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How to Use the Fugo Screensaver on Windows

Learn how to install and set up the Fugo Screensaver on Windows to display your Fugo content when a screen is idle.

Written by George
Updated yesterday

Table of contents


What is the Fugo Screensaver?

Fugo Screensaver is a Windows feature that turns any shared-use PC into a digital signage display when it’s idle.

When the computer is not in use, Windows automatically launches the Fugo Screensaver. It displays the exact same content as your regular Fugo player app - in fullscreen, borderless mode 0 making it look just like a dedicated signage screen.

As soon as someone returns and interacts with the computer, the screensaver exits and the normal Windows session resumes.

This makes it ideal for:

  • Office PCs that sit idle during lunch or after hours

  • Shared or reception desk computers

  • Conference room PCs used for presentations or video calls

  • Any Windows machine that doubles as both a work computer and a display

⚠️ The Screensaver is not intended for dedicated signage devices that run content 24/7. For always-on displays, we recommend using the standard Fugo player application.

How does the Fugo screensaver work?

  • The Screensaver launches automatically when Windows reaches its idle timeout.

  • It loads player.fugo.ai in a fullscreen, always-on-top window with no visible cursor.

  • From the viewer’s perspective, it looks identical to a normal Fugo display.

  • It automatically reuses the authentication from the installed Fugo player - no separate pairing is required.

When the user returns, the Screensaver exits on:

  • Double-click

  • Double-tap of any key

  • Pressing the ESC key

Unlike the regular Fugo player app, the Screensaver only runs while the PC is idle. Each time it starts, it performs a fresh load of content rather than resuming from where it left off.

Notes & limitations

  • Windows 10 and 11 only

  • The Screensaver runs only when the PC is idle

  • It is not designed for always-on signage devices

  • Each device using Screensaver counts as a Fugo screen license

  • The device must be powered on and logged in for the Screensaver to activate


How to set up the Fugo Screensaver on Windows

Requirements

You will need:

  • A Windows 10 or Windows 11 device

  • Administrative access to install software

  • An active Fugo account. If you haven’t already registered on Fugo CMS, go to https://fugo.ai/app to start your 14-day free trial.

The Screensaver requires the Fugo player app to be installed on the same machine.

Download and install the Fugo Player

The installer will:

  • Install the Fugo Player

  • Install and register the Fugo Screensaver with Windows

  • Automatically set Fugo as the active Windows screensaver

No manual registry changes are required.

1. Download the latest Windows installer from here.

2. Locate the downloaded installer file.

3. Double-click to launch the setup wizard.

4. Choose which user the player will be installed for

5. Chose which directory the player will be installed to

6. Let the installer finish installing the Fugo Player

7. Once the installer is done, you can press finish and run the Fugo Player.

Fugo player will start up. You’ll see a pairing code on screen. We'll cover what to do with this PIN in the next section.

Pair your device to Fugo CMS

1. If you haven’t already registered on Fugo CMS, go to https://fugo.ai/app to start your 14-day free trial.

2. After successfully logging in, you can click Add Screens on the welcome page. Alternatively, you can navigate to the Screens page in the top navigation bar.

3. Enter the PIN from the Fugo player window into the space provided.

4. To finish the pairing process, give your screen a name and add a location.

💡 We recommend you name your player something relevant such as 68 Lombard Street or Clapham Coffee Shop. For my example, I’ve named my screen “Fugo HQ.” The address should be your screen’s location.

5. Your screen will now be listed on your Screens page:

If the player is already installed and paired on this machine, the Screensaver will automatically reuse those credentials.

Set the idle timeout to activate the Fugo Screensaver

To control when the Screensaver activates:

1. Press the Windows Button or start and chose settings


2. In the search bar at the top, search for Screen saver.

3. Ensure Fugo Screensaver is selected.

4. Set the Wait: X minutes value to your preferred idle time.

This determines how long the PC must be idle before Fugo content begins playing.

To test the settings without waiting for the screensaver :

  1. Open the Screen Saver Settings panel.

  2. Click Preview.

5. Click Apply, then OK.

When activated:

  • Fugo content will display fullscreen.

  • Moving the mouse or pressing a key will exit the Screensaver and return to Windows.

Changing the power options (optional)

If you want the Fugo Player Screensaver to run without the screen turning off or the player device going into standby mode, you will need to configure the power settings. To do this:

1. Go to the Settings app through:

  • Windows 11: Select Start -> Settings (gear icon) -> System -> Power & battery.

  • Windows 10: Select Start -> Settings -> System -> Power & sleep.

💡 You can also access this setting from the screensaver settings menu via change power settings button.

2. Find the active power plan and press Change plan settings

3. Change the following settings:

  • Turn off the display: This determines the idle time after which player will turn off the display

  • Put the computer to sleep: This determines the idle time after which player will Put the computer to sleep

Setting both fields to 'Never' ensures that the player remains operational regardless of any external factors. You can also adjust these settings to your preference if you would like to configure specific timeout intervals.


How to uninstall the Fugo Screensaver

Remove only the Fugo Screensaver

1. Press the Windows Button or go to Start Menu and chose Settings (gear icon)


2. In the search bar at the top, search for Screen saver and open Change Screensaver.

3. You can select None or any other screensaver option to stop Fugo Player screensaver from starting.

Remove the Fugo Player and Fugo Screensaver

1. Go to the Settings app through:

  • Windows 11: Select Start -> Settings (gear icon) -> Apps

  • Windows 10: Select Start -> Settings -> Apps

2. Find the Fugo Player in the list

3. Select the Fugo Player and Press Uninstall

An uninstallation pop up will appear.

4. Click Next and the player will begin uninstallation process.

5. Once the uninstaller is done, you can press the Finish button to close the uninstaller.

This removes both the Player and Screensaver and restores your previous Windows screensaver (or disables screensaver if none was previously set).


Need more help?

If you need any help with setup or deploying the Fugo Screensaver across multiple devices, you can always contact our support team at support@fugo.ai.

Happy publishing!

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