Screensaver Lockout MacBook Air (M1)

Third paragraph of this post fixed it for me:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252083925?answerId=254205721022#254205721022

"Configure the screen saver to not be displayed on the login window, which will also prevent the screen saver from starting 20 minutes after clicking on Login Window… or Switch User. This can be done by logging in as an admin user and entering the following command into Terminal: sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.screensaver loginWindowIdleTime 0​ When the Password: prompt appears, type the password of the user that is currently logged in and press Return (the password being typed at this prompt will not be displayed)."

Feedback for mini m1, 16 gb

I can tell this did not work for me on my mini m1. I am currently NOT logged in with two users at same time, suggestions security screensaver off done, with all users (i have 3 on my mini). And suddenly: screensaver pops up., just a few minutes before again.

The only thing that works on my mini m1 when screensaver suddenly starts i can't do anything to stop it as described (and don't wan to force shutdown via power button) is:

• press cmd + ctrl + q
• at login screen, NOT entering password for this account didn't help, just screensaver comes back
• press esc and then mouse click, then enter password for account
• and i'm back and can use my mac again

it's a bad error for a great product and os, and what i see it relates to if you have more than one account on the mac, and starts to begin as soon as i login with another account. i also reported this to apple with the support as suggested here. it did not occur here, when i did not use any of the two other accounts during a day.

what i read in newsgroups that 11.2 should fix this and comes very soon (if i am correct release candidate came out these days?!).

looking forward that this then is fixed and my m1 can be used withou this bug. i really like my mini m1, the best mac i have so far!

I might have a temporary fix, until a proper solution comes out:

Go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > General and check “Require password 5 seconds after sleep or screen saver begins”.

This should allow you to login again when the bug happens, without the need to close the lid or restart the Mac

So it took me while to confirm but I can say this now with confidence that the screen lock screensaver only appears when you are logged into two or more users at the same time. Since I started logging out of the unused user account this problem hasn’t happened yet.

Hope this helps !

•

◦ Instead of selecting Login Window… from the fast user switching menu, select the name of the user who wants to login.

◦ Instead of clicking the Switch User button on the lock screen, enter the password the password of the user that is already logged in or have that user use Touch ID, then use the fast user switching menu to select the name of a different user who wants to login.

•

◦ Configure the screen saver to not be displayed on the login window, which will also prevent the screen saver from starting 20 minutes after clicking on Login Window… or Switch User. This can be done by logging in as an admin user and entering the following command into Terminal: sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.screensaver loginWindowIdleTime 0​ When the Password: prompt appears, type the password of the user that is currently logged in and press Return (the password being typed at this prompt will not be displayed).

• To stop the screen saver when this behavior occurs: put the Mac to sleep (hold power button for 1.5 seconds on a desktop Mac or close the display on a portable Mac), leave the Mac sleeping for 10 seconds, then wake the Mac.

There is a similar thread in the MacBook Pro section. It seems this is linked with having more than one session opened at a time. If you have more than one user profile on your Mac, try using only one session at a time (leave the other profiles logged off) and comment back if this was of any help.

Just to add I too am facing this issue, the solution at the moment is to close and reopen the lid. I am on Big Sur 11.1 and the device MacBook Air M1. Just want to be sure it's not a hardware issue. Hope Apple fix this issue soon.

Having this issue on my wife’s brand new M1 that I got her for Christmas. Super annoying. She’s very irate about it. The only way we can get around it is by closing the lid and opening it back up. I hope Apple addresses this ASAP with a software update!

I just purchased my Mac in 2020 as well. M1 MacBook Pro. I totally disabled my screen saver to attempt to fix the problem, but when it occurs the only way I can get out of the "frozen screen saver" is if I close the clam shell and then reopen it. Hopefully a fix is implemented soon. Very annoying.

Please report to Apple also. I have same issue with my Macbook Pro M1. But closing the lid and again opening is working for me. Apple said they are working on it so should be fixed in next update.

i am having issue with screenplay also. Macbook can’t play video to TV by screenplay. Hope Apple fixes the issue soon

I repeat, this bug is fixed in 11.2 Big Sur version ...

If you are hurry, you can join the beta program.

11.2 has fixed it for me as well

It happens even after the update 11.1 (20C69) regardless of the number of users. All screensavers are disabled in all accounts.

Workaround: when login screen appears press switch user, then go back to your user.

Same problem. A workaround I just discovered was that by setting a Hot Corner to "Put Display to Sleep", when the screen saver activates, go to the hot corner. The display will go to sleep and when you wake the computer back up you can log back in.

One workaround I've figured on a MacBook (not sure if this would work on a Mini as well) is to press and hold the power button when the screensaver starts, this will bring up the login screen - if you click 'cancel' (while holding the power button, you have to use two hands and do it quick) it will disable the screensaver without having to close the lid or restart.