# How to Start the Screen Saver with a Keyboard Shortcut on Mac

Updated: November 12, 2026

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URL: https://sindresorhus.com/guides/start-screen-saver-shortcut-mac

macOS has no keyboard shortcut to start the screen saver. It can start it when you move the pointer into a corner of the screen. With [Supercharge](https://sindresorhus.com/supercharge), you can set a keyboard shortcut for it.

## With Supercharge

1. Open the settings of [Supercharge](https://sindresorhus.com/supercharge), and click “Shortcuts”.
1. Click the field next to “Start screen saver”, and press the keyboard shortcut that you want.
1. Press the shortcut. The screen saver of macOS starts.

Supercharge starts the screen saver that you chose in System Settings.

## Without an app

- **Hot corner:** In “[System Settings › Desktop & Dock](x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.Desktop-Settings.extension)”, click “Hot Corners…”, and choose “Start Screen Saver” for a corner. Then move the pointer into that corner.
- **Terminal:** Run `open -a ScreenSaverEngine`.

The hot corner is enough if you like to use the mouse. Supercharge is for when you want to start the screen saver from the keyboard.