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

For anyone having this problem, you don't have to restart the mac. You can press the power button and switch user. When you switch back to your profile, the screensaver will be gone.

I, too, am having this problem.

Macbook Pro 8GB. Same issue! what a bad decision to switch to Mac on newly launched M1.. Support was not aware and they were just using common troubleshooting points like reboot, safe mode etc. Obviously nothing change. For mine it happens very often, at least 6 times a day..

In case diabling fast user switching does not solve your issue, here my "ealier workaround":

Previously (when "ScreenGate" still occurred on my M1 macMini) I set a hot corner: I activated "Put Display to sleep" on my lower left corner. When "ScreenGate" occurred, I moved my mouse to the lower left corner, the display went to sleep and with a key stroke the machine was running again.

Although my lower left corner is still active, I don't need it anymore, as disabling fast user switching made "ScreenGate" not appear anymore on my machine... I hope this might help until Apple brings a fix.

This issue is the same for me. Brand new MacBookAir - (Jan2021) - without warning / request a screen saver appears at random intervals. Looks like a sea anemone / in luminescent type colours - under the water. We have x 4 user profiles (as a family) on new device, no one is using screensavers/hotcorners etc. Needs fixing as it is annoying - only way out we have / used is the close and open lid technique.

rgt12, until Apple will bring a fix, you have two choices: a) either disable fast user switching (should make the issue disappear) but you have to completely logout so another family member can log in. or b) enable a hot corner with „put display to sleep“ and when the anemone appears, move mouse to the hot corner. With a keystroke youre back in. This hot corner has basically the same effect as closing the lid.

Hi,

Same here with a brand new Mac mini M1...

Since there is no lid on Mac mini obviously, I go with the Ctrl+cmd +Q shortcut... it usually brings the login screen back and I click "Cancel" at the bottom of the screen...

My fast user option is not checked... but I get the problem too...

I moved to MacOS from Windows and I start to realize that the grass is actually no greener on this side...

Have also a HomePod Dolby Atmos problem... it is starting to be a little too much for my taste ...

This happened to me after I added a second user as well. I was actually able to log in as the second user, turn off the screensaver (apparently a default setting?), and swap back to my main account - but then the screen saver kicked in again after 20 minutes. No hot corners, no screen saver on either account now. Very frustrating to have this pop up.

Also I tried some terminal tricks, no luck:

superosn@Oestens-MacBook-Pro ~ % sudo kill -9 25796

Password:

kill: 25796: No such process

superosn@Oestens-MacBook-Pro ~ % ps ax | grep -i screensaver

25816 s000  S+     0:00.00 grep -i screensaver

superosn@Oestens-MacBook-Pro ~ % sudo kill -9 25816         

kill: 25816: No such process

superosn@Oestens-MacBook-Pro ~ % ps ax | grep -i screensaver

25820 s000  S+     0:00.00 grep -i screensaver

superosn@Oestens-MacBook-Pro ~ % kill -9 25820         

kill: kill 25820 failed: no such process

superosn@Oestens-MacBook-Pro ~ % ps ax | grep -i screensaver

25823 s000  S+     0:00.00 grep -i screensaver

superosn@Oestens-MacBook-Pro ~ % 

I have given up on trying to outsmart Apple and will wait for their fix. But like benaqui, I too am liking all the MS faults more than the Apple ones. Pretty sure those that only use Apple are fine with the operating system and its peculiarities.. but the learning curve is substantial when one switches.

Welcome to the Apple User-to-User support communities. Apple only audits these forums for Civility, and user postings that get no response.

No engineering action is based on reports posted on these forums. The status of this thread will not have any impact or problem resolution.

Engineering action is based ONLY on Bug Reports filed through Apple Support, and items returned from service visits. If you have an ongoing problem and cannot get by with the work-arounds already posted here, be sure to contact support and have them file a Bug Report. The link to get started is at the top of every forum web page.

Thanks for that clarification.

Actually, the reason I tried my luck on the forum is because I did NOT succeed in getting to that point where you can file a bug report. I might be missing something here but the only thing I get from browsing the "Get Support" section is to be redirected to a chat or a phone call...

I did that with my HomePod problem and it did not go anywhere : When I asked "Could you please file a bug report on that" the only answer I got was "Sir, we are not at this point in the process... even if all the guy suggestions failed".

If you have an URL where I can open a good old support ticket like the others (tech companies) do, I would be pleased to help to get that issue fixed (as I'm sure many of others in this forum). I'm a support engineer myself, I kinda know how this work, so please... help me help you !

Regards.

I do not think Bug Reports can be produced by chat agents -- they require too much information. Bug reports are filed by the Apple agents after working with you on phone call. If you have an Apple Developer account, you can file a bug report form there.

If you will not make the call, and deal with the Apple agent, you will not be able to file a bug report that way.

You could also ask for a Bug report to be filed during your Genius Bar visit.

I had the same issue and I found a solution after clicking every single option in System Preferences. Hit the Apple Logo on the top left of your screen and then "System Preferences". Click "Battery" and then "Battery" on the left side of the screen, this is below "Usage History". Slide the bar all the way to the right under "Turn display off after". This worked for me, hopefully it will help anyone out too.

Trying the "sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.screensaver loginWindowIdleTime 0" (run in a terminal ) solution right now..

Will keep you posted of the results... seems to work according to mac rumors community.

After running the following command in a terminal :

sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.screensaver loginWindowIdleTime 0

I don't have the issue anymore.

I even set a screensaver in both user session I have on my Mac mini and it seems that the problem is gone so far...

Very encouraging.

I have filed a bug report on screensaver issue and just finished a call with Apple support. They have provided a solution and it did worked for me. Screensaver didn't show up yet. My machine is "MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1, 2020)".

Issue below command by launching Terminal app (Finder -> Applications -> Utilities -> Terminal) from your admin login account. Please make sure to type as shown below as these commands are case sensitive.

sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.screensaver loginWindowIdleTime 0