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

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160 replies

Jan 28, 2015 7:21 PM in response to Howard Brazee

Here's another thing to throw into the mix. I was without internet in my house for over a week and the screen saver remained on the iPhoto album that I chose. Not long after internet was restored it was back to NG. Coincidence?


Another thing I've noticed is that when I go to switch back to the iPhoto album, the one I previously used is the suggested album. Somehow it's being remembered.


One other thing, is this a problem that most or all of Yosemite users are experiencing or is it just us lucky ones?

Jan 29, 2015 12:08 AM in response to Howard Brazee

Here was my temporary solution to the problem. I wrote a script which re-writes the problem lines in three files. I used Automator to create an "app" which runs the script. And I have the app set to run on startup of the user. I also made a shortcut to it and left it on the Desktop for easy access., I stll have the


For the record, I still have the problem with 10.10.2.

Here is the script. You will need to change the path to my file to the path to yours. And the number/letter sequence after the file name will likely need to be changed as well to match yours.


I realize the last three "writes" could probably have been done in one, but this way is more readable. Oh, and the reads after the writes are necessary to force the system to read the changes.

====================================


defaults write /Users/Joseph/Library/Preferences/ByHost/com.apple.screensaver.111A1D89-266A-5E A1-8C15-D57471A8019D.plist moduleDict -dict moduleName iLifeSlideshows path /System/Library/Frameworks/ScreenSaver.framework/Resources/iLifeSlideshows.save r type 0 CleanExit "YES" idleTime 600


defaults read /Users/Joseph/Library/Preferences/ByHost/com.apple.screensaver.111A1D89-266A-5E A1-8C15-D57471A8019D.plist


defaults write /Users/Joseph/Library/Preferences/ByHost/com.apple.ScreenSaver.iLifeSlideShows. 111A1D89-266A-5EA1-8C15-D57471A8019D.plist styleKey "VintagePrints"


defaults read /Users/Joseph/Library/Preferences/ByHost/com.apple.ScreenSaver.iLifeSlideShows. 111A1D89-266A-5EA1-8C15-D57471A8019D.plist


defaults write /Users/Joseph/Library/Preferences/ByHost/com.apple.ScreenSaverPhotoChooser.111A 1D89-266A-5EA1-8C15-D57471A8019D.plist SelectedFolderPath "/Users/Joseph/Pictures/Scans New"


defaults write /Users/Joseph/Library/Preferences/ByHost/com.apple.ScreenSaverPhotoChooser.111A 1D89-266A-5EA1-8C15-D57471A8019D.plist CustomFolderDict name "Scans New" identifier "/Users/Joseph/Pictures/Scans New"


defaults write /Users/Joseph/Library/Preferences/ByHost/com.apple.ScreenSaverPhotoChooser.111A 1D89-266A-5EA1-8C15-D57471A8019D.plist ShufflesPhotos "YES"


defaults read /Users/Joseph/Library/Preferences/ByHost/com.apple.ScreenSaverPhotoChooser.111A 1D89-266A-5EA1-8C15-D57471A8019D.plist

Feb 6, 2015 7:12 AM in response to Howard Brazee

Hello,


I had this problem too and like you, I couldn't find a fix for this.

And then, after days of search, I found this page http://www.macissues.com/2014/12/10/fix-reverting-screensaver-settings-in-os-x/

I followed the first tip of that article:

- Open a Terminal window

- Type this command (just copy-paste it): defaults -currentHost delete com.apple.screensaver

This command clears all your screensaver settings and reverts them back to default. When you open your screensaver preferences, just set them up the way you like it.

Before applying this fix, my screensaver would revert to national geographic several times a day.

Since then, my settings seem to stick and its been days since I've tried this fix. 🙂


You can try that and tell us if it works. Good luck!

Feb 11, 2015 11:29 PM in response to Jim Molseed

Although the issue did not seem to come back after I installed the last Yosemite update, I decided to bite the bullet and performed a clean install of Yosemite as I had an even more critical issue (the window server process, but that's another story). Up until now my system seems to be working fine and the screensaver is still picking photos from the correct location. Incidentally the issue I had with window server slowly but inevitably using more and more CPU resources also seems to be gone!

Feb 21, 2015 6:50 PM in response to Howard Brazee

In the Screen Saver tab of the Desktop & Screen Saver preference pane, select one of the slideshow screen saver modules, such as Floating. The options for that module will be shown.

From the Source menu, select

Photo Library...

A sheet will drop down, showing the available photo libraries. Usually there's only one. Next to the library is a disclosure triangle that initially points to the right. Click the triangle so that it points down. In the list that appears, select Photos.

Click Choose and close the preference pane. The setting should now stick.

Credit for this solution to ASC member big.josh.

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Screen Saver reverts to National Geographic

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