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i am logged in to my mac as an administrator but i cannot change the screen saver idle time settings - the "start after" drop down where i can select when the screen saver turns on is grayed out. Please help - i have a macbook pro i7 (2013 model) with OSX 10.8.5.
MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5)
Back up all data. Quit System Preferences if it's running.
Triple-click anywhere in the line below on this page to select it, then copy the text to the Clipboard (command-C):
~/Library/Preferences/ByHost
In the Finder, select
Go ▹ Go to Folder...
from the menu bar. Paste into the box that opens (command-V), then press return. A folder should open. If it does, look for a file with a long name that begins "com.apple.screensaver". There may be two such files. Move the one without the word "slideshow" in the name to the Trash.
Test. If the problem is resolved. recreate your settings in the Screen Saver tab.
Back up all data. Quit System Preferences if it's running.
Triple-click anywhere in the line below on this page to select it, then copy the text to the Clipboard (command-C):
~/Library/Preferences/ByHost
In the Finder, select
Go ▹ Go to Folder...
from the menu bar. Paste into the box that opens (command-V), then press return. A folder should open. If it does, look for a file with a long name that begins "com.apple.screensaver". There may be two such files. Move the one without the word "slideshow" in the name to the Trash.
Test. If the problem is resolved. recreate your settings in the Screen Saver tab.
It couldn't locate ~/Library/Preferences/ByHost folder. I manually browsed to /Library/Preferences but didnt see the ByHost folder. I looked through all of the files in that folder but didnt see the file you mentioned (com.apple.screensaver). Am i missing something?
That's not the right folder.
Open the Library folder in your home folder by holding down the option key and selecting
Go ▹ Library
from the Finder menu bar. Navigate in the usual way to the folder indicated above.
So i was able to find the file you mentioned and deleted it. However, when i went back to screensaver settings, the "start time" was still disabled. ALso, i noticed that as soon as i would open up the screen saver settings (after deleting the com.apple.screensaver file), the file i had deleted was automatically recreated. So, still no luck with updating screen saver settings....
Is this your personal computer, or is it administered by someone else? Is there a preference pane named "Profiles" in System Preferences?
it is my work computer, but i do have admin rights. And yes, there is a "Profiles" pane in system preferences.
The system administrator has set the screensaver timeout. You can't change it without removing the profile, which will probably cause you to lose network access.
Linc, thank you so much! I know this an old post but I've been struggling with this screensaver issue for about a month now and forgot about 'Profile' override; until today that is - great stuff, it's now sorted!
Thanks a stack!
Pieter
@Linc Davis - It didn't work for me right after deleting the file. I had to quit System Preference and open again to make it work.
Thanks for the solution.
Screensaver "start time" option grayed out
