Start the Screensaver from the Terminal
Launch the screensaver immediately with the system ScreenSaverEngine app.
Run `open -a ScreenSaverEngine` to start the screensaver right now.
01Command
Command
$ open -a ScreenSaverEngine02What it does
Launching ScreenSaverEngine does exactly what hitting a hot corner does — and with a lock-screen password set, it also secures the Mac the moment you step away. It's easy to wrap in an alias or an SSH command (`ssh mac 'open -a ScreenSaverEngine'`) to lock a Mac remotely. To wake back up, move the mouse or press a key and type your password.
03Risk
!Warning: Without a lock-screen password this only shows the animation — set one in System Settings > Lock Screen first.
04Undo
✓No undo needed — this command does not change persistent state.
05Sources
- open — open files and applications (macOS man page) (macOS man page)Evidence: Documents `open -a` launching an application by name, here the system ScreenSaverEngine app.
Last verified: 2026-09-18 · Category: Media
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