The MacBook's built-in screen saver is an essential feature that helps protect your computer from screen burn-in and keeps your data secure by locking the screen when you step away. However, when using an external monitor, the MacBook's display may go to sleep, causing the screen saver to stop running. In this article, we'll explore how to keep the MacBook screen saver running while the external monitor is connected using a power adapter.
Prerequisites
To keep the MacBook screen saver running with an external monitor, you'll need the following:
- A MacBook
- An external monitor
- A MacBook power adapter
- An external monitor power adapter (if your monitor doesn't have a built-in power source)
Step 1: Connect the External Monitor
Connect the external monitor to your MacBook using an HDMI, Thunderbolt, or Mini DisplayPort cable. Make sure the monitor is turned on and properly connected to your MacBook.
Step 2: Connect the Power Adapters
Plug the MacBook power adapter into a power outlet or USB-C power source. If your external monitor doesn't have a built-in power source, plug the external monitor power adapter into a power outlet and connect it to the monitor.
Step 3: Configure System Preferences
Go to System Preferences > Displays. Make sure the external monitor is listed as a display and is checked as the primary display. This will ensure that the MacBook's display goes to sleep last.
Step 4: Configure Energy Saver Settings
Go to System Preferences > Energy Saver. Click on the Power Adapter tab and select the "Never" option for "Put hard disks to sleep when possible." This will prevent the MacBook's hard disks from sleeping, which will keep the screen saver running.
Step 5: Configure Screen Saver Settings
Go to System Preferences > Desktop & Screen Saver. Select the screen saver you want to use and set the "Start after" time to your desired length. This will ensure that the screen saver activates after the specified time, even if the MacBook's display goes to sleep.
Step 6: Test the Setup
To test the setup, wait for the specified time for the screen saver to activate. You can also manually activate the screen saver by pressing Control + Shift + Power on your MacBook.
If the screen saver doesn't activate, make sure that the external monitor is the primary display and that the Energy Saver settings are correctly configured.
In this article, we explored how to keep the MacBook screen saver running while using an external monitor. By connecting the MacBook power adapter and an external monitor power adapter (if necessary), configuring System Preferences and Energy Saver settings, and setting up the screen saver, you can ensure that your MacBook's display stays active and your screen saver keeps running.