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Howard Brazee Author

Level 2

170 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

Top-ranking reply

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,649 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.

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160 replies

Jun 28, 2015 12:21 PM in response to Liquidream

I just discovered this thread. Thanks to everyone for striving to find a solution. I agree that this is Apple's business to fix. Without further delay. It's a stupid, insulting problem.

That being the case, I can only add some comments, even though this isn't necessarily the place to do it.

I also agree that this sort of problem is very un-Apple like in it being allowed to continue. The 'old' Apple, that is.

As a Mac user since 1987, the 'new' mega-corporate Apple is a different (and strange) fruit, oftentimes.

Post-Jobs, a new generation is calling the shots on most levels, and I think that has a lot to do with problems like this.

Everything at Apple used to be so conscientiously thought out, down to the tiniest detail, which, to we Mac freaks, is often where the real action is. Now there's this impatience that rules, as if they want to get on with a Watch for $30 grand instead of a mere $17 grand.

I could rattle on, but just thought I'd put 2 pennies in.

Will still seek solutions, as I'm committed, but what a time-waster these pathetic problems are!

Howard Brazee Author

Level 2

170 points

Jul 4, 2015 9:23 AM in response to briansahib

This is a minor bug.

But Apple's non-response to it is a major issue.

Jul 5, 2015 10:54 PM in response to Liquidream

Well, *touch wood* ever since that most recent update (a few days ago), my Photos screensaver has yet to revert back to the annoying Nat Geo one.

Time will tell I guess... 😐

Jul 6, 2015 2:52 AM in response to Liquidream

I was thinking the same thing. Hopefully we don't jinx ourselves.

Jul 7, 2015 10:43 AM in response to Linc Davis

Thank you for posting this. Unfortunately, this only worked temporarily for me.

Here is what solved the problem for me. Hopefully it will help others.

I finally got around to deleting iPhoto and the old iPhoto libraries. I used AppCleaner to delete iPhoto and also deleted the iPhoto libraries from the Pictures folder. I ran Onyx automated tasks (this step may be unnecessary) and rebooted my MacBook Pro. The screensaver is now staying on my chosen Photos folder and not reverting to National Geographic. How many others who have this problem also have iPhoto installed? If you do, it might be worth deleting to to see if that solves your problem as well.

The Zach

Level 2

426 points

Jul 7, 2015 10:49 AM in response to Liquidream

Works now for me too (well, at least for the past day). Thanks for the heads up Liquidream—wouldn't have thought to check it otherwise.

Kirkrik

Level 1

21 points

Jul 8, 2015 7:17 AM in response to Howard Brazee

Well, 3 days with 10.10.4 and so far my screen saver from my Photos folder seems to be consistently returning. No more National Geographic.

Knock wood.

Howard Brazee Author

Level 2

170 points

Jul 10, 2015 6:47 AM in response to Kirkrik

Without making any recent changes, both of our Macs have kept Photos as a screen saver for a week now.

But the issue never was the screen saver for me - it was how Apple doesn't respond to such bugs. And it still hasn't.

laddyo

Level 1

9 points

Jul 28, 2015 7:54 PM in response to Toby Cockcroft

My screensaver problem started a few years ago, under about OS 10.8, with iPhoto, and persisted after upgrading to 10.10.3 with Photos.

If there is a suggestion out there, I believe I have tried it. I've been into Terminal several times with various scripts. In all cases, my screen saver reverted to the system default.

Then!!! Because the hard drive on my 2010 iMac was slowing down, I replaced the hard drive, restored everything from my Time Machine backup, and all has been restored. This is the way we look at our photos, and it's great to have them back. I hope this works for someone else who has tried all the other fixes.

Dec 30, 2015 6:03 AM in response to markfrombrookline

The solution is to make SURE that the folder you are using has ONLY the correct file types in it such as jpegs. My friend had a .mov and an actual email in it. Since the slideshow doesn't know what to do with those file types, it reverts to the default folder of National Geographic.

Screen Saver reverts to National Geographic