You can try it out by hitting the set keyboard shortcut sequence, which will now initiate the screen saver immediately. Exit out of System Preferences and test out your new screen saver keystroke.Locate the newly created “Start Screen Saver” service you made, and click on the ‘add shortcut’ button to set your keyboard shortcut to use – in this example we used Control+Command+Option+Down Arrow but you can set whatever you want.Select “Services” from the left side menu.Choose the “Keyboard” preference panel then go to the “Shortcuts” tab.

Open System Preferences from the  Apple menu.Part 2: Set the “Start Screen Saver” Keystroke for Mac OS X

Be sure to pick a keyboard shortcut that is unique and easy to remember. Now that you have created a service that starts the default screen saver, you need to assign a keystroke combination to initiate the service. Go to the File menu and choose “Save” naming it something obvious like “Start Screen Saver”.Change “Service receives” to “no input”.Use the search box to find “Start Screen Saver” and drag that into the right side panel.Launch Automator, found in the /Applications/ directory.Part 1: Create a Screen Saver Automator Service for Mac OS X For best results, use the screen saver with general password protection too, which will let the keystroke be used as a way to protect the Mac when you’re away from the keyboard or desk.

If you want to change the screen saver used by this, simply change it there in the system settings. To be clear, this service will start the currently active screen saver, meaning whatever has been selected in the Desktop & Screen Saver preference panel, accessible from the  Apple menu and System Preferences.

Shut off screen saver mac