Change or turn off your Mac's screen saver
Quick answer
Open System Settings, click Wallpaper, then Screen Saver to choose one. Use Start Screen Saver there to change how soon it starts, or pick Never to stop it.
Why it happens
Screen saver settings used to have their own section, and in recent macOS versions they moved into Wallpaper, so they're easy to miss. The choice of screen saver lives there. The timer is also in Lock Screen, next to the settings for when the display turns off.
How to fix it
Click the Apple menu, choose System Settings and click Wallpaper in the sidebar.
Click Screen Saver to see the choices, such as the moving aerial views or your own photos. Click the one you like.
Wallpaper›Screen Saver
In the same place, open Start Screen Saver and choose how long your Mac waits before it begins. Choose Never if you don't want a screen saver at all.
You can set the same timer in Lock Screen, where it's called Start Screen Saver when inactive.
Lock Screen
Still not fixed?
Screen saver never starts? The display may be set to turn off first. In Lock Screen, pick longer times for Turn display off on battery when inactive and the power adapter option than for the screen saver.
Lock Screen
Apps playing video or music can also stop it. Quit them, then wait for the timer again.
If it starts when you move the pointer into a corner, a Hot Corner is set to Start Screen Saver. Click Hot Corners… in Desktop & Dock and set that corner to the dash (-).
Desktop & Dock›Mission Control›Hot Corners…
To end the screen saver, move the mouse or press any key. If it asks for your password every time and you'd rather it didn't so soon, change Require password after screen saver begins or display is turned off in Lock Screen.
Lock Screen›Require password after screen saver begins or display is turned off
If the screen stays black or the Mac freezes when the screen saver should end, restart it. If that keeps happening after the latest macOS update, contact Apple Support.
Questions people ask
How do I turn off the screen saver on my Mac?
In Wallpaper, open Screen Saver and set Start Screen Saver to Never. You can also choose Never for Start Screen Saver when inactive in Lock Screen.
Where are the screen saver settings in macOS Tahoe?
They're inside Wallpaper in System Settings. Click Screen Saver there.
Why doesn't my screen saver come on?
Usually the display turns off before the screen saver timer runs out, or an app playing video keeps the Mac awake. Set the display to turn off later in Lock Screen.
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