User profile for user: Howard Brazee
Howard Brazee Author
User level: Level 2
171 points

Screen Saver reverts to National Geographic

Several times lately (Yosemite only???), I have discovered my screen saver has reset itself to show National Geographic photos. And they are usually set to show both my iMac and my second monitor the same photos.


It's easy enough to set back to my desired iPhoto library. But I wonder what causes it to be reset?


What I haven't figured out is what to do when both monitors are displaying the same photos. Eventually that problem fixes itself. Nor what to do when it starts with the same photos in the same order. (I have a hot corner, and have been testing after I reset it to use my iPhoto library, and each time I turn it on, I get the same photo sequence as before - on both monitors).


I just tried it again - the third time since I started this message - and it's back to National Geographic.


I set it back, this time telling it to shuffle, and both monitors showed different photos as desired. I should have checked that earlier. But why doesn't my setting stay?

iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10)

Posted on Nov 3, 2014 5:12 PM

Reply
Question marked as ⚠️ Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: Linc Davis
Linc Davis
User level: Level 10
209,709 points

Posted on Nov 3, 2014 6:57 PM

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 by pressing the key combination 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 several such files. Move them all to the Trash.

Log out or restart the computer. Test. If the problem is resolved, empty the Trash and recreate your settings in the Screen Saver tab.

View in context
160 replies
Sort By: 
Question marked as ⚠️ Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: Linc Davis
Linc Davis
User level: Level 10
209,709 points

Nov 3, 2014 6:57 PM in response to Howard Brazee

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 by pressing the key combination 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 several such files. Move them all to the Trash.

Log out or restart the computer. Test. If the problem is resolved, empty the Trash and recreate your settings in the Screen Saver tab.

Reply
User profile for user: Howard Brazee
Howard Brazee Author
User level: Level 2
171 points

Nov 4, 2014 12:55 PM in response to Linc Davis

I bet that solved my problem. It took me a while to figure out that I needed to select a display method, and I didn't find a method that is quite what I had before, but it is working. Since the problem was intermittent, I can't be sure it is gone away, but it makes sense that it has been solved, thanks.

Reply

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Screen Saver reverts to National Geographic

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.
Learn more Sign up