Photos Does not show in System Preferences\Desktop & Screen Saver Wallpaper Choser

[shafez]

Photos Does not show in System Preferences\Desktop & Screen Saver Wallpaper Choser after updating to 11.3.

Any idea?

Regards

 

[Zephar77]

They should show; but, I too am having same problem. I can select Photos for Desktops; but, I messed up one or more Screen Saver files getting rid of Aerial Orphan files, and lost the "Source" drop down menu. A macOS Big Sur Re-install should have restored what was missing, but did not. It has to be a default setting file somewhere; but, there are so many. I could easily fix if I knew which one via TM backups.
If I figure a fix for your situation, I'll let you know. Been working on this for several days now. Grrrr...
Best, Zephar

 

[Geoff777]

I'm having issues with it and have for a while..... when I click to add a folder, it doesn't add. I can go and select a picture from the folder and it sometimes becomes the wallpaper, sometimes not.
But the folder I added is never listed when I go back in.... no big deal, but it's not working right.

 

[Zephar77]

If you have a large photo library the first time you open for photos you have to wait for quite a while for it to show up. Reboot the computer and click on the desktop screensaver window and wait for a while. In screensaver click on Ken Burns are one of the others above and wait.
I just fixed a problem for the same thing and I fixed it but didn’t know it because I was impatient and it sat there on one iMac while I was doing something on the other iMac and when I came back everything showed up after about 15 minutes. Seth

 

[Geoff777]

Thanks Zephar77 - that worked - went to screensaver first and followed your guidelines, then lo and behold, the folder appeared in Desktop too! Cheers. 🍻

 

[Zephar77]

Cheers!, Glad to hear you got that working. I know the feeling.
Best, Zephar

 

[Le0M]

I think that what happens is that if we have the option to "Optimise Mac Storage" turned on, then unless the photo we want to set as our wallpaper is downloaded in that moment, then the Mac won't show it in the list of photos from which you're supposed to choose from.
And let me say that this is such a stupid bug.
What should happen is that all photos' miniatures should be visible in the settings/wallpaper section, and once you select on it, the Mac automatically temporarily downloads it and gives you a preview, and eventually you can decide whether to set it as wallpaper, or to surf all photos you want till you made your mind up.
Again, this is such a stupid thing for Apple not to have tackled this issue yet.
Whoever has a developer version of macOS should report this bug using the Feedback app.

 

[Zephar77]

I think that what happens is that if we have the option to "Optimise Mac Storage" turned on, then unless the photo we want to set as our wallpaper is downloaded in that moment, then the Mac won't show it in the list of photos from which you're supposed to choose from.
And let me say that this is such a stupid bug.
What should happen is that all photos' miniatures should be visible in the settings/wallpaper section, and once you select on it, the Mac automatically temporarily downloads it and gives you a preview, and eventually you can decide whether to set it as wallpaper, or to surf all photos you want till you made your mind up.
Again, this is such a stupid thing for Apple not to have tackled this issue yet.
Whoever has a developer version of macOS should report this bug using the Feedback app.

Your reply is very much appreciated and I came to the same conclusion, or similar at least.
I noticed that if you are patient the photos will eventually appear, and all their sub menu options, such as favorites, which is the one I select. That way I select all the photos I wish to see on desktop or screensaver, but not view images that are there for reference only. I find this easier rather than dropping them on the desktop and putting them in documents. You could also create an album of all your favorites, but placing a hard on your selected photos, I select all and then unselect the ones that wanted is easier and only two steps. Thanks for your reply once again! Best, Seth

 

[Le0M]

Your reply is very much appreciated and I came to the same conclusion, or similar at least.
I noticed that if you are patient the photos will eventually appear, and all their sub menu options, such as favorites, which is the one I select. That way I select all the photos I wish to see on desktop or screensaver, but not view images that are there for reference only. I find this easier rather than dropping them on the desktop and putting them in documents. You could also create an album of all your favorites, but placing a hard on your selected photos, I select all and then unselect the ones that wanted is easier and only two steps. Thanks for your reply once again! Best, Seth

Well it would be much easier if Apple fixed this bug, but yeah, we kinda know the workarounds

 

[PhilipJ.]

Photos Does not show in System Preferences\Desktop & Screen Saver Wallpaper Choser after updating to 11.3.

Any idea?

Regards

I don't have a fix for this issue, but if you go to your photos app you can select the image you want to be your background, press the share icon, then select 'Set Desktop Picture'.