How to Use a Screen Saver on Your Mac (Sequoia/Sonoma)

The Screen Saver is a frequently used feature on Mac, and it's essential to know how to use and troubleshoot it when issues arise. This post provides a detailed guide on how to set and change the screensaver on your Mac, along with steps to follow when your screensaver is not working.

Let's get started.

What Is a Screen Saver on a Mac?

A screen saver (or screensaver) on a Mac is a visual animation or video that appears on the lock screen when the computer is inactive for a set time. It serves both decorative and practical purposes, preventing screen damage and providing entertainment during idle periods.

How to Set Up a Screen Saver on Mac

It's essential to set up a screensaver on your Mac to hide your desktop and enhance privacy when you're away from your computer.

Here's how to set up a screen saver on Mac:

• On macOS Ventura, Sonoma, and Sequoia:

  1. Click the Apple menu and select System Settings.
  2. Click Screen Saver in the sidebar and select your preferred screen saver.
  3. Set options for your screen saver.
  4. Go to Lock Screen settings for more options for screen savers.

  

• On macOS Monterey and Earlier:

  1. Click the Apple menu and select System Preferences.
  2. Click Desktop & Screen Saver, then click Screen Saver.
  3. Click the screen saver you want to use and click on the right set options for it.
  4. Set when to activate the screen saver and whether to show it with a clock.

  

How to Change Your Screen Saver on Mac

• On macOS Ventura, Sonoma, and Sequoia:

  1. Click the Apple menu > System Settings > Screen Saver.
  2. Choose a screen saver you like.

• On macOS Monterey and Earlier:

  1. Click the Apple menu and select System Preferences.
  2. Click Desktop & Screen Saver > Screen Saver.
  3. Choose another screen saver.

How to Set Photos as Your Screen Saver on Mac

• On macOS Ventura, Sonoma, and Sequoia:

  1. Open the Screen Saver settings, scroll down to Others, then click Photos.
  2. Click on Options, then click Choose Folder or Photo Library.

  

• On macOS Monterey and Earlier:

  1. Open the Screen Saver settings.
  2. Locate the Photo Wall and, on the right, click the drop-down menu of Source.
  3. Select Choose Folder or Photo Library according to your needs.

  

How to Password Protect Your Screen Saver on Mac

It's recommended to password-protect your Mac's screensaver to prevent unauthorized access.

• On macOS Ventura, Sonoma, and Sequoia:

  1. Click the Apple menu > System Settings.
  2. Click Lock Screen in the sidebar, then set "Require password after the screen saver begins or display is turned on" to "Immediately".

  

• On macOS Monterey and Earlier:

• 1. Click the Apple menu > System Preferences > Security & Privacy > General.
  2. Tick "Require password" and, from the drop-down menu next to it, choose "Immediately".

  

How to Turn Off Screen Saver on Mac

If you want to disable the screensaver on your Mac, follow these steps:

• On macOS Ventura, Sonoma, and Sequoia:

  1. Click the Apple menu > System Settings.
  2. Click Lock Screen in the sidebar, click the drop-down menu next to Start Screen Saver when inactive, and select Never.

  

• On macOS Monterey and Earlier:

  1. Click the Apple menu > System Preferences > Desktop & Screen Saver > Screen Saver.
  2. Uncheck the box labeled Show screen saver after.

What to Do if Screen Saver Not Working on Your Mac

If you're experiencing issues with the screensaver on your Mac, such as it not working, not turning on, or not activating, here are some tips to troubleshoot.

• Check if the Screen Saver settings are correct.
• Verify if your Mac is in sleep mode.
• Review the Lock Screen settings.
• Restart your Mac.
• Test with a default screensaver.
• Quit processes or apps that might prevent your Mac from sleeping.
• Reset the NVRAM/PRAM on your Mac.
• Start your Mac in Safe Mode.
• Update your Mac to the latest macOS.

How to Clear Downloaded Screen Savers on Your Mac

To free up space used by your downloaded screensavers, check these locations:

• /Library/Screen Savers
• ~/Library/Screen Savers

For downloaded video screensavers on macOS Sonoma and Sequoia, check the following location:

/Library/Application Support/com.apple.idleassetsd/Customer.

Conclusion

Now you have a better understanding of the screensaver on Mac and know how to set, change, password-protect, and turn it off. In case you encounter issues while using a screensaver on your Mac, we've listed some tips to troubleshoot. We hope they will be of help!

By the way, BuhoCleaner, mentioned earlier, is not just a Mac cleaner; it's also a handy app uninstaller and disk space analyzer. If you haven't tried it yet, go ahead and give it a try yourself.