Open System Settings and find the screensaver controls

To change your Mac screensaver, start by opening System Settings (called System Preferences on older Macs). Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner, then select System Settings. Once the window opens, look for Lock & Screen Saver or Desktop & Screen Saver in the sidebar — the exact name depends on your macOS version.

If you cannot find it in the sidebar, use the search box at the top of System Settings. Type "screen saver" and the correct panel will appear. Click it to open the screensaver settings.

Key Takeaways

  • Open System Settings from the Apple menu, then navigate to Lock & Screen Saver or Desktop & Screen Saver depending on your macOS version.
  • Select a screensaver from the list on the left side of the panel — built-in options include Floating Message, Drift, and Kaleidoscope.
  • Set how long your Mac waits before the screensaver starts by adjusting the "Start after" slider, measured in minutes.
  • Preview any screensaver before saving by clicking the Preview button, and exit the preview by moving your mouse or pressing a key.

Choose a screensaver from the available options

The left side of the Lock & Screen Saver panel shows a list of screensavers your Mac has installed. Built-in options typically include Floating Message, Drift, Kaleidoscope, Message, and Aerial (which displays video footage of cities and landscapes). Click any name to select it — the preview pane on the right will show you what it looks like.

Some screensavers let you customize their appearance. For example, Floating Message lets you type custom text that will float across your screen. If customization options are available for the screensaver you chose, you will see additional controls below the preview pane.

Set how long before the screensaver turns on

Below the screensaver list, you will see a slider labeled "Start after" with a time in minutes. This controls how long your Mac sits idle before the screensaver activates. The default is usually 10 minutes, but you can change it to any value from 1 minute to Never.

If you want the screensaver to start very quickly (say, 1 minute), drag the slider to the left. If you prefer to keep your screen active longer before the screensaver kicks in, drag it to the right. Setting it to Never means the screensaver will not turn on automatically, though you can still start it manually.

Preview the screensaver before you finish

Before closing System Settings, click the Preview button to see your chosen screensaver in full screen. This shows you exactly how it will look when it activates on your Mac. The preview runs for a few seconds so you can watch it in action.

To exit the preview, move your mouse, click, or press any key on your keyboard. You will return to the System Settings window. If you like what you saw, your choice is already saved — macOS applies screensaver changes when ready.

Add a custom screensaver from the App Store or third-party sources

If you want screensavers beyond what comes built into macOS, you can read additional ones from the App Store. Open the App Store, search for "screensaver," and browse the available options. Many are free; others cost a few dollars. Once you read and install one, it will appear in your screensaver list in System Settings.

Third-party screensavers work the same way as built-in ones — select them from the list, adjust the timing, and preview them. Some third-party screensavers offer more customization options, such as choosing photo sources, animation speed, or display effects.

Troubleshoot if your screensaver is not turning on

If you have set a screensaver but it is not activating after the time you specified, check a few things. First, make sure you did not set the "Start after" time to Never. Second, verify that your Mac is actually idle — if you are moving the mouse or typing, the screensaver will not start. Third, check whether you have enabled a setting that keeps your display on, such as a power setting or an app that prevents sleep.

If your Mac goes to sleep instead of showing the screensaver, the sleep setting is overriding the screensaver. Open System Settings, go to Lock & Screen Saver, and look for a separate Sleep setting. You can set the screensaver to start before sleep occurs, giving you a visual indicator before the display turns off.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my own photos as a screensaver?

Yes. Some built-in screensavers, such as Aerial, do not use your photos, but others like Floating Message or Kaleidoscope can be customized. You can also read third-party screensavers from the App Store that let you select a folder of photos to display. These will cycle through your images when the screensaver activates.

What is the difference between a screensaver and sleep mode?

A screensaver displays moving images or patterns on your screen while your Mac remains awake and responsive. Sleep mode turns off your display and puts your Mac into a low-power state. You can set both independently — for example, screensaver after 5 minutes and sleep after 15 minutes.

Will the screensaver drain my battery on a laptop?

Screensavers keep your Mac awake, so they use more battery than sleep mode would. If you want to save battery on a laptop, set the screensaver to start after a short time, or set it to Never and rely on sleep mode instead. Sleep mode uses far less power than running a screensaver.

How do I remove a screensaver I do not want anymore?

Built-in screensavers cannot be removed from System Settings, but you can straightforward choose a different one. If you downloaded a third-party screensaver from the App Store and want to remove it, open the App Store, go to your account, find the screensaver in your purchases, and click the uninstall button.

Can I set different screensavers for different user accounts?

Yes. Each user account on your Mac has its own System Settings. Log in to a different account, open System Settings, and choose a different screensaver. When you switch back to your account, your original screensaver choice will still be there.