Macbook Air stuck on screensaver

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Macbook Air stuck on screensaver

Hi, I borrowed my friends Macbook Air for an evening.

I set up a new admin profile for me and used that.

And I plugged an external monitor into it using USB-C to mini HDMI. Powered by an external source.

Today my friend showed me that he was using the same Macbook on his profile and the screensaver randomly came on and he couldn't get it off (see video here: https://youtube.com/shorts/aqWdcOxkr_g?feature=share)

We managed to fix it by pressing the power button, logging into my profile, turned off the screensaver (which was set to come on after 20 mins with no hotspot corners ticked) and then we logged back into his profile, did the same with his screensaver and then deleted my profile completely.

Hopefully it works fine now, but I'm a bit worried my external monitor may have caused his machine to start behaving weird. I find sometimes they can drain the battery and cause issues. But I only used it for a few hours. Though it is a Macbook Air and I was pushing it quite hard with the monitor and various applications.

I'm just posting to see if anyone has any suggestions, in case it was to happen again!

Thanks.

Posted on Jan 14, 2023 4:22 AM

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Answer 1

ArmMan1016

Community Specialist

Jan 16, 2023 1:08 PM in response to alexfromwalthamstow

Hi alexfromwalthamstow,

Welcome to Apple Support Communities. Should this happen again, we suggest resetting the system management controller (SMC), as this helps with many lower level performance issues. The steps to do so are found in the Apple Support article: Reset the SMC of your Mac - Apple Support

If you have a Mac with Apple silicon

Find out if you have a Mac with Apple silicon

Make sure that your Mac is plugged into power. Then either restart it or shut it down and turn it on again. No other steps are necessary for Mac computers with Apple silicon.

Laptop computer with the T2 chip

Before resetting the SMC, follow these steps:

1. Shut down your Mac, if possible.

2. Press and hold the power button for 10 seconds, then release the button.

Every Mac has a power button. On laptop computers that have Touch ID, press and hold Touch ID.

3. Wait a few seconds, then press the power button to turn on your Mac.

If the issue persists, reset the SMC:

Shut down your Mac.

On your built-in keyboard, press and hold all of the following keys. Your Mac might turn on.

• Control on the left side of your keyboard

• Option (Alt) on the left side of your keyboard

• Shift on the right side of your keyboard

3. Keep holding all three keys for 7 seconds, then press and hold the power button as well. If your Mac is on, it will turn off as you hold the keys.

4. Keep holding all four keys for another 7 seconds, then release them.

5. Wait a few seconds, then press the power button to turn on your Mac.

If you don't have a Mac with Apple silicon or the T2 chip

1. Shut down your Mac.

2. On your built-in keyboard, press and hold all of these keys:

• Shift on the left side of your keyboard

• Control on the left side of your keyboard

• Option (Alt) on the left side of your keyboard

3. While holding all three keys, press and hold the power button as well.

4. Keep holding all four keys for 10 seconds.

5. Release all keys, then press the power button to turn on your Mac.

We hope this helps you.

Feel free to reach back out if you have any questions.

Take care and stay safe.

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Macbook Air stuck on screensaver

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