Run a Screensaver as Your Desktop Background

A little-known trick will allow you to run your Mac's screensaver as a desktop background. You can use this to have an animated desktop, display useful information, or just for fun. It could be useful in situations where you have your Mac just playing music in a shared space and want something more interesting being shown than just a static image.



Here is the command:

Comments: 7 Responses to “Run a Screensaver as Your Desktop Background”

    Jerry Morris
    7 years ago

    I dod see the terminal command on the web page. I am visually impaired, so I can not see what you entered in the video.,

    7 years ago

    Jerry: Just added it. Sorry.

    Greg McMillan
    7 years ago

    Gary, this is awesome. I have one issue though. When I run the app that was created in Automator and try to stop it, the spinning wheel goes away but the screensaver keeps running as my desktop. Any suggestions?

    7 years ago

    Greg: Not sure why that is working differently for you. I guess you could always just use System Preferences, Desktop & Screensaver to make the desktop switch back.

    Jan
    7 years ago

    I cannot quit this either.

    Alan
    7 years ago

    Yep same problem here. it keeps running even after quitting but I think because Automator installed it some how when I ran it ? How can we find it and delete it again ? Thanks

    Alan
    7 years ago

    Update. I had to quit it under Activity monitor. Kill the process but I don't know if that is the solution really?

Comments Closed.