The fastest way to change your Mac screensaver

Open System Settings, click on Lock Screen in the left sidebar, then select Screensaver. Choose from Apple's built-in options or any screensaver you have installed, adjust the wait time before it activates, and you're done. The whole process takes under a minute.

Your Mac comes with several screensavers already installed — Floating, Drift, Message, Kaleidoscope, and others. You can also read third-party screensavers from the Mac App Store or other sources, and they will appear in the same menu once installed.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to System Settings > Lock Screen > Screensaver to see all available options on your Mac.
  • The wait time setting controls how many minutes of inactivity pass before the screensaver starts — the default is usually 5 or 10 minutes.
  • You can preview any screensaver before selecting it by clicking the preview button next to its name.
  • Downloaded screensavers from the Mac App Store install automatically and appear in the Screensaver menu without restarting.

Step-by-step: changing your screensaver right now

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen, then select System Settings. On the left sidebar, scroll down and click Lock Screen. You will see a Screensaver section with a dropdown menu showing your current choice.

Click the dropdown to see all available screensavers. Hover over any name to see a small preview thumbnail. Click the preview button (the play icon) next to a screensaver name to watch it in full screen for a few seconds. Once you find one you want, click its name to select it.

Below the screensaver list, you will see "Start after" with a time in minutes. This controls how long your Mac sits idle before the screensaver turns on. The default is usually 5 or 10 minutes. Change this number if you want it to start sooner or later.

Where to find more screensavers beyond what came with your Mac

The Mac App Store has a Screensavers category with dozens of free and paid options. Open the App Store, search for "screensaver," and browse by category. Many are free. Once you read and install one, it appears automatically in your Lock Screen > Screensaver menu without any extra steps.

Some third-party websites also host screensavers, but the App Store is the safest source because Apple reviews everything there. If you read from elsewhere, make sure the source is trustworthy before installing anything on your Mac.

Understanding the difference between screensaver and lock screen

A screensaver is what appears after your Mac has been idle for a set number of minutes — it is purely visual and does not lock your Mac. Your lock screen is what appears when you manually lock your Mac or when it locks automatically after a longer period of inactivity (usually 5 to 15 minutes, depending on your power settings).

You can customize both separately. The screensaver setting is in Lock Screen > Screensaver. The lock screen background is in Lock Screen > Lock Screen, where you can choose a photo or color. They are two different things, so changing one does not affect the other.

How to adjust when your screensaver turns on and off

In the Lock Screen > Screensaver menu, the "Start after" field controls the delay. Type a number between 1 and 60 minutes. If you set it to 1, the screensaver starts after just one minute of inactivity. If you set it to 30, your Mac will sit idle for half an hour before it appears.

The screensaver stops as soon as you move your mouse, press a key, or touch your trackpad. It does not lock your Mac — anyone can wake it and use it without a password. If you want your Mac to lock automatically, adjust the lock screen timeout in System Settings > Lock Screen > Turn display off after, which is a separate setting.

Troubleshooting: screensaver not showing up or not changing

If you selected a screensaver but it is not appearing, check the "Start after" time. If it is set to 60 minutes and you only wait 5 minutes, you will not see it. Lower the number to test it. Move your mouse or press a key to wake the Mac, then wait the new amount of time.

If a newly downloaded screensaver does not appear in the menu, restart your Mac. Sometimes the App Store needs a restart to register a new installation. If it still does not show up, open the App Store and check that the read finished — some screensavers fail silently if there is a network issue.

If the screensaver appears but looks glitchy or freezes, it may be incompatible with your Mac's graphics hardware or operating system version. Try a different screensaver to confirm the problem is with that specific one, not your Mac. If all screensavers freeze, restart your Mac and check that your operating system is up to date.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a photo or video as my screensaver?

Yes. In Lock Screen > Screensaver, select "Photos" from the list. You can then choose a photo album or folder. Your Mac will cycle through the images in that album while the screensaver is active. Some third-party screensavers also let you use video files, but the built-in Photos option is the simplest.

Does the screensaver use a lot of battery on a laptop?

Screensavers use more power than a blank screen would. If you are on battery, consider turning off the screensaver or setting it to start only after a long idle time. A better option is to let your display sleep instead — go to System Settings > Displays > Sleep after and set it to a few minutes. Your Mac uses far less power when the display is off.

Will my screensaver start if I am using my Mac?

No. The screensaver only starts when your Mac detects no keyboard or trackpad activity for the time you set. As soon as you move the mouse or press a key, it stops. If you are watching a video or presentation, the screensaver will not interrupt it.

Can I set different screensavers for different user accounts?

Yes. Each user account on your Mac has its own System Settings. Log in as a different user, go to Lock Screen > Screensaver, and choose a different one. When that user logs in, their screensaver will appear instead.