Screensaver comes on randomly and prevents use in Big Sur and M1

I have a MacBook Air 13 M1 with Big Sur updated to 11.1. Didn't have this problem when I bought the MBA but started getting it after I turned on hot corners (not to screensaver but to other functions). Had to use Touch ID button or close the lid to recover. Now I've turned off all hot corners and the problem seems to have gone away.

Try turning off all hot corners.

Confirmed - after updating to 11.1 I’ve re-enabled fast user switching and issue reoccured, so it is not fixed there. Earlier I had it disabled for nearly a week and haven’t encountered any occurrence of it, so I’m going to disable it back.

Apple support confirmed they are aware of the issue, however they couldn’t confirm which update is going to have a fix and when:-(

I have the same issue on an M1 Mac Mini. Super frustrating because there is no lid to close or touchID to use to get the system back. I either have to force shutdown with the power button or wait for the display to go to sleep. After that, it sometimes becomes responsive.

I have the same issue and have reported it to Apple through support and feedback. Was hoping latest update would fix but it just happened again. The only way out of it I have found is to to close screen and then reopen and it goes away. Hopefully they will fix soon. Keep posting your issues. Glad I'm not the only one. Oh by the way apple told me that hot corners may be the issue. I use hot corners but don't have anything setup to go to screensaver mode. they did have me disable and it still happened. They did have me go to safe mode and it didn't happen there. They did recommend a reinstall of OS but I don't think that will fix this issue.

Lots of ideas about what might cause this issue have been floated (and rejected) here, and the idea about Hot Corners was an early guess, and quickly rejected.

The ongoing issue seems to be related to Fast User Switching -- where you log in a second user on top of the first User without logging the first User out. Even if the backgrounded user does not have settings for screensaver, it seems to come on anyway.

The same problem seems to happen over here. Randomly the screensaver comes on and you can't use the macbook anymore. even option+apple+esc does not work because that window is hidden behind the screensaver. The screensaver tab in settings also acts weird. If you choose a setting and turn it off again, that setting seems to stay on (in the preview window) untill the macbook is restarted.

Hello,

I'm facing the exact same issue on our MacBook Air M1 (Big Sur 11.1).

Multi-account set up, screen saver disabled on all accounts but it still pops up randomly.

I've read some of the 'fixes', more ways around than a true fix which probably may come only from Apple.

My way around is to press the touch button and log back in using the password and not the Touch ID.

For sure, the solution cannot be: avoid multi-accounts, nor disable fast-switching!

This would be the opposite of Apple's philosophy/technology.

Looking forward to the final and permanent solution.

I've tried all fixes to this, updated to 11.1, nothing, the issue is still present. It is very annoying this one as it pops up randomly and typically in the worst of times. Hopefully with the next update we'll get a fix to this. I was trying to replicate what I was doing but seems it is just whenever it decides itself it is a good time to lock you out.

Grant, your hypothesis doesn‘t seem to hold. I have two accounts on my M1 macMini, but my wife was not logged in, when „ScreenGate“😀 happened to me.

I use two workarounds

1) Right clicking in the screen saver makes the unlock screen appear where you can enter your password. Don‘t enter the password but click on „change user“ at the bottom of the screen. All accounts on your computer appear. Chose your own one, login and you‘re in.

2) I set my macMini to not go to sleep and my monitor to turn off after 5 minutes. When „ScreenGate“ happens, wait until screen turns off, hit a key on the keyboard and you‘re back in again.

I think I’ve mentioned in one of my posts after testing that indeed this issue occurs regardless of the fact two users are/are not logged in.

fast user switching being enabled is causing it.

Once I disabled it - I haven’t seen the issue for few days.

the obvious drawback is the need to logout one user before the other can log in, so really need to make a choice what is more inconvenient for you until (hopefully;-)) this is fixed.

I am having the same issue with my brand new MacBook Air. I have spent over 6 hours on the phone with apple and even had the issue escalated to the senior tech who said even she was baffled. She had me bring it to my local apple store so they could completely wipe the computer and start fresh. I have had it back for 2 days now and it is still happening. Not sure where to go from here but it is very annoying especially since it happens in the middle of video meetings

I got my wife the new MBA with M1. I still the my MBP from a few years ago that I want to upgrade. BUT, because of this issue I can't even upgrade to Big Sur let alone buy a new MacBook..... Would be a disaster to have to log off or end video meetings that I'm hosting. (Not quite a "PRO" look!)

So what I've done to bypass this issue was to deactivate the fast switching for the profiles I have on my MBA. It seems to have cured this issue for now (it has been about 4 days since the screensaver has not popped up). Still waiting for the 11.2 as it seems on the beta it does not happen at all.

I am having the same problem but with all the profiles, it's my third week with the new machine and have made over 7 calls with the tech team but no answers so far. On a call at the moment and hoping to get some resolution. How did you solve this issue?

This is happening to me too. I’ve been able to get around it twice by clicking switch user and then clicking my profile (never actually switching the user) and then typing my password. If I just log back in with my password without clicking switch user first, then I get the screensaver when I log in. Strange!