to adjust specific parameters, such as speed, color, and more.
Save your settings: After configuring your screensaver preferences, click "OK" to save your settings.

Step 4: Using Images as a Screensaver

If you prefer to use a slideshow of images as your screensaver, xscreensaver includes a "GLSlideshow" option that displays images from a specified directory.

Select GLSlideshow: In the xscreensaver settings window, select "GLSlideshow" from the list of screensavers.
Set the image directory:
- Click "Settings" to open the configuration options for GLSlideshow.
- Set the "Image Directory" to the folder containing the images you want to use in the slideshow.
- You can also adjust other settings like the duration each image is displayed and the transition effects.
Save and preview: After configuring the slideshow settings, save your changes and preview the screensaver to ensure it works as expected.

Step 5: Troubleshooting and Tips

Screen Tearing: If you experience screen tearing with some screensavers, try adjusting the vsync settings in the screensaver’s configuration or switch to a different screensaver.
Monitor Power Saving: You can also configure xscreensaver to turn off your monitor after a period of inactivity by adjusting the power management settings within the tool.
Lock Screen: If you want your Raspberry Pi to require a password after the screensaver, make sure the "Lock Screen" option is enabled in the xscreensaver settings.

Conclusion

Setting up and customizing a screensaver on your Raspberry Pi using xscreensaver is a great way to add both functionality and personalization to your device. Whether you're using your Raspberry Pi as a media center, a desktop replacement, or for digital signage, having a screensaver helps protect your display and adds a dynamic element to your setup. Follow the steps outlined in this guide to get your screensaver up and running in no time.