User profile for user: mikebrown
mikebrown Author
User level: Level 1
49 points

Update of Ventura to 13.3 Broke Use of Photo Albums as Screensavers

Update to Ventura 13.3 partially broke the use of Photo Albums as Screensavers on my 2017 iMac Retina 4K with an extended display. They show on the extended display but state "No Photos" on the iMac. Only happens when choosing which folder to to display. Apple screensavers work on both screens.

Posted on Mar 28, 2023 06:11 PM

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User profile for user: Neil22R
Neil22R
User level: Community Specialist

Posted on Apr 1, 2023 10:24 AM

Hello mikebrown,


Let's start up in safe mode and test. Safe mode is a good way to isolate and possibly resolve the issue with photos and screensavers on your iMac.


"To start up your Mac in safe mode, you need to know what type of Mac you have.

  1. On your Mac, choose Apple menu  > About This Mac.
  2. Look at the information in the window to determine what type of Mac you have:
    • If you see an item labeled Chip, followed by the name of the chip, you have a Mac with Apple silicon.
    • If you see an item labeled Processor, followed by the name of an Intel processor, you have an Intel-based Mac.
  1. Use the corresponding set of instructions below to start up your Mac in safe mode.

Start up your Mac with Apple silicon in safe mode

  1. On your Mac, choose Apple menu  > Shut Down.
  2. Wait for your Mac to shut down completely. A Mac is completely shut down when the screen is black and any lights (including in the Touch Bar) are off.
  3. Press and hold the power button on your Mac until “Loading startup options” appears.
  4. Select a volume.
  5. Press and hold the Shift key, then click Continue in Safe Mode.
  6. The computer restarts automatically. When the login window appears, you should see “Safe Boot” in the menu bar.

Start up your Intel-based Mac in safe mode

  1. Turn on or restart your Mac, then immediately press and hold the Shift key until you see the login window.
  2. Log in to your Mac.
  3. You might be asked to log in again.
  4. On either the first or second login window, you should see “Safe Boot” in the menu bar.

Verify your Mac started up in safe mode

If you’re unsure whether your Mac started up in safe mode, you can use the System Information app to check the mode.

  1. On your Mac, press and hold the Option key, then choose Apple menu  > System Information.
  2. In the System Information app, select Software in the sidebar.
  3. In the System Software Overview, look at the value listed next to the item labeled Boot Mode.
    • Safe: The Mac is using safe mode.
    • Normal: The Mac is not using safe mode.

"

Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support


Cheers.


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User profile for user: Neil22R
Neil22R
User level: Community Specialist

Apr 1, 2023 10:24 AM in response to mikebrown

Hello mikebrown,


Let's start up in safe mode and test. Safe mode is a good way to isolate and possibly resolve the issue with photos and screensavers on your iMac.


"To start up your Mac in safe mode, you need to know what type of Mac you have.

  1. On your Mac, choose Apple menu  > About This Mac.
  2. Look at the information in the window to determine what type of Mac you have:
    • If you see an item labeled Chip, followed by the name of the chip, you have a Mac with Apple silicon.
    • If you see an item labeled Processor, followed by the name of an Intel processor, you have an Intel-based Mac.
  1. Use the corresponding set of instructions below to start up your Mac in safe mode.

Start up your Mac with Apple silicon in safe mode

  1. On your Mac, choose Apple menu  > Shut Down.
  2. Wait for your Mac to shut down completely. A Mac is completely shut down when the screen is black and any lights (including in the Touch Bar) are off.
  3. Press and hold the power button on your Mac until “Loading startup options” appears.
  4. Select a volume.
  5. Press and hold the Shift key, then click Continue in Safe Mode.
  6. The computer restarts automatically. When the login window appears, you should see “Safe Boot” in the menu bar.

Start up your Intel-based Mac in safe mode

  1. Turn on or restart your Mac, then immediately press and hold the Shift key until you see the login window.
  2. Log in to your Mac.
  3. You might be asked to log in again.
  4. On either the first or second login window, you should see “Safe Boot” in the menu bar.

Verify your Mac started up in safe mode

If you’re unsure whether your Mac started up in safe mode, you can use the System Information app to check the mode.

  1. On your Mac, press and hold the Option key, then choose Apple menu  > System Information.
  2. In the System Information app, select Software in the sidebar.
  3. In the System Software Overview, look at the value listed next to the item labeled Boot Mode.
    • Safe: The Mac is using safe mode.
    • Normal: The Mac is not using safe mode.

"

Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support


Cheers.


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User profile for user: mikebrown
mikebrown Author
User level: Level 1
49 points

Apr 1, 2023 02:30 PM in response to Neil22R

Thanks Neil22R for the comprehensive response. I have tried the Safe Boot and have even reinstalled Ventura from the Recovery Mode. The issues, as I understand them, are that my external monitor no longer shows in Screensaver Settings, but does under Wallpaper Settings. Secondly, using the Activity Monitor, I noted that, after leaving the screensaver mode "iLife Slideshows (Screensaver)" is shown as an activity for a few seconds, then disappears. It is activated by "Launchd" when I mouse over to the hot corner to activate the screensaver. The screensavers are controlled on my iMac under Ventura/System/Library/Screensavers. That folder is protected within the System, so I can't use Time Machine to replace it with a previous working folder.


There are a number of other discussions concerning this fault after the update to Ventura 13.3, all happening with external monitors. If I disconnect my 27 inch AOC external monitor, the problem goes away and the iMac shows my photos just fine. I wrote up a bug report and anticipate there will eventually be a fix, just as there was previously with Big Sur.


My external monitor is connected via a Thunderbolt to DisplayPort cable. I have found that to use TimeMachine to recover files, I have to disconnect or switch off the external monitor. That may be the source of the problem.


So now, my photos are shown as Wallpaper and iTunes/Music Albums are shown as a Screensaver. Such is life.

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User profile for user: super reubs
super reubs
User level: Level 1
5 points

Apr 3, 2023 10:37 AM in response to mikebrown

I'm having a similar issue. Everything worked fine with 13.2, but after the latest update, no photos are showing up as a screensaver on my second monitor. I don't like the idea of having to create another user, or installing a new partition or booting in safe mode for something as minor as this, especially since it's an inconvenience and something that worked just fine up until about two weeks ago.

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Update of Ventura to 13.3 Broke Use of Photo Albums as Screensavers

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