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Big Sur Is Locking Up My M1 MacBook Air

Fazzl

Fazzl

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Aug 13, 2007
580
4
Hi friends. I've hit this issue a few times with my M1 MBA on the latest Big Sur where randomly the screensaver will turn on. Then, tapping the touch ID will just toggle between the screensaver and the login screen, but the touch ID will ever unlock the computer. Even if I type my password, it will just go from the login back to the screensaver. The only fix is to close the screen and reopen it and then it will work. Has anyone seen this? I haven't run into this issue on my 2017 MBP with the same Big Sur version. Thanks.
 
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Fillister

Fillister

macrumors newbie
Nov 20, 2020
1
0
2018 Mac mini. same issue since installing Big Sur. Totally unresponsive, must reboot, then it's fine. I am now closing everything before I get up and leave for an extended period. A pain.
 
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Heat_Fan89

macrumors 68030
Feb 23, 2016
2,896
3,754
I have a 2018 Mini and no such issue on my system. It even goes to sleep and awakes without the screensaver ever coming on.
 
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bobbba

macrumors regular
Jul 7, 2008
211
7
Fazzl said:
Hi friends. I've hit this issue a few times with my M1 MBA on the latest Big Sur where randomly the screensaver will turn on. Then, tapping the touch ID will just toggle between the screensaver and the login screen, but the touch ID will ever unlock the computer. Even if I type my password, it will just go from the login back to the screensaver. The only fix is to close the screen and reopen it and then it will work. Has anyone seen this? I haven't run into this issue on my 2017 MBP with the same Big Sur version. Thanks.
Click to expand...
I've been getting the exact same issue. M1 MBA screensaver coming on and then can't end it. Putting the computer to sleep and then waking it fixes it temporarily but not for long.
 
Fazzl

Fazzl

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Aug 13, 2007
580
4
bobbba said:
I've been getting the exact same issue. M1 MBA screensaver coming on and then can't end it. Putting the computer to sleep and then waking it fixes it temporarily but not for long.
Click to expand...
Sucks that you're also hitting it, but glad I'm not the only one. Are there any particular apps you're using while it happens? Such as Microsoft Word or something?
 
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bobbba

macrumors regular
Jul 7, 2008
211
7
Fazzl said:
Sucks that you're also hitting it, but glad I'm not the only one. Are there any particular apps you're using while it happens? Such as Microsoft Word or something?
Click to expand...
No, doesn’t seem to be related to the apps I’m using although I do have office installed.

I have the screensaver set to Never but it still randomly kicks in and won’t disappear when I use the trackpad or press a key.

I reckon it will get fixed in the next update but it’s going to be annoying wait 😥
 
TETENAL

TETENAL

macrumors 6502
Nov 29, 2014
258
281
Fillister said:
2018 Mac mini. same issue since installing Big Sur. Totally unresponsive, must reboot, then it's fine. I am now closing everything before I get up and leave for an extended period. A pain.
Click to expand...
Yes, I have that issue as well on a 2018 Mac mini. And I'm still on Catalina! (tested Big Sur on an external disk though.)

I have the password requirement turned off in the Security & Privacy system preferences, yet from time to time the screen is locked after sleep. After logging in no apps can be activated by clicking into their windows. I can fix this by activating the log-in screen from the users menu item and logging in again. So no reboot is required.
 
dawideksl

dawideksl

macrumors regular
Sep 11, 2013
143
84
Poland
Screensaver is turning on on my M1 air randomly, and to turn it off I must close the lid and open it again. Screensaver is disabled in settings. Anyone with similar problem?
 
Fazzl

Fazzl

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Aug 13, 2007
580
4
dawideksl said:
Screensaver is turning on on my M1 air randomly, and to turn it off I must close the lid and open it again. Screensaver is disabled in settings. Anyone with similar problem?
Click to expand...
That's the exact issue I am occasionally seeing. Notably, it's only happened on one of the two user accounts on my computer.
 
Honey_crisp

Honey_crisp

macrumors member
Nov 23, 2020
81
72
Count me in as another one of the unlucky ones with this issue. Has anyone found a fix yet?
 
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hotdiggyd

macrumors newbie
Nov 25, 2020
2
0
Yep - multiple users, all have screensaver disabled, all experiencing. I am using an external monitor via a thunderbolt dock, haven't tried it by itself. Can someone confirm the problem exists when not using an external monitor or dock?
 
S

ste471

macrumors newbie
Nov 26, 2020
1
0
Fazzl said:
Hi friends. I've hit this issue a few times with my M1 MBA on the latest Big Sur where randomly the screensaver will turn on. Then, tapping the touch ID will just toggle between the screensaver and the login screen, but the touch ID will ever unlock the computer. Even if I type my password, it will just go from the login back to the screensaver. The only fix is to close the screen and reopen it and then it will work. Has anyone seen this? I haven't run into this issue on my 2017 MBP with the same Big Sur version. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Hello same problem for me, running on a MacBook Air M1 just bought, even with screensaver disabled it show-up and prevents me to unlock switching from login to screensaver again! That's annoying! Do you know if Apple has already aware about this bug? Thank!
 
D

Dc2006ster

macrumors 6502
Jun 9, 2011
334
162
Alberta, Canada
Similar issue on my 2017 iMac. It was if the return key or mouse clicks were not working anywhere . Fearing a hardware input problem I switched back to Catalina and the problem went way.
 
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byron_hinson

macrumors 6502
Jun 3, 2003
377
50
Just got a MacBook Air M1 and the screensaver bug is annoying the hell out of me. Also trying to explain this to my daughter who’s doing basic writing on it is a pain! Hope it’s fixed soon
 
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byron_hinson

macrumors 6502
Jun 3, 2003
377
50
hotdiggyd said:
Yep - multiple users, all have screensaver disabled, all experiencing. I am using an external monitor via a thunderbolt dock, haven't tried it by itself. Can someone confirm the problem exists when not using an external monitor or dock?
Click to expand...
Happens for me without either.
 
Macrumorsss

Macrumorsss

macrumors member
Sep 30, 2018
64
18
This has not happened to me yet with a MacBook Air M1 but seeing it happen to so many users is making me feel like the clock is just ticking and its a matter of time when this will happen. Not a good feeling with this many users reporting this. If this happens to me before my last day to return I am returning this. That would drive me insane to be working on something and have screensaver come up and not be able to easily get back into the system.
 
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petterihiisila

macrumors 6502
Nov 7, 2010
404
304
Finland
Just observed this issue on M1 Air. I'll try this the next time it happens: https://uknowit.uwgb.edu/page.php?id=82566

"Press Control+Shift+Power lock/unlock a Mac. This generally gets a Mac working again when it gets stuck on screen saver."

If it works, it's a 5-second workaround with Touch ID, which will have to do for now, until a software update arrives.
 
donlab

donlab

macrumors 6502
Jun 3, 2004
305
94
USA
I've hit this issue twice on my M1 Mini.
I try a bunch of commands to get out and eventually end up rather suddenly at the login screen.
 
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