Where to Find the Screensaver Settings

The screensaver settings on Apple TV live in the main Settings app, not buried in a submenu. Open Settings from the home screen, then go to Screensaver. From there you can choose a new screensaver, set how long the TV waits before it appears, and control a few other display options.

Apple TV comes with several built-in screensavers — aerial views of real locations, floating artwork, and color gradients. You can also use photos from your iCloud library or a connected Mac as a screensaver, which is useful if you want to display family photos or artwork when the TV is idle.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings, select Screensaver, and choose from built-in options like Aerial, Floating, or Color.
  • You can set how many minutes pass before the screensaver turns on, ranging from 1 minute to never.
  • To use your own photos, select Photos as the screensaver type and choose which album to display.
  • If you use a Mac on the same network, you can mirror its screensaver to your Apple TV.

Choosing a Built-In Screensaver

Apple TV includes three main built-in screensaver types. Aerial shows filmed footage of cities and landscapes from around the world — these change regularly and are the most visually striking option. Floating displays artwork that drifts slowly across the screen, pulling from your iTunes library or Apple's own art collection. Color is a straightforward solid color or gradient that uses less power.

To pick one, go to Settings > Screensaver and select the type you want. If you choose Aerial or Floating, you can customize which content appears — for example, you can limit Aerial to only certain regions, or choose which artists' work appears in Floating mode.

Setting the Wait Time Before the Screensaver Appears

By default, Apple TV waits 2 minutes of inactivity before showing the screensaver. You can change this in Settings > Screensaver > Start After. The options range from 1 minute to Never, which disables the screensaver entirely.

If you want the TV to stay on longer without showing a screensaver — for example, if you use Apple TV as a display in a shop or office — set it to Never. If you want it to set up quickly to save power, choose 1 minute.

Using Your Own Photos as a Screensaver

To display your own photos, go to Settings > Screensaver and select Photos. You will then choose which photo album to use. If you have iCloud Photos turned on, you can pick from any album in your iCloud library. If you do not use iCloud, you can only use photos that are stored locally on the Apple TV itself.

The photos will shuffle and display one at a time while the screensaver is active. You can also choose whether to show the photo title and other metadata on screen. This is a good way to turn your Apple TV into a digital photo frame when it is not in use.

Mirroring a Mac Screensaver to Apple TV

If you have a Mac on the same Wi-Fi network, you can set Apple TV to display your Mac's screensaver instead of its own. Go to Settings > Screensaver and select Mac. Your Apple TV will then show whatever screensaver is currently running on your Mac.

This only works if your Mac is awake and the screensaver is active on it. If your Mac goes to sleep or changes screensavers, Apple TV will reflect that change. This is useful if you want a consistent look across devices or if you have a custom screensaver on your Mac that you want to display on the TV.

Adjusting Other Screensaver Display Options

In the Screensaver settings, you can also control whether the clock appears on top of the screensaver. Some people like to see the time while the screensaver is on; others prefer a clean, uncluttered display. Toggle this on or off depending on your preference.

If you are using Aerial screensavers, you can also choose to show or hide location information — the name of the place being filmed appears briefly when the screensaver starts. This is a small detail, but it can add context to what you are watching.

What to Do If the Screensaver Is Not Appearing

If you have set a screensaver but it is not turning on after the wait time, check that the start time is not set to Never. Also make sure you are not actively using the Apple TV — the screensaver only appears when there is no input from the remote or connected devices for the full duration you set.

If you are using Photos and no images appear, verify that the album you selected actually contains photos and that iCloud Photos is synced if you are using iCloud. Restarting the Apple TV (Settings > System > Restart) often fixes display issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a video as a screensaver?

No. Apple TV screensavers are limited to Aerial footage, floating artwork, solid colors, photos, or your Mac's screensaver. You cannot upload or use custom video files as a screensaver.

Will the screensaver save power on my TV?

The screensaver itself does not turn off your TV or reduce power consumption. It just changes what is displayed. To actually save power, you need to set your TV to turn off after a period of inactivity using your TV's own settings, not Apple TV's screensaver settings.

Can I read new screensavers from the App Store?

No. Apple TV does not allow third-party screensavers through the App Store. You are limited to the built-in options and your own photos or Mac screensaver.

What happens if I turn off iCloud Photos but was using them as a screensaver?

If you disable iCloud Photos, the Photos screensaver will stop working unless you have locally stored photos on the Apple TV. Switch to a different screensaver type or re-enable iCloud Photos to use the Photos option again.