Allow Screen Saver

UserNative Intune settingEnableScreenSaver

Supported on Windows Media Player 9 Series and later.

23H2 · 1.0

What it does

This policy setting allows a screen saver to interrupt playback. If you enable this policy setting, a screen saver is displayed during playback of digital media according to the options selected on the Screen Saver tab in the Display Properties dialog box in Control Panel. The Allow screen saver during playback check box on the Player tab in the Player is selected and is not available. If you disable this policy setting, a screen saver does not interrupt playback even if users have selected a screen saver. The Allow screen saver during playback check box is cleared and is not available. If you do not configure this policy setting, users can change the setting for the Allow screen saver during playback check box.

What it writes

Hive: HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Registry key: Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer
Value name: EnableScreenSaver
When enabled: DWORD 1
When disabled: DWORD 0

In Intune

Native Intune setting: Yes — Policy CSP

./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_WindowsMediaPlayer/EnableScreenSaverADMX_WindowsMediaPlayer on Microsoft LearnADMX-backed: Windows ships this template, so it is set with the template's own values, without an import.Windows builds listed: 10.0.22000, 10.0.19043.1202, 10.0.19042.1202, 10.0.19041.1202.

From Microsoft's Policy CSP DDF files (DDF v2 Files, February 2026), read 18 Oct 2026.

Configure and deploy

Choose a state; the output below is generated from the template for exactly that.

Enabled · User · template defaults

Registry file (.reg)

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer]
"EnableScreenSaver"=dword:00000001

PowerShell

$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'

function Set-RegistryValue {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $PropertyType,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][object] $Value
    )

    if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
        New-Item -Path $Path -Force | Out-Null
    }

    New-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -PropertyType $PropertyType -Value $Value -Force | Out-Null
}

function Remove-RegistryValue {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name
    )

    if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path) {
        Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    }
}

function Clear-RegistryKeyValues {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path
    )

    if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
        return
    }

    foreach ($propertyName in (Get-Item -LiteralPath $Path).Property) {
        Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $propertyName -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    }
}

# Policy: Allow Screen Saver
# Name: EnableScreenSaver
# Scope: User
# State: Enabled
# Source: windowsmediaplayer.admx

Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer' -Name 'EnableScreenSaver' -PropertyType 'DWord' -Value 1

These deployment candidates come from the ADMX template; they are separate from the native CSP mapping above.

The OMA-URI is an inferred ADMX-backed Policy CSP candidate derived from the source ADMX file name and policy name.
Some Microsoft policies use built-in Policy CSP pages whose area names don't match the ADMX file name, so verify the candidate against Microsoft Learn before deployment.

ADMX profile candidate (OMA-URI)

./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_windowsmediaplayer/EnableScreenSaver

ADMX SyncML candidate

<SyncML xmlns="SYNCML:SYNCML1.2">
  <SyncBody>
    <Replace>
      <CmdID>1</CmdID>
      <Item>
        <Meta>
          <Format>chr</Format>
          <Type>text/plain</Type>
        </Meta>
        <Target>
          <LocURI>./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_windowsmediaplayer/EnableScreenSaver</LocURI>
        </Target>
        <Data>&lt;enabled/&gt;</Data>
      </Item>
    </Replace>
    <Final/>
  </SyncBody>
</SyncML>

Intune remediation scripts

Detection

$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
$reasons = [System.Collections.Generic.List[string]]::new()

function Test-RegistryValueExists {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name
    )

    if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
        return $false
    }

    return $null -ne (Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue)
}

function Test-RegistryValueEquals {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Kind,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][object] $Expected
    )

    if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
        return $false
    }

    $valueObject = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    if ($null -eq $valueObject) {
        return $false
    }

    $actual = $valueObject.$Name
    switch ($Kind) {
        'String' { return [string]$actual -ceq [string]$Expected }
        'ExpandString' { return [string]$actual -ceq [string]$Expected }
        'DWord' { return [uint32]$actual -eq [uint32]$Expected }
        'QWord' { return [uint64]$actual -eq [uint64]$Expected }
        'MultiString' {
            $actualArray = @($actual)
            $expectedArray = @($Expected)
            if ($actualArray.Count -ne $expectedArray.Count) { return $false }
            for ($index = 0; $index -lt $actualArray.Count; $index++) {
                if ([string]$actualArray[$index] -cne [string]$expectedArray[$index]) { return $false }
            }
            return $true
        }
        'Binary' {
            $actualArray = [byte[]]$actual
            $expectedArray = [byte[]]$Expected
            if ($actualArray.Length -ne $expectedArray.Length) { return $false }
            for ($index = 0; $index -lt $actualArray.Length; $index++) {
                if ($actualArray[$index] -ne $expectedArray[$index]) { return $false }
            }
            return $true
        }
        default { return [string]$actual -ceq [string]$Expected }
    }
}

