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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.

Unfortunately this method didn't work. Lid close, lid open looks like the only remedy. Please report this bug: https://www.apple.com/feedback/macos.html
 
Just adding my name to the list. It is pretty clearly counting down the screen lock timer irrespective of whether any actual user interaction is happening.
 
Signed up for a mac rumors account just to say I'm facing the same issue on my Macbook Air M1. I found the only way to exit screen saver mode is to close the lid and re-open. Hope this is a software issue!
 
Same issue here.. MBP M1.. screen randomly goes into screen saver mode and I cannot exit it. Only seems to happen when using external monitor for me.
 
Same problem here, M1 MacBook Air
I can exit it by closing the computer and then reopening it.
 
Same issue here on my M1 MacBook Pro. It happens randomly even after disabling the screensaver. Closing the lid and reopening fixes it for me.
 
Same issue here on my M1 MacBook Pro. It happens randomly even after disabling the screensaver. Closing the lid and reopening fixes it for me.
Hi. Same issue here. M1 Macbook AIR. Funny thing is that active corners are working and you can use mission control but whenever you want to activate a window it gets back to screensaver. I tried safe mode and getting back to "normal" mode but it did't help. I had my screencscver set to off now I am trying with 1h setting and waiting if it'll pop up now. Next time I will try with the closing and opening like you said.
 
Signed up for a mac rumors account just to say I'm facing the same issue on my Macbook Air M1. I found the only way to exit screen saver mode is to close the lid and re-open. Hope this is a software issue!
Are you using an external display as well?
 
It's happening to me... on the internal and external displays.

I have hot corners enabled so I can "start" a new screensaver by going into the corner but then when that screensaver is turned off the other bugged screensaver is still running. MacOS is still working -- you can see the cursor change shape based on the window I'm hovered over.

I found that if I hit CMD+Shift+Q and then Enter it will allow me to logout. I can then log back in -- a little faster than a full restart (and probably safer than a forced reboot).
 
Mac Mini M1 - screen locked suddenly as I was using it this morning. Totally unresponsive to keyboard / trackpad. Finally tried CMD+Shift+Q, Enter as mentioned above, and suddenly login screen appeared. First time I've seen this problem in two weeks of use. Filed bug report to Apple.
 
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I'm having the same issue on my M1 Mac Mini. The screen saver will come on and then it'll get stuck. I'm able to use Command + Control + Q to get to the login screen. But after logging in it just goes back to the screensaver. After doing this numerous times finally it'll let me back into the computer. I had a Hackintosh that also was dealing with this issue so I've come to the conclusion that its Big Sur that's the issue. I'm hoping 11.1 drops soon.
 
Registered for an account as well just to chime in that I'm having the same issue. M1 MBP, Big Sur 11.0.1. I have 2 user accounts and it's happened on both. It's happened both in regular use and in clamshell mode with an external display.
 
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Got my M1 Laptop this past Tuesday. Last night, the screen saver issue started happening. Just like everyone else, I couldn't do anything. Logging out and logging back in resulted in the screen saver displaying again. Finally, I got back to a useful state.

I did as petterihiisila mentioned and put in a bug report. I figure, the more of those they get, the more of a chance it'll get fixed faster.
 
I've had the exact same problem for a few weeks now, on a Mac Mini M1 with Big Sur (11.0.1) - it occurs on either user account on the system, even if the screensaver is supposedly disabled.

I saw something on apple stack exchange that suggested you can get around this by pressing CTRL + COMMAND + Q and then Escape, and that worked for me the last time it happened.
 
I saw something on apple stack exchange that suggested you can get around this by pressing CTRL + COMMAND + Q and then Escape, and that worked for me the last time it happened.
Just happened to my wife, thankfully I remembered reading your reply earlier today. This worked like a charm.
 
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Another +1 here. M1 MacBook Air = random screen saver that you can’t easily get rid of. Fingers crossed for 11.1.
 
I just posted in another thread as well. This just happened to me, on my M1 mini. I was typing a message and the screen saver kicked in and wouldn't stop. I called Apple Tech Support. They had me hold the power button for a hard shutdown and then reboot. They said if it happens again, call back. That doesn't explain why it happened in the first place. I've now disabled my screen saver, but apparently from earlier posts here, that might not help.
 
Happens to me to. The Screensaver kicks in randomly despite bing disabled and completely locks me out. Happens even in dock mode. The only way is opening and closing the lid.
 
Hi there,
Just created an account to add my name in the (long) list.
It happens on my brand new MBA M1 with two accounts (and no external display).
The screensaver still locks after the update to 11.1.
Super annoying :)
Cheers from France
 
Hi everybody!!! Me too!!! Getting it twice or three times a day depending on how often I use the MacBook...new M1 and not using the external monitor. Also have two profiles. It happens on both. I hope they fix this as Apple is aware of this issue.
 
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It’s happening on hackintosh too guys. Hard errors with a thunderbolt dock connected. 11.1 is bugged out for all of us. The hard crash is so bad that at times the system does not POST when it locks up and reboots. Never seen that before. Ever. And I’ve seen a lot being on hackintosh.

Seems to be a thunderbolt or usb bug. Thought it was a problem with my mobo, but it is 11.1 that is the problem. The fact that it is happening on both Intel and Arm speaks volumes to Apple’s BS.

I clean installed and then updated to 11.2 and so far it’s okay. will continue to test.
 
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