Windows ships with a basic screen saver, but it was never built for large personal archives or true multi-display setups. If you have family photos on an external monitor, a reference wall in the studio, or six screens at a desk, you need something that can span monitors independently and handle tens of thousands of files gracefully.
Memory Screen Saver Plus is a screensaver for Windows and Mac that reads your local folders and rotates images (and optional videos) across connected monitors — with Soft Effects, 29 transitions, resilient playback when files go missing, and zero internet requirement after install. This guide focuses on the Windows setup path.
Who is this for?
- Dual-monitor users who want vacation photos on a second screen while the primary display stays clear.
- Home offices that leave a wall display running family memories during idle time.
- Large archives — the app is designed for collections with 100,000+ photos and videos, not just a single album.
- Privacy-conscious users — nothing is uploaded; media stays on your PC.
Step-by-step setup
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Download and install
Get the latest Windows installer from the download page. The installer is self-contained for Windows 10 (1809+) and later on x64 — no separate .NET Framework or media-player install is required. The build is tested but not Microsoft-signed yet; see the unsigned builds FAQ if SmartScreen appears.
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Add your media folders
Open Settings → Media Files. Drag folders from File Explorer into the list. Toggle Include subfolders if your library is organized in nested directories. Filter by image type (JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP, TIFF) to skip formats you do not want in rotation. For collage-friendly folder structure, see the organize media folders guide.
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Include videos (optional)
On the Video tab, enable MP4, AVI, WMV, or MOV clips. Set maximum clip length and whether video plays on one screen or all screens. Video playback is bundled — no separate media player install is required.
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Choose your monitors
Under Media Files, pick primary display only or all connected monitors. Use the built-in preview to confirm layout on each screen before saving. Each monitor can show independent content and timing in multi-monitor mode.
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Pick transition effects
On the Effects tab, enable any of 29 transitions — slides, spins, fades, splits, spirals, chess reveals, and more. Adjust duration and frame rate to taste, or turn them all on for maximum variety. For Ken Burns motion and collages while a still is showing, use the Soft Effects tab.
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Activate as your Windows screensaver
Open Windows Settings → Personalization → Lock screen → Screen saver (or search “Change screen saver”). Select Memory Screen Saver Plus, set your idle timeout, and click Preview to test. When the PC idles, your slideshow runs full-screen on the chosen displays.
Dual monitor vs. all monitors
Primary only is ideal when you use a laptop with an external display for work and only want the screensaver on the big screen. All monitors fills every connected display — great for dedicated photo walls, trade-show booths, or a six-monitor rig where each panel shows different media.
For daytime use without locking your session, see Live Presentation Mode — it keeps photos visible in floating or full-screen frames while you continue working in other apps.
Tip: If some images fail to load (cloud-only OneDrive files, corrupt JPEGs, or unsupported formats), Memory Screen Saver Plus skips them and shows built-in fallback images so the slideshow never stalls on a blank screen.
Supported file types
- Images: JPG, JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP, TIFF
- Videos: MP4, AVI, WMV, MOV (optional)
Playback order can be random or sequential. Filename overlays (full path, relative path, or name only) are available if you want to identify what is on screen.
Why not the built-in Windows Photos screensaver?
The stock experience is tied to the Microsoft Photos ecosystem, offers limited transition control, and does not target power users with huge local archives or per-monitor policies. Memory Screen Saver Plus is purpose-built for offline folders you already own — with presentation mode, granular effects, and multi-monitor preview built in.
Download for Windows