The screensaver application allows users to choose one or more screensaver displays. A screensaver display is an application that displays images on the screen of the user when the screen is not in use. The screensaver displays are listed in the XScreenSaver file and in the $HOME/.xscreensaver file.

To add a new screensaver display, copy the executable file for the display to the /usr/X11R6/lib/xscreensaver/hacks directory. Add the command for the screensaver display to the XScreenSaver file or the $HOME/.xscreensaver file. Include any arguments that are required to run the screensaver display on the whole desktop, rather than in a window. For example, you might want to include the -root option to display the screensaver display on the desktop.

To disable a screensaver display, add a minus sign (-) at the start of the command for the screensaver display in the preferences file. The following excerpt from a $HOME/.xscreensaver file shows a disabled Qix (solid) screensaver display: