Screensaver Lockout MacBook Air (M1)

Hey Apple - we have a problem on your new M1 Airbook! Please acknowledge and fix it - I reinstalled the MacOS per Apple Support on Sunday. Today the issue reappeared despite the screensaver being turned to 'Never"

I have also appeared to have this issue - every now and again my new MacBook Air (M1 chip) with Big Sur 11.0.1 goes to the screen saver and clicking the trackpad doesn't resolve the issue. Instead I have to press the Power/Touch ID button which takes me to the sign in screen. I then have to Switch User and then go back in and enter my Password and it then goes back to normal without the screen saver although sometimes I've had to do this multiple times in order for the screen saver to go away. Hopefully it'll be fixed in the next update but I've reported the bug to Apple.

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)."

Similar problem here.

Over the past couple of weeks, I had the following issue:

1. Open the laptop
2. Authenticate using touch id
3. Screensaver is shown and does not react to touchpad or keyboard, so I cannot get to the desktop...

Holding the power button to reset the machine was the only solution ...

I am using MacBook Pro (M1).

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 am experiencing the same issue. M1 MacBook Air. Big Sur 11.0.1. Happens on two separate user accounts, both with the screensaver disabled. No way to exit the screensaver but to close then open the lid. Happens a few times a day while actively using the computer. Browsing various forums it appears others are having this issue as well.

Same issue here. All user accounts this happens with and all have the Screensaver options set to none. I have reinstalled the OS and it still is occurring.

Put off buying a replacement MBA until the M1 was available. Now wishing I hadn’t bothered. It is driving us insane.

Also chiming in here- brand new MacBook Air M1- have had this issue since I took it out of the box. Basically, in the middle of typing the screen saver will randomly turn on and essentially brick the computer. Happens on both my profile and my wife's profile.

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.

I have no clue what's the firmware reinstall since the OS version will be latest (11.0.1) after reinstalled.

Reinstall OS is not fun since it will brick the Mac unless recovery by Apple Configurator 2 under DFU.

I think I spot a definite pattern: When only me (single user) is logged in, I do not see this happen. When my wife is logged in with here profile in the background via switch user, this happens all the time. If I logout all users and restart and only log in as me, it goes all day with no problems.

In that case, it could be the the screensaver was triggered from the inactive session (your wife), but it's showing up on the current session (you). Since it belongs to the inactive user, the screensaver won't stop since the key input is from the current user, not the inactive one. That explains the bug. Hope it gets resolved soon.

We just got a M1 MacBook Air and I have had the same issue. However, I did find a work around to it without restarting. The work around is to press Control-Shift-Power buttons at the same time. Apparently this shortcut forces a kill command to the screensaver. Hopefully Apple will fix this very annoying issue shortly.

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.

Hello,

Same issue here with 11.1.

No solution. I have to force power off.

How long it will take to Apple to accept there is an issue and to correct it ? I am afraid it will take a looooooong time

:-/