Sys Prefs/Screensaver slows down, locks up

[UncaMikey]

iMac (late 2015), 10.14.6 -- opening Sys Prefs/Desktop & Screensaver, all actions slow down. Switching between Desktop/Screensaver, changing Screensaver options, etc, takes a couple minutes, occasional spinning beachball, locks up all other apps until Sys Prefs finishes whatever it's doing. Moving the cursor to a hot corner to engage screen saver similarly requires a long wait while it loads the photos for the screensaver. I've changed the source of the screensaver images between my own photos and system images, no difference.

The problem appears to be a long delay in screensaver loading images, locking out all other apps/functions until it's finished. I assume something is corrupted? Anything I can delete/replace to fix this annoyance?

TIA for any help.

 

[shinemoon]

I am also have same issue on Macbook Pro Retina (Early 2015) after the recent security update. My MacBook also freezes on the screen saver (sometimes) nothing works & i have to force reboot using power button.

 

[rwross]

Same issue here. As a workaround, I've changed my screensaver to "Flurry," for the time being. Hopefully, there will be a supplementary update because I'm betting a LOT of people are using photo-based screensavers.

 

[Taz Mangus]

Try creating a new clean user account, restart and login to the new user account. See if the issue in the new user account still happens.

 

[culb0743]

Same issue here; started after Security Update 2020-004 last week; 2018 15" MBP

 

[ApMcUser]

I also have the same problem on a mac mini 10.14.6 after the latest security update.

I have reset the NVRAM and fixed file permissions with disk utility and the problem persists. I was previously using High Sierra landscapes as my screensaver, not photos from my Photos.app library. The screensaver preference pane hangs when launched for at least a minute or so. It's also hard to wake the mac when the screensaver with photos is running. I have used a different non photo screensaver (Word of the Day) and confirmed that this fixes the problem.

Is there a way of reporting this bug to Apple?

 

[UncaMikey]

I also have the same problem on a mac mini 10.14.6 after the latest security update.

I have reset the NVRAM and fixed file permissions with disk utility and the problem persists. I was previously using High Sierra landscapes as my screensaver, not photos from my Photos.app library. The screensaver preference pane hangs when launched for at least a minute or so. It's also hard to wake the mac when the screensaver with photos is running. I have used a different non photo screensaver (Word of the Day) and confirmed that this fixes the problem.

Is there a way of reporting this bug to Apple?

Yes, here's the Apple feedback link. I've reported this bug and I encourage you to do so, too.

Apple Feedback

 

[toohectic]

I have the same issue on my 2019 iMac. Glad I found this thread since changing to a non-picture based screensaver seems to work as a workaround for the time being.

 

[dono42]

Same problem for me after 2020-004. Changed to non photo screensaver, back to normal. All three Macs.

 

[dono42]

This gets logged.

com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (com.apple.ScreenSaver.iLife-Slideshow-Extension[1353]): Service exited due to SIGKILL | sent by iLifeSlideshows[1353]

 

[eugenios]

I have this one too.
Looks like that when they fix an issue, broke something that was working.
same MO as M$

 

[yukari]

Man, and I thought my Mac Mini was being hijacked by a malware.
Glad to know this is caused by a bug in the security update.

I changed to word of the day screensaver and it seems to have fixed to problem.

Thanks everyone!

 

[UKenGB]

This problem was introduced in a previous update and seemed to affect Macs with multiple screens, but maybe others as well.

Latest security update (mid Dec '20) seems to have fixed it. Has for me and many others anyway. Screensaver now back to loading in just a few seconds and System Prefs. loads the preview and allows edits without crashing.

I wasn't holding my breath, but kudos to Apple for actually fixing a bug they introduced.