I have two AppleTV 4Ks. I like to use photos from my home computer (through Home Sharing) as the screensaver, which plays back during music playback or while the device is in pause. Ever since the new Aerial Screensaver was added, my AppleTVs periodically lose track of my preference and, ZAP, we're back looking at the Aerial screensaver (which IS beautiful, btw). Any ideas about why I have to repeatedly tell the ATV my screensaver preference?
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
AppleTV loses track of Screensaver
- Thread starter Director Doug
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I have been having the same thing happen to me.
I just recently started using photos instead of the Aerials SS on all my ATVs, but I also have notice that it keeps on reverting to the Aerials again.
I recently made this thread:
forums.macrumors.com
I would really like to figure out a way to use my own videos, but until then, my photos would be fine. But, many albums won't work for some reason, and the ones that do work, eventually gets reverted back to Aerials.
Also, I have selected "never" for downloading new Aerials, but that also keeps getting reverted to "daily".
I just recently started using photos instead of the Aerials SS on all my ATVs, but I also have notice that it keeps on reverting to the Aerials again.
I recently made this thread:
Bored of the Aerial Screen Savers, can you use your own video?
At one point, I really enjoyed the Aerial Screen Savers on tvOS. I use them often, like when I listen to music and the screen savers stay on while listening. The Hawaii one starting from the ocean looks so amazing, and unreal. There were a couple other ones that I really liked too. Now, a...
forums.macrumors.com
I would really like to figure out a way to use my own videos, but until then, my photos would be fine. But, many albums won't work for some reason, and the ones that do work, eventually gets reverted back to Aerials.
Also, I have selected "never" for downloading new Aerials, but that also keeps getting reverted to "daily".
Had similar symptoms.
Home Sharing on Apple TV would not show any photos (for Apple TV > Settings > General > Screen Saver > Type > Home Sharing > Photos), no matter which way sharing was configured on Mac (System Preferences > Sharing > Media Sharing > Home Sharing > Share Photos with Apple TV > Share Photos from [Photos > Album | Choose Folder ... > Finder folder of photos])
AppleCare showed me this workaround: (for Mac OS X 10.15.2 / Catalina, TVos 13.3)
[1] Check: Apple TV > Settings > Users and Accounts > iCloud > Shared Albums is ON. Open Apple TV app Photos, check that Shared is an option in menu bar at top.
[2] From Mac Photos App, *share* an album (or some set of photos) to be used as screensaver to "Shared Albums".
[3] On Apple TV > Settings > General > Screen Saver > Type > My Photos > <shared_album>.
~~~
Screensaver now runs the selected screensaver using the Shared Album (when screensaver was activated by going to top level menu on ATV and pressing Menu button one more time).
Waiting now to see if the settings all 'stick' and persist through on/off/sleep cycles of the ATV ... see if the workaround is a useable one.
[automerge]1577323498[/automerge]
Had similar symptoms. Home Sharing on Apple TV would not show any photos (for Apple TV > Settings > General > Screen Saver > Type > Home Sharing > Photos), no matter which way sharing was configured on Mac (System Preferences > Sharing > Media Sharing > Home Sharing > Share Photos with Apple TV > Share Photos from [Photos > Album | Choose Folder ... > Finder folder of photos]). Music can be streamed from Mac to AppleTV4K, so all those other prerequisites were demonstrated to be already in place.
AppleCare showed me this workaround: (for Mac OS X 10.15.2 / Catalina, TVos 13.3)
[1] Check: Apple TV > Settings > Users and Accounts > iCloud > Shared Albums is ON. Open Apple TV app Photos, check that Shared is an option in menu bar at top.
[2] From Mac Photos App, *share* an album (or some set of photos) to be used as screensaver to "Shared Albums".
[3] On Apple TV > Settings > General > Screen Saver > Type > My Photos > <shared_album>.
~~~
Screensaver now runs the selected screensaver using the Shared Album (when screensaver was activated by going to top level menu on ATV and pressing Menu button one more time).
Waiting now to see if the settings all 'stick' and persist through on/off/sleep cycles of the ATV ... see if the workaround is a useable one.
Home Sharing on Apple TV would not show any photos (for Apple TV > Settings > General > Screen Saver > Type > Home Sharing > Photos), no matter which way sharing was configured on Mac (System Preferences > Sharing > Media Sharing > Home Sharing > Share Photos with Apple TV > Share Photos from [Photos > Album | Choose Folder ... > Finder folder of photos])
AppleCare showed me this workaround: (for Mac OS X 10.15.2 / Catalina, TVos 13.3)
[1] Check: Apple TV > Settings > Users and Accounts > iCloud > Shared Albums is ON. Open Apple TV app Photos, check that Shared is an option in menu bar at top.
[2] From Mac Photos App, *share* an album (or some set of photos) to be used as screensaver to "Shared Albums".
[3] On Apple TV > Settings > General > Screen Saver > Type > My Photos > <shared_album>.
~~~
Screensaver now runs the selected screensaver using the Shared Album (when screensaver was activated by going to top level menu on ATV and pressing Menu button one more time).
Waiting now to see if the settings all 'stick' and persist through on/off/sleep cycles of the ATV ... see if the workaround is a useable one.
[automerge]1577323498[/automerge]
Had similar symptoms. Home Sharing on Apple TV would not show any photos (for Apple TV > Settings > General > Screen Saver > Type > Home Sharing > Photos), no matter which way sharing was configured on Mac (System Preferences > Sharing > Media Sharing > Home Sharing > Share Photos with Apple TV > Share Photos from [Photos > Album | Choose Folder ... > Finder folder of photos]). Music can be streamed from Mac to AppleTV4K, so all those other prerequisites were demonstrated to be already in place.
AppleCare showed me this workaround: (for Mac OS X 10.15.2 / Catalina, TVos 13.3)
[1] Check: Apple TV > Settings > Users and Accounts > iCloud > Shared Albums is ON. Open Apple TV app Photos, check that Shared is an option in menu bar at top.
[2] From Mac Photos App, *share* an album (or some set of photos) to be used as screensaver to "Shared Albums".
[3] On Apple TV > Settings > General > Screen Saver > Type > My Photos > <shared_album>.
~~~
Screensaver now runs the selected screensaver using the Shared Album (when screensaver was activated by going to top level menu on ATV and pressing Menu button one more time).
Waiting now to see if the settings all 'stick' and persist through on/off/sleep cycles of the ATV ... see if the workaround is a useable one.
Last edited:
The chatter on an Apple Community forum is the 13.4.x beta seems to fix this. I have been avoiding beta's but may have to try this version when it is public.