Where to find the screen saver settings on your Mac

Your Mac's screen saver settings live in System Settings, the control panel where you adjust most of your computer's behavior. Open System Settings by clicking the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen, then select System Settings from the dropdown. Once System Settings opens, look for the section called "Lock Screen" in the left sidebar — this is where Apple groups both the lock screen appearance and the screen saver.

Click "Lock Screen" and you will see several options. Near the top, you will find a dropdown menu labeled "Start after" with a time period next to it (usually set to 5 or 10 minutes). Just above that dropdown is another menu that says "Screen Saver" — this is where you choose which screen saver plays when your Mac goes idle.

Key Takeaways

  • Screen saver settings are in System Settings under the Lock Screen section, not in a separate Screensaver app.
  • Click the "Screen Saver" dropdown to see all available screen savers — your Mac comes with several built-in options like Floating, Drift, and Kaleidoscope.
  • Use the "Start after" setting to control how many minutes of inactivity trigger the screen saver, ranging from 1 minute to Never.
  • You can preview any screen saver before selecting it by clicking the preview button next to its name.
  • Some third-party screen savers from the App Store can be added to your list once installed, though built-in options are usually sufficient.

Selecting a screen saver from the built-in options

Click the "Screen Saver" dropdown menu and a list of available screen savers appears. Your Mac includes several built-in options: Floating (geometric shapes that move across the screen), Drift (a slow-moving abstract animation), Kaleidoscope (symmetrical color patterns), Message (displays text you choose), and others depending on your macOS version. Each one is listed by name with a small preview thumbnail next to it.

To see what a screen saver actually looks like before you commit to it, click the preview button — a small play icon that appears to the right of the screen saver name. A full-screen preview will play for a few seconds, giving you a real sense of the animation and colors. If you like it, click anywhere on the screen to close the preview and return to settings. If you want to try another one, click the preview button for a different screen saver instead.

Setting how long your Mac waits before the screen saver starts

The "Start after" dropdown controls how many minutes your Mac sits idle before the screen saver turns on. The default is usually 5 or 10 minutes, but you can change this to 1 minute, 2 minutes, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 20 minutes, or Never. Choose "Never" if you do not want a screen saver to play at all — your screen will straightforward turn off after the time set in your Energy Saver settings instead.

Most people set this to 5 or 10 minutes because it balances visibility (the screen saver does not kick in while you are actively working) with energy savings (your screen does not stay on indefinitely if you step away). If you work at your desk most of the day and rarely leave your Mac unattended, a longer time like 15 or 20 minutes makes sense. If you share your Mac or want privacy, a shorter time like 1 or 2 minutes is better.

Understanding the difference between screen saver and lock screen

Your Mac has two separate visual settings that can confuse people: the screen saver and the lock screen. The screen saver is the animated display that plays when your Mac is idle — it is purely visual and does not lock your computer. The lock screen is what appears when your Mac actually goes to sleep or when you manually lock it, and it requires your password to dismiss.

You can customize both independently in the Lock Screen settings. The screen saver plays first during idle time, and then after a longer period of inactivity, your Mac goes to sleep and the lock screen appears. If you want your Mac to lock when ready without showing a screen saver, set the screen saver to "Never" and adjust your Energy Saver settings to put the display to sleep after a shorter time.

Adding screen savers from the App Store

The built-in screen savers cover most needs, but you can also read additional ones from the App Store if you want more variety. Search the App Store for "screen saver" and you will find third-party options — some free, some paid. Once you install one, it automatically appears in your Screen Saver dropdown menu in System Settings, ready to use the same way as the built-in options.

Third-party screen savers work identically to Apple's built-in ones: you select them from the dropdown, preview them, and set the idle time. Be cautious about downloading many screen savers, though, because each one uses a small amount of storage space and processing power when it runs. The built-in options are generally reliable and visually polished, so most people find them sufficient.

Troubleshooting when your screen saver does not appear

If you have set a screen saver but it never appears, the most common cause is that your Mac is not actually idle long enough. Check your Energy Saver settings — if your display is set to turn off after 3 minutes but your screen saver is set to start after 5 minutes, the display will sleep before the screen saver has a chance to play. Open System Settings, click "General" in the sidebar, then "Sleep" to see when your display turns off.

Another reason the screen saver might not appear is if you have set it to "Never" by accident. Return to Lock Screen settings and confirm that the Screen Saver dropdown shows an actual screen saver name, not "Never" or blank. If you are using an external monitor, some third-party displays have their own power settings that can override your Mac's screen saver — check your monitor's physical buttons or settings menu as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a photo as my screen saver?

Yes. In the Screen Saver dropdown, select "Photos" and a submenu will appear asking which photo album to use. Your Mac will cycle through photos from that album while the screen saver is active. You can choose from your entire photo library, a specific album, or a folder of images on your computer.

Does the screen saver save energy?

Modern screen savers use very little energy compared to older CRT monitors, so they are not necessary for power savings anymore. The real energy savings come from your Mac going to sleep, which happens after the screen saver stops. If energy use is your concern, set the screen saver to "Never" and adjust your Energy Saver settings to put the display to sleep quickly instead.

What happens if I set the screen saver to start after 1 minute?

The screen saver will begin playing one minute after your last keyboard or mouse movement. This is useful if you share your Mac or want privacy, but it can be annoying if you step away briefly while reading something on screen. Most people find 5 to 10 minutes a better balance between privacy and usability.

Can I make the screen saver start when ready without waiting?

You cannot set it to zero minutes, but you can set it to 1 minute, which is the shortest available option. Alternatively, you can manually lock your Mac right away by pressing Control + Command + Q, which brings up the lock screen when ready without waiting for the screen saver.

Will the screen saver play if I close my MacBook lid?

No. When you close your MacBook lid, the display goes to sleep when ready and the screen saver does not play. The screen saver only plays when your Mac is awake but idle — meaning the display is on and you have not used the keyboard or trackpad for the set number of minutes.