Want to display your SecuritySpy cameras as a screensaver on your Mac? This tutorial will walk you through the process step by step.
Step 1: Install WebViewScreenSaver
WebViewScreenSaver is a free screensaver that displays web pages. The easiest way to install it is to download the latest version from the releases page (e.g. WebViewScreenSaver-2.4.zip) – when downloaded this unzips to a file called WebViewScreenSaver.saver, which you then double-click to install.
Step 2: Set Up SecuritySpy’s Web Server
Before creating your screensaver URL, you’ll need to:
- Enable SecuritySpy’s web server and set up password protection by adding at least one web account.
- Find your access URL by clicking the Access Info button under Settings > Web – you’ll see several options like:
– Same machine: http://127.0.0.1:8000
– Local network: http://example.local:8000
– Internet: https://example.viewcam.me:8001
Step 3: Create Your Multiplex URL
SecuritySpy’s multiplex web page displays cameras in a grid layout. Here’s how to set it up:
- Find your camera numbers in the Camera Info window (if you don’t see the camera numbers, click the header bar to show additional columns):
- Create an auth parameter from the username and password of a web account (ideally, use an account with live video permissions only). The value of this parameter is the Base64 representation of the string username:password
- Choose any extra parameters:
– cropMode: 0 for black bars, 1 to crop, 2 to stretch
– format: 0 for JPEG (best for local network) or 1 for H.264/H.265 (best for Internet)
– fps: the frame rate to use; useful to limit server load.
Your final URL will look something like this:
http://m1-mini.local:8000/multiplex?cameras=0,2,3,7&cropMode=2&auth=dXNlcjpwYXNz
Step 4: Configure Your Screen Saver
Go to System Preferences > Screen Saver, and look for WebViewScreenSaver under the Other section (scroll to the right, and click on it to activate):
Click Options, and enter your multiplex URL. If you have lots of cameras to display, you also have the option of adding multiple URLs to rotate between different camera views.
Step 5: Activate Your Screensaver
You can set up your screensaver to activate:
- Automatically after a period of inactivity (System Settings > Lock Screen)
- Manually using a Hot Corner (System Settings > Desktop & Dock).
That’s it! You now have a live security camera display that doubles as your screensaver.
I have installed this, and can get into it and add a URL that works fine in my safari browser, but I only get a blank screen when I try to preview it within the app – Maybe a system update has restricted the ability for this to work? I’m on 15.6.1, m4 mini, latest SS, etc –
I’m not sure what could be wrong here – if it works in Safari it should work in WebViewScreenSaver. I’ve just tested this on my macOS 15.6.1 system and it works correctly. Maybe it’s the preview that isn’t working for some reason – what happens when the screensaver activates properly?
Solved it – you cannot use the local network settings – I changed it to the Internet settings, and it’s fine! Solves a real problem – if I’m working on something in the shop and I hear something that makes me want to check around the exterior of the shop, having the exterior cameras up as my screen saver is great!!
Great to hear you found a solution! This does sound like it’s macOS blocking the local-network connections. Do you see an option to allow access to the screen saver under System Settings > Privacy & Security > Local Network?
Not an option underSystem Settings > Privacy & Security > Local Network – there are 8 apps there, but not webviewScreenSaver- and I cannot find a way to add it – That’s ok – It’s really nice to have the main cameras come up on the screensaver – It would be nice if there were a way to get that feed under a lock screen, so if the Mac goes to sleep just shaking the mouse would bring those up, but this is better than nothing!! Thanks – Tad