Screensaver times out after 5 seconds

[mavidaru]

I noticed that when my screen times out, and the screensaver starts, the screensaver only lasts for about 5 seconds, and then the screen goes black or turns off.

I don't see any settings for how long the screen saver lasts...

I'm using macOS Monterey 12.6.2.

The screen is connected through USB-C from a MacBook 2019 to HDMI to a 27" QHD screen (I don't know why that would matter, but who knows).

I'm not going to update to Ventura yet due to past compatibility issues with past major-version upgrades and specific software I have to use on the computer. I will update to Ventura when I learn that these software apps will be compatible, but I haven't checked yet, and I'm not ready to spend the time on it. If Ventura has a setting for how long the screen saver lasts, let me know, preferably with a screenshot showing it. Thanks.

 

[bogdanw]

System Preferences >> Energy Saver >> "Turn display off after" https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/change-energy-saver-preferences-mchlp1168/12.0/mac/12.0

 

[mavidaru]

I don't have Energy Saver in Preferences...

Not seeing it when I search for "display" and open those...

Not seeing where it is with a search for "saver"...

 

[mavidaru]

I just noticed that your support link was for Monterey, but it says that some options may not be available.

So what's turning off the screen after 5 seconds of screensaver?

I'm just using a Dell monitor.

 

[bogdanw]

System Preferences, click Battery, then click Battery again.
Turn display off after
https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/mac-help/mchlfc3b7879/12.0/mac/12.0

 

[nmt1900]

There's an exclamation mark icon in first screenshot. What does tooltip say when pointer is moved on to the exclamation mark icon? Maybe that can be a hint...

 

[bogdanw]

There's an exclamation mark icon in first screenshot. What does tooltip say when pointer is moved on to the exclamation mark icon? Maybe that can be a hint...

Probably that the display is set to turn off after the exact same time that the screensaver is to start, 10 minutes in this case, or the screensaver is set to start later than the display is set to being turned off.

 

[mavidaru]

System Preferences, click Battery, then click Battery again.
Turn display off after
https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/mac-help/mchlfc3b7879/12.0/mac/12.0

OK I found the Battery sub-section, and it looks like display is already set to turn off after about 30 seconds.

So maybe I'm mis-noticing it or there was a glitch or something else is going on. Honestly I rarely see it when it comes on, just the few times I have it seemed like it was way too short. Last time I only saw it for about 5 seconds, but I wasn't gone long. So I'll have to double-check it the next several times.

It could be that the Dell monitor is forcing it for some reason. I haven't installed any drivers for it or anything, and I don't know if Mac automatically does that or something like that.

 

[mavidaru]

Oop, wait, back up... the laptop is always plugged in when connected to the external monitor, so I don't think the Battery settings apply. Do they?

 

[mavidaru]

Duh, I clicked into Power Adapter and it has its own display-off setting. Which... looks like it's over 10 minutes... which doesn't seem right haha. I prefer 5 minutes, so I'll set it to that and see how it goes.