HT204379: Mac Basics: Display a screen saver when you're not using your Mac

Learn about Mac Basics: Display a screen saver when you're not using your Mac
elamerica

Q: Is it necessary to use the screen saver?

Is it necessary to use the screen saver option to avoid damage to the screen on the macbook retina pro? Or is it more of a power saving and security option?

MacBook Pro with Retina display, iOS 9.2.1

Posted on Jan 19, 2016 11:13 AM

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Q: Is it necessary to use the screen saver?

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  • by steve359,

    steve359 steve359 Jan 19, 2016 11:18 AM in response to elamerica
    Level 6 (14,032 points)
    Jan 19, 2016 11:18 AM in response to elamerica

    Security ... to show "kittens" instead of spreadsheet content when you are away from the system.

     

    May not save power ... depending on the complexity of the screen saver.

     

    Overall ... dynamic screensavers were originally intended to prevent "burn-in" ... the same image showing forever and imprinting the same color at the same pixel.  May not be as much an issue now as then, but "screen-asleep" saves burn-in better.

  • by Courcoul,

    Courcoul Jan 19, 2016 11:20 AM in response to elamerica
    Level 6 (14,193 points)
    Jan 19, 2016 11:20 AM in response to elamerica

    NOPE. Nowadays with instant-on LED panels all over, screensavers seem like a quaint holdover from a distant CRT past. And on a portable, burning battery just so you have flying toasters or whatever sounds downright silly. I set my screen to turn off (even if the rest of the Mac ain't sleeping) instead. AND you'll need the password to gain access to it when waking up (even if the rest of the Mac ain't sleeping).

  • by dominic23,

    dominic23 dominic23 Jan 19, 2016 11:21 AM in response to elamerica
    Level 8 (41,611 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 19, 2016 11:21 AM in response to elamerica