Where to find the screensaver settings on Apple TV

The screensaver settings are in the Apple TV Settings app, under the Screen Savers menu. You reach them by opening Settings from the home screen, scrolling down to Screen Savers, and then choosing which screensaver you want to display when your TV is idle. Apple TV comes with several built-in screensavers — mostly aerial footage of real locations — and you can also use your own photos.

The exact path depends on your tvOS version, but the menu structure has remained consistent for several years. If you cannot find Screen Savers in the main Settings menu, scroll all the way to the bottom; it sometimes appears below less-common options like AirPlay and HomeKit.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings, scroll to Screen Savers, and select a built-in option or choose Photos to use your own images.
  • You can set how long Apple TV waits before the screensaver starts — the default is 2 minutes of inactivity.
  • Built-in screensavers like Aerial show real footage from around the world and require no setup beyond selection.
  • If you choose Photos, the screensaver will pull images from your iCloud Photo Library or a shared album you specify.
  • Screensaver settings explore to your entire Apple TV box, not to individual user profiles.

Choosing between built-in screensavers and your own photos

Apple TV includes several built-in screensavers, with Aerial being the most popular. Aerial displays high-quality video footage of cities, landscapes, and natural scenes shot from the air. Other options include Floating, which shows a slowly drifting Apple TV logo, and Kaleidoscope, which generates colorful geometric patterns. Each built-in screensaver plays automatically once you select it — no additional steps needed.

If you want to display your own photos instead, select Photos from the Screen Savers menu. You can then choose to pull images from your iCloud Photo Library, a specific shared album, or a folder you have created. The screensaver will cycle through these images at a pace you set, with optional music playing in the background. This option works best if you have already organized photos in iCloud or created a dedicated album for screensaver use.

Setting the delay before the screensaver activates

By default, Apple TV waits 2 minutes of inactivity before showing the screensaver. You can change this timing in the Screen Savers settings menu. The available options are usually 1 minute, 2 minutes, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, or Never. Choose Never if you prefer your TV to stay on the home screen without a screensaver, or select a longer delay if you want more time to interact with the box before it kicks in.

The inactivity timer resets every time you use the remote or interact with the Apple TV. If you are watching content, the screensaver will not appear — it only activates when the box is sitting idle on the home screen or in an app you have paused.

Using your iCloud Photo Library as a screensaver

To display photos from your iCloud Photo Library, you must be signed into iCloud on your Apple TV with the same account that holds the photos. Open Settings, go to Screen Savers, select Photos, and then choose iCloud Photo Library. Apple TV will then cycle through all photos in that library when the screensaver activates.

If you do not want all your photos displayed, create a separate shared album in the Photos app on your iPhone or Mac, add only the images you want to see, and then select that album from the Screen Savers menu instead. This approach gives you more control over which photos appear and prevents personal or sensitive images from showing on your TV.

Adding music to your photo screensaver

When you choose Photos as your screensaver, you can add background music that plays while images cycle. In the Screen Savers settings, look for an option labeled Music or Audio. You can usually select from Apple Music playlists, your own library, or turn music off entirely. The music will loop continuously until you interact with the Apple TV or the screensaver ends.

If you do not have Apple Music or prefer silence, you can disable the music option. The photos will still display and transition smoothly without any sound.

Troubleshooting screensaver problems

If your screensaver is not appearing after the set delay, first check that you have actually selected a screensaver in the Screen Savers menu — sometimes the setting defaults to None. Verify that the inactivity timer is not set to Never. If you are using Photos and no images appear, confirm that you are signed into iCloud and that the album or library you selected actually contains photos.

If the screensaver starts but freezes or displays distorted images, restart your Apple TV by unplugging it for 30 seconds and plugging it back in. If you are using a shared iCloud album, make sure the album is still shared and that your Apple TV account has permission to view it. For persistent issues, try selecting a different built-in screensaver like Aerial to rule out a problem specific to your photo selection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a video file as a screensaver?

Apple TV does not support custom video files as screensavers. You can use the built-in video screensavers like Aerial, or display a slideshow of photos with optional music. If you want to play a specific video when your TV is idle, you would need to manually start it using the Apple TV remote.

Will the screensaver appear if I am watching a show or movie?

No. The screensaver only activates when Apple TV is idle on the home screen or in a paused state. If you are actively watching content or navigating menus, the screensaver will not appear. It resets the inactivity timer every time you press a button on the remote.

Can different family members have different screensavers?

No. Screensaver settings explore to the entire Apple TV box, not to individual user profiles. Everyone who uses the Apple TV will see the same screensaver. If you want different screensavers for different people, you would need to manually change the setting each time.

Does the screensaver use a lot of power?

The screensaver uses less power than displaying a static home screen, but more than putting the Apple TV into sleep mode. If you want to minimize power use, set the inactivity delay to a shorter time so the screensaver activates sooner, or consider putting your Apple TV to sleep manually when not in use.

What happens if my iCloud photos are deleted?

If you delete photos from your iCloud Photo Library, they will stop appearing in the screensaver the next time it refreshes. If you delete an entire shared album, the screensaver will show no images until you select a different album or photo source. Keep a backup of important photos outside iCloud if you plan to use them as a screensaver long-term.