Mac Screen Saver Help: Install and Remove Guide

All macOS screen savers here are signed and notarized by an Apple Developer ID, so they install with a simple double-click — no "unverified developer" warning. The setup path below follows Apple’s current Mac User Guide, and this page also walks you through how to fully remove a .saver later.

Installation Steps

  1. 1. Download
    On any screen saver detail page, click "Download" to get a .saver.zip file (about 300 KB each — very small).
  2. 2. Unzip
    Double-click the zip in your Downloads folder to extract a .saver file (e.g. BraunClock.saver). Safari may unzip it automatically.
  3. 3. Double-click to install
    Double-click the .saver file. macOS asks whether to install it; choose "Install for all users" or "Install for this user only" and confirm. For a personal Mac, "this user only" is usually enough.
  4. 4. Enable in System Settings
    Following Apple’s current guide, open System Settings → Wallpaper → Screen Saver, then select the screen saver you just installed.
  5. 5. Preview and use
    Preview it to confirm the look, then let macOS activate it automatically when your Mac is idle. You can keep multiple screen savers installed and switch anytime.

Where to Find It by macOS Version

  • macOS Tahoe / Sequoia / Sonoma: System Settings → Wallpaper → Screen Saver
  • macOS Ventura (13): Wallpaper settings or the related screen saver entry in System Settings
  • macOS Monterey (12) and earlier: System Preferences → Desktop & Screen Saver → Screen Saver tab

How to Remove a Screen Saver

There are two common ways to remove one. The System Settings route is the easiest, so start there.

Method 1: Remove it in System Settings

  1. 1. Open the Screen Saver list
    Go to System Settings → Wallpaper → Screen Saver.
  2. 2. Find the installed screen saver
    Select the one you want to remove.
  3. 3. Right-click and remove
    Right-click the screen saver and choose remove.

Method 2: Delete the .saver file manually

  1. 1. Identify the install location
    "Install for this user only" usually goes to ~/Library/Screen Savers; "Install for all users" usually goes to /Library/Screen Savers.
  2. 2. Open the folder
    In Finder, go to the matching folder and locate the .saver file you want to remove.
  3. 3. Move it to Trash
    Delete the .saver file. macOS may ask for an administrator password if it was installed for all users.
  4. 4. Reopen System Settings
    Open Wallpaper → Screen Saver again and confirm it no longer appears.

Where Screen Savers Are Stored

  • ~/Library/Screen Savers: installed only for the current user
  • /Library/Screen Savers: installed for all users on the Mac

Troubleshooting

Nothing happens on double-click / can't find it? Make sure you extracted the .saver file before double-clicking, then refresh Wallpaper → Screen Saver in System Settings.

Still seeing it after deleting the file? Close and reopen System Settings. If it still appears, a quick Mac restart usually refreshes the list.

Will it drain my battery? The screen savers are energy-optimized (almost no redraw when still, and automatic frame-rate reduction under heat or low power), so they stay light even when running for a long time.

For more, see the FAQ.