Can I use Google Photos, iCloud Photos, or Amazon Photos as a source?
Not directly. Google Photos, iCloud Photos, and Amazon Photos are online libraries behind a service API, not folders on your disk — there is no path to point the app at. Those APIs do not allow a PC or Mac to access all of your media; that is Google and Apple policy, and it is why Memory Screen Saver Plus cannot use those collections as a live source. A second reason not to use them directly: the media is usually unsorted and unfiltered, so screenshots, duplicates, and everything else the phone saved would load onto your screens as unwanted media. Export or download the photos and videos you actually want, then add those folders on the Media Files tab.
Should I back up my photo and video archive to the cloud?
Yes — strongly recommended, and it works perfectly with this app. Use a cloud file storage service such as Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox or similar: these sync ordinary folders to your disk, so Memory Screen Saver Plus reads them like any other folder. One setting matters: mark the folders as always available offline (OneDrive's "Always keep on this device", Drive's "Available offline", Dropbox's "Make available offline"). Otherwise the service leaves cloud-only placeholders on disk, and those are skipped rather than shown.
Does it upload my photos to the internet?
No. All media stays on your computer. The app reads only the folders you add in Settings. Nothing is uploaded, synced, or analyzed in the cloud. The only network access is an optional check for software updates.
Does it work without an internet connection?
Yes. After installation, the screensaver and Presentation Mode run fully offline. Internet is not needed to display your library.
Which platforms are supported?
Windows 10 (1809+) or later on x64, and macOS 12 Monterey or later on Apple Silicon and Intel. Installers are self-contained — you do not need to install .NET Framework or a separate media player.
Why do I see SmartScreen or Gatekeeper warnings?
Both the Windows and Mac builds are tested on real machines but are not code-signed yet (no Microsoft Authenticode / Apple Developer ID notarization). Windows may show a SmartScreen warning; on Mac you may need to clear quarantine or allow the app in Privacy & Security. Prefer the checksums on the GitHub release page if you want to verify the file. Mac steps are also in the Mac install guide.
Why is the download so large?
The app ships as a self-contained package: the runtime and video engine are bundled so you do not have to install anything else. That makes the Windows installer roughly ~95 MB (about ~292 MB installed) and the Mac archives tens of megabytes — larger than a thin installer, but simpler to run on a clean machine.
How does the screensaver work on Mac?
On Mac, a login-item idle agent launches the slideshow when you step away. This release does not yet appear as a native System Settings screen saver. Live Presentation Mode works the same as on Windows. Full steps: Install on Mac.
Does video work on Apple Silicon?
The native Apple Silicon archive is great for photos, Soft Effects, and Presentation Mode. Bundled video for arm64 is not ready yet — for video today, use the Intel Mac archive via Rosetta, or stick to stills on the arm64 build.
What are Soft Effects?
Soft Effects add Ken Burns zoom/pan and multi-photo collage layouts while a still image is on screen. They are independent of the 29 between-image transitions. Eight collage overlays are available: Polaroid, scattered prints, contact sheet, film strip, soft mosaic, scattered stack, imbricated photo pile, and binary partition. Optional same-folder collage and random skip keep variety high. Themed folders help collage feel cohesive — see the folder organization guide.
Can I use it on multiple monitors?
Yes. The screensaver covers connected displays with independent timing. On Windows, see the multi-monitor setup guide. Presentation Mode can also target selected monitors on both platforms.
What image and video formats are supported?
Images: JPG, JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP, TIFF. Videos (optional): MP4, AVI, WMV, MOV. Files that are corrupt, cloud-only placeholders, or unsupported are skipped so playback continues smoothly.
Will it handle a very large photo collection?
It is built for real archives — collections with tens or hundreds of thousands of files. Add top-level folders, enable subfolders, and filter by file type to keep scans fast. Random and sequential order are both supported.
What is Live Presentation Mode?
Presentation Mode displays your media in floating or full-screen frames while you keep working — no session lock. Optional borderless frames and close-this-frame are available. Read the Presentation Mode guide.
How many transition effects are there?
29 effects including slides, spins, fades, splits, spirals, and chess-style reveals. Enable them individually or all at once, with adjustable duration and frame rate on the Effects tab. Soft Effects are separate and configured on their own tab.
How do I exit the screensaver?
The screensaver exits only via Escape or the right-click menu item Exit screensaver. Mouse movement can reveal the cursor for navigation but does not end the session. Use keys, wheel, or on-screen arrows to browse media.
Some images do not appear. Why?
Common causes: the file is a cloud-only OneDrive or iCloud placeholder (not downloaded locally), the format is disabled in your filter settings, the path is outside included subfolders, or the file is corrupt. The app shows built-in fallback images rather than stopping the slideshow when user media is unavailable.
Where is the troubleshooting log?
Open Settings → Log. On Windows the file is at %TEMP%\MemoryScreenSaverPlus.log. On Mac it lives under ~/Library/Logs. Nothing is uploaded automatically — for bug reports, copy the last 30–50 lines into the contact form.
What does Memory Screen Saver Plus cost?
There is no charge to download or use it, and no ads. Optional tips on Ko-fi help fund development but are completely separate from support and never required.
How do I report a bug or request a feature?
Use the contact form on this website. Please do not use GitHub issues for support — the form keeps everything in one place and every message is read. Include your Windows or Mac version and relevant log lines for bugs.
How do I get updates?
Download the latest installer from the homepage or GitHub releases. The About tab in Settings shows your current version. The app can also check for updates optionally.
