# XScreenSaver

> Collection of historic and educational graphics demos for interactive exploration. (iPhone/iPad app by Jamie Zawinski.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xscreensaver/id539014593 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Jamie Zawinski](https://appshunter.io/developer/368900426)
- Category: Entertainment
- Price: Free
- Rating: 4.86/5 from 104 App Store ratings · 98 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 12.0 · 28 MB
- Languages: English
- Released: 2012-08-01
- Data updated: 2026-08-19
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xscreensaver/id539014593/reviews.md

## What is XScreenSaver?

The XScreenSaver application is a large collection of historic and educational graphics demos.

XScreenSaver is the standard screen saver collection shipped on most Linux and Unix systems. I released the first version in 1992. In 2006, I ported it to MacOS, and in 2012 I ported it to iOS.

This application is not a screen saver, of course, since iOS doesn't have those.  But it does let you play with the hundreds of graphics demos that are a part of the XScreenSaver collection.

## Key features

- Historic graphics demos
- Educational visual content
- Interactive demo playback
- Large collection of visuals
- Cross-platform heritage

## What do users think of XScreenSaver?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- ✨ No ads or data collection
- 🎨 Extensive variety of screensavers
- 📱 Works seamlessly across multiple platforms (iOS, Mac, iPad)
- 🆓 Completely free application
- 🕰️ Nostalgic and retro aesthetic appeal
- 🎯 Does exactly what it's supposed to do
- 🖥️ Beautiful graphics on high-resolution screens
- ⚙️ Customizable parameters for screensavers
- 🎓 Educational value about computer science history
- 🔧 Well-maintained and actively supported

**Cons**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes with certain screensavers
- 🎯 Difficult to tap small exit button on larger devices
- 🔋 High battery consumption on some devices
- ⚠️ Photo library screensaver crashes on iOS 13
- 🎪 Limited practical use on iOS devices
- 🔐 Security concern with GLText revealing password information

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Photo library screensaver crashes on iOS 13
- GLText reveals password when system info is selected
- Framebuffer loading failures requiring app restart
- Crashes on certain devices or configurations
- Difficult UI for exiting screensavers on larger phones

**Most requested features**

- Favorites or bookmarking system to save preferred screensavers
- Hide or exclude unwanted screensavers from rotation
- Ability to select specific channels in XAnalogTV screensaver
- Widget support for iOS standby mode
- Prevent auto-lock feature to keep screen on
- Apple TV version
- Windows port of the application
- Larger hit areas for corner icons
- Faster scrubbing through screensavers
- Donate button for supporting development
- Screensavers featuring pentagons

## Recent user reviews (10 of 98)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xscreensaver/id539014593/reviews.md

### 5/5 — perfect

*2026-05-03, version 6.15*

No ads, no data collection, it does exactly what it is supposed to do. Reminds me of when computers were fun.

### 4/5 — This is one of my favorites

*2025-04-30*

Yes, I come from the age of screen burn in, so old school screensavers are a favorite.

I also come from a time when there was nothing but analog TV signals, so the one I use most is XAnalogTV.  I just wish it had a control where you could select which of the 12 different channels would be displayed as it cycles through the channels.

### 5/5 — awesome

*2024-12-14, version 6.09*

i love the variety, this is perfect for my ipad when its on my stand charging not doing anything. i like the skull loop one. this app is weirdly underrated because theres no other app like this

### 5/5 — Very fun. What if widget for ios standby mode?

*2024-11-19, version 6.09*

I have had this on my Mac for ages now. Put this on my iPhone and was messing with it. 

But what if widget for iOS’ standby mode when plugged in and locked on side? What if we lived on the moon? Where is Waldo?

### 5/5 — This is by far one of the best apps of 2024 PERIOD!

*2024-06-04, version 6.07*

I have to point out that I use my iPad Pro and my Macbook Pro M2 for Music Production, Song Writing, Sound Productions, Recording... 
Even though its an amazing job, its still a job, and work needs to be done to meet standards and deadlines. 
Most music apps/software/programs are becoming more and more user friuendly... The GUIs are full of beautiful eye candy and resemble analog equipment. 
Because software is much cheaper than hardware, it appeals to 'Starving Artist' and musicians. And since the early stages of Windows, Linux and Mac musicians have 
migrated to the world of PC's!

So I have been a part of the ever growing screen savers since 1995, and this brings back memories, and been an inspiration! 

The amount of content and the control you have over these amazing screen savers is well worth over $100 ... 

