---
title: "How to Change the Screen Saver on Mac (and Use a Video)"
description: "Change your Mac screen saver in System Settings, use Apple's Aerial landscapes, set when it starts, turn it off, and play your own video as a screen saver."
canonical: "https://macwall.app/blog/how-to-change-screen-saver-mac"
published: "2026-09-28"
updated: "2026-09-28"
keywords:
  - "how to change screensaver on mac"
  - "how to change screen saver mac"
  - "mac screen saver"
  - "aerial screensaver mac"
  - "how to turn off screensaver mac"
  - "best mac screensavers"
  - "video screensaver mac"
category: "Guides"
readMinutes: "5"
---

# How to Change the Screen Saver on Mac

Change your Mac screen saver in System Settings, use Apple's Aerial landscapes, set when it starts, turn it off, and play your own video as a screen saver.

**To change the screen saver on a Mac, open System Settings, click Screen Saver in the sidebar, and pick one.** On macOS Monterey and older it is under System Preferences > Desktop & Screen Saver. When the screen saver starts is set separately in System Settings > Lock Screen.

## Change the screen saver (macOS Ventura to Tahoe)

1. Open the Apple menu > **System Settings**.
2. Click **Screen Saver** in the sidebar.
3. Choose an Aerial (Landscape, Cityscape, Underwater, Earth) or a classic screen saver such as Photos, Message, or Word of the Day.
4. For Aerials, turn on **Show as wallpaper** to use the same scene as your desktop picture.
5. Click **Preview** to see it full screen.

## Set when the screen saver starts

- **Timer**: System Settings > Lock Screen > **Start Screen Saver when inactive**, from 1 minute to 3 hours, or Never.
- **Hot corner**: System Settings > Desktop & Dock > **Hot Corners**, then choose Start Screen Saver for a corner.
- **Turn it off**: set Start Screen Saver when inactive to **Never**.

## Best Mac screen savers

- **Apple Aerials**: slow-motion landscapes and cities, built in since macOS Sonoma. They download the first time you pick them.
- **Photos / Ken Burns**: your own albums, panned and zoomed.
- **Word of the Day** and **Message**: minimal, readable, and light on power.
- **Your own video**: not possible with built-in settings, see below.

## Use a video as your Mac screen saver

macOS only offers Apple's own Aerials as moving screen savers. On macOS 26 (Tahoe) and later, **MacWall Pro** can register any catalog loop, or your own MP4 or MOV, as the Lock Screen and Screen Saver video through Apple's wallpaper APIs. Pick something slow and dark, such as a [moon](https://macwall.app/wallpapers/collections/moon), [rain](https://macwall.app/wallpapers/collections/rain), or [galaxy](https://macwall.app/wallpapers/collections/galaxy) loop. Setup: [live Lock Screen and Screen Saver](https://macwall.app/docs/live-lock-screen-and-screen-saver).

## Screen saver not working?

- Check the inactivity timer in System Settings > Lock Screen is not set to Never.
- Apps that play video or keep the display awake (video calls, some games) block the screen saver while they run.
- Aerials need a network connection the first time; if one shows black, pick it again once online.

## Frequently asked questions

### Where is the screen saver setting on a Mac?

System Settings > Screen Saver on macOS Ventura and later, or System Preferences > Desktop & Screen Saver on Monterey and earlier.

### How do I turn off the screen saver on a Mac?

Open System Settings > Lock Screen and set Start Screen Saver when inactive to Never.

### Can I use my own video as a Mac screen saver?

Not with built-in settings. MacWall Pro on macOS 26 or later can set any video loop as the Lock Screen and Screen Saver.

---

Source: https://macwall.app/blog/how-to-change-screen-saver-mac