The screensaver doesn't start – my Mac sleeps first

Why it happens

SCRNSVRS starts on its own timer: Settings → Start after in the app. macOS has its own timer for turning the display off. If Turn display off when inactive is shorter than or equal to SCRNSVRS’s start time, the display goes dark first – and you never see your screensaver. The fix: let SCRNSVRS start first, and turn the display off later.

Set the timers (macOS Tahoe 26)

1. In SCRNSVRS, open Settings → Screensaver & sleep and check Start SCRNSVRS after, for example 5 minutes.
2. Open System Settings → Lock Screen.
3. Set Turn display off on battery when inactive and Turn display off on power adapter when inactive to something longer, for example 10 to 20 minutes.
4. Set Start Screen Saver when inactive to Never, so the built-in macOS screensaver doesn’t cover SCRNSVRS.

Sleep settings

The Mac itself can also go to sleep before SCRNSVRS starts:

• MacBook: open System Settings → Battery → Options… and check the settings that put your Mac to sleep when the display is off, for example Prevent automatic sleeping on power adapter when the display is off.
• Desktop Mac: open System Settings → Energy and check when your Mac is allowed to sleep.
• Low Power Mode can turn the display off sooner. Try your settings with it off first.

Shortcuts in SCRNSVRS

SCRNSVRS 1.4 explains this in onboarding and in Settings → Screensaver & sleep, with buttons that open the right System Settings panes directly.

Still not starting?

See Fix a problem or write to hello@scrnsvrs.com with your Mac model and macOS version.