macOS 27.0.1 Issues

General
1

Still getting a black screen when the screen saver is set to engage or when previewing the screen saver. This is on macOS 27.0.1.

Deployment is via Jamf Pro, I created a package from the already installed screen saver file and the preference plist as both are found in the root Library subfolders, set chown to Root:Wheel for both. In tandem, a configuration profile sets the screen saver and other settings as follows:

Domain: com.apple.screensaver

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
	<key>askForPassword</key>
	<true/>
	<key>askForPasswordDelay</key>
	<integer>0</integer>
	<key>idleTime</key>
	<integer>900</integer>
	<key>loginWindowIdleTime</key>
	<integer>900</integer>
	<key>moduleName</key>
	<string>CompanyScreenSaver_2026_3</string>
</dict>
</plist>

Not sure what I am missing. I am using the latest version of iScreenSaver. It has worked fine this way for quite some time, no issues with macOS 26.x.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Thanks.

2

That plist you set is the old one, which generally isn’t relevant for modern macOS. Did you set up the new plist? It’s in a different location.

See Understanding the macOS Sonoma screensaver plist

for description and instructions.

If you have the new plist set up correctly, then there could be another problem.

3

As the issue seems squarely with macOS 27, even though System Settings’ GUI shows that the designated screensaver is correct, I do not see it listed in the plist. Yes, I decoded all the base64 items in the plist, and there is no reference to the custom screen saver at all, even though the GUI shows it as correct. Still, a black display is still seen when the saver is enabled.

In addition to deploying the system screen saver file and the preference plist, am I now to add the “com.apple.wallpaper/Store/Index.plist” file as well? I am concerned that if I do that, our deployed Wallpaper might be affected, or if the user changes the wallpaper, it would be altered unexpectedly.

The support information lacks detail to understand the flow, and I am looking for more information or suggestions.

4

Yes, that’s really the only plist file you need for macOS Sonoma and higher.

The installation flow is basically this:

  • on a test machine, install your screensaver (using the iScreensaver-built installer app). Do a “for all Users” installation as indicated.
  • get the plist, and a copy of the .saver bundle that was installed
  • roll out the .saver bundle and the plist on the target machines.

It’s a long thread, so perhaps you missed it, but these step-by-step instructions begin here: Understanding the macOS Sonoma screensaver plist - #5 by iScreensaver