I feel like this app is too good to be true! 
i can only hope that this app is able to be on the app store for years and years!

Thank you so much for this AMAZING APP! 
Also thank you for allowing it to be used on iPad as well as Macbook!

### 5/5 — xscreensaver my beloved

*2024-05-24, version 6.07*

When I was growing up, screensavers were falling out of fashion. The first, and last, screensaver I saw was Windows 7's Bubbles. The screensaver options in Windows nowadays have not expanded and are uninteresting.

And then I started playing with Linux.

Screensavers are awesome. They are an expression of art, mathematics and computer science. What used to be high-end demos that were the whole focus of a floppy disc on systems like the C64, we now effortlessly run when we aren't looking at our screen. What a marker of human progression.

A gallery of screensavers for iOS could easily replace any Netflix subscription or YouTube brainrot. I'm pocketing this in my list of neat iOS apps along with iperf and Fish Farm.

### 5/5 — Great for running in the background

*2024-04-15, version 6.07*

I’m old and I miss the soothing mindlessness of screensavers. This app is a treasure. I only wish it had a favorites option or hide the ones you don’t like.

### 5/5 — Looks brilliant on the high resolution screen of an iPad

*2024-03-20, version 6.07*

It’s nostalgic looking at some of these when they were running on a Solaris box, but a modern retina screen really makes some of these pop.

### 5/5 — oh my god

*2024-01-14, version 6.07*

this needs to get app of the year someday.

### 5/5 — Screensavers involving pentagons

*2024-01-11, version 6.07*

Can I see some screensavers involving pentagons

## Frequently asked questions about XScreenSaver

### What is XScreenSaver?

XScreenSaver is a large collection of historic and educational graphics demonstrations. Originally developed as a standard screen saver for Linux and Unix systems, it has been ported to iOS to allow users to interact with these visual demos.

### What can I do with this app?

This application allows you to play with and explore hundreds of graphics demonstrations that are part of the XScreenSaver collection. While not a screen saver on iOS, it provides an interactive way to experience these visual pieces.

### Is this app free to use?

Yes, the application is available for free. There are no in-app purchases or advertisements mentioned, indicating a completely free experience for users.

### What kind of graphics are included?

The app features a collection of historic and educational graphics demos. These are visual demonstrations that have been part of the XScreenSaver collection since its early releases in 1992.

### What is the history of XScreenSaver?

The first version of XScreenSaver was released in 1992 as a standard screen saver for Linux and Unix systems. It was later ported to MacOS in 2006 and then to iOS in 2012, bringing its collection of graphics demos to mobile devices.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 6.15 — 2026-03-31

New hacks, worldpieces, bestill, bubblecolors, darktransit, downfall, driftclouds, goldenapollian, noxfire, prococean, rigrekt, trainmandala, trizm and universeball.
Higher resolution Earth imagery in glplanet, dymaxionmap sphereeversion, cubocteversion and platonicfolding.
Text in right-to-left languages is rendered properly.

### 6.14 — 2026-01-16

New shader-based savers: alienbeacon, batteredplanet, elementalring, fluxcore, gimbalharmonics, hexplasma, logarithmiccircles, neongravity, neontriangulator, protophore, selfreflect, skyline, stardome, starnest, stripeytorus, synthwavecity, topologica and truchetzoom.
Better label wrapping in carousel and photopile.
Fixed glslideshow preferences and title display.
Clicking links in preferences opens in Safari again.

### 6.13 — 2025-12-03

Minor bug fixes.
Endgame displays a number of historical full chess games.
GL Slideshow has more image-transition effects.

### 6.10 — 2025-04-28

New hacks, dumpsterfire, hopffibration, platonicfolding and klondike.
Rewrote the VT100 emulator for apple2 and phosphor. Supports inverse and DEC Special Graphics.
BSOD supports systemd and bitlocker.

### 6.09 — 2024-06-08

New hacks, kallisti and highvoltage. Formal-wear for headroom.

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## More apps by Jamie Zawinski

- [iDaliClock](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idaliclock/id368900423)

All apps by Jamie Zawinski: https://appshunter.io/developer/368900426

## Related topics

[xscreensaver](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/xscreensaver) · [screen savers animated](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/screen-savers-animated) · [moving graphics](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/moving-graphics) · [xscar](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/xscar) · [computer graphics](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/computer-graphics) · [screen saver](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/screen-saver) · [xware](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/xware)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-19.*