# Policy: Allow Screen Saver
# Name: EnableScreenSaver
# Scope: User
# State: Enabled
# Source: windowsmediaplayer.admx

$isMatch = Test-RegistryValueEquals -Path 'Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer' -Name 'EnableScreenSaver' -Kind 'DWord' -Expected 1
if (-not $isMatch) {
    $reasons.Add('Value mismatch: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer\EnableScreenSaver') | Out-Null
}

if ($reasons.Count -eq 0) {
    Write-Output 'Compliant'
    exit 0
}

$reasons | ForEach-Object { Write-Output $_ }
exit 1

Remediation

$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'

function Set-RegistryValue {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $PropertyType,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][object] $Value
    )

    if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
        New-Item -Path $Path -Force | Out-Null
    }

    New-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -PropertyType $PropertyType -Value $Value -Force | Out-Null
}

function Remove-RegistryValue {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name
    )

    if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path) {
        Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    }
}

function Clear-RegistryKeyValues {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path
    )

    if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
        return
    }

    foreach ($propertyName in (Get-Item -LiteralPath $Path).Property) {
        Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $propertyName -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    }
}

# Policy: Allow Screen Saver
# Name: EnableScreenSaver
# Scope: User
# State: Enabled
# Source: windowsmediaplayer.admx

Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer' -Name 'EnableScreenSaver' -PropertyType 'DWord' -Value 1

History 3 retained releases

22H2 · 1.015 Jul 2024
- Already present in the first release ChangeIntel keeps.

2 later releases left it unchanged.

Template

Internal name: EnableScreenSaver
Namespace: Microsoft.Policies.MediaPlayer
Template file: windowsmediaplayer.admx
Release: Windows 11 23H2 · 1.0 · file set d784d0ea5f14a680…

Definition, editor controls and support

Definition

<policy class="User" displayName="$(string.EnableScreenSaver)" explainText="$(string.EnableScreenSaverExplain)" key="Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer" name="EnableScreenSaver" valueName="EnableScreenSaver" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
      <parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.MediaPlayer:WMPCatContent" />
      <supportedOn ref="Microsoft.Policies.MediaPlayer:SUPPORTED_WMP9" />
      <enabledValue>
        <decimal value="1" />
      </enabledValue>
      <disabledValue>
        <decimal value="0" />
      </disabledValue>
    </policy>

Editor controls

Supported platforms and category

Microsoft.Policies.MediaPlayer:category:WMPCat
<category displayName="$(string.WMPCat)" name="WMPCat" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
      <parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsComponents" />
    </category>
Microsoft.Policies.MediaPlayer:category:WMPCatContent
<category displayName="$(string.WMPCatContent)" name="WMPCatContent" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
      <parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.MediaPlayer:WMPCat" />
    </category>
Microsoft.Policies.MediaPlayer:definition:SUPPORTED_WMP9
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_WMP9)" name="SUPPORTED_WMP9" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
        <or>
          <range minVersionIndex="9" ref="Microsoft.Policies.Products:WindowsMediaPlayer" />
        </or>
      </definition>
Microsoft.Policies.Products:product:WindowsMediaPlayer
sha256:d3dc4d88cb8b8862bc6a34e76f531ff2c831cbda36ab2518e615cfd90227a6be
Microsoft.Policies.Windows:category:WindowsComponents
<category displayName="$(string.WindowsComponents)" explainText="$(string.WindowsComponents_Help)" name="WindowsComponents" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
Microsoft.Policies.MediaPlayer:category:WMPCat
<category displayName="$(string.WMPCat)" name="WMPCat" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
      <parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsComponents" />
    </category>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.MediaPlayer:WMPCat">Windows Media Player</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.MediaPlayer:category:WMPCatContent
<category displayName="$(string.WMPCatContent)" name="WMPCatContent" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
      <parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.MediaPlayer:WMPCat" />
    </category>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.MediaPlayer:WMPCatContent">Playback</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.MediaPlayer:definition:SUPPORTED_WMP9
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_WMP9)" name="SUPPORTED_WMP9" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
        <or>
          <range minVersionIndex="9" ref="Microsoft.Policies.Products:WindowsMediaPlayer" />
        </or>
      </definition>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.MediaPlayer:SUPPORTED_WMP9">Windows Media Player 9 Series and later.</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.Products:product:WindowsMediaPlayer
<product displayName="$(string.WindowsMediaPlayer)" name="WindowsMediaPlayer" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
        <majorVersion displayName="$(string.WindowsMediaPlayer8)" name="WindowsMediaPlayer8" versionIndex="8" />
        <majorVersion displayName="$(string.WindowsMediaPlayer9)" name="WindowsMediaPlayer9" versionIndex="9" />
        <majorVersion displayName="$(string.WindowsMediaPlayer10)" name="WindowsMediaPlayer10" versionIndex="10" />
        <majorVersion displayName="$(string.WindowsMediaPlayer11)" name="WindowsMediaPlayer11" versionIndex="11" />
      </product>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:WindowsMediaPlayer">Windows Media Player</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:WindowsMediaPlayer10">Windows Media Player 10</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:WindowsMediaPlayer11">Windows Media Player 11</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:WindowsMediaPlayer8">Windows Media Player 8</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:WindowsMediaPlayer9">Windows Media Player 9</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.Windows:category:WindowsComponents
<category displayName="$(string.WindowsComponents)" explainText="$(string.WindowsComponents_Help)" name="WindowsComponents" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsComponents">Windows Components</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsComponents_Help">Contains settings for operating system components.</string></strings>