MantelMantel HelpOpen Mantel

How can we help?

Stuck? Ask an AI to walk you through it

Copy this prompt and paste it into ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini. Then describe what you see. It already knows how Mantel installs.

Set up the Mac screensaver

Mantel isn’t on the Mac App Store yet. Apple charges developers to review apps, so macOS asks you to confirm before opening it. These steps are just Apple’s security check. You only do them once.

  1. 1

    Open the download

    Open Mantel.dmg from your Downloads folder, then drag Mantel into Applications.

  2. 2

    Open Mantel from Applications

    The first time, macOS will stop you with a message like this. Don’t worry, this is expected. Mantel isn’t on the App Store yet, so Apple hasn’t checked it. Nothing is wrong with your Mac or the app.

    “Mantel” Not Opened

    Apple could not verify “Mantel” is free of malware that may harm your Mac or compromise your privacy.

    Move to TrashDone

    Click Done (not Move to Trash).

  3. 3

    Allow it in Privacy & Security

    Open System Settings → Privacy & Security, scroll to the bottom, and click Open Anyway next to “Mantel was blocked”. Enter your Mac password, then click Open Anyway once more.

    Prefer Terminal, or don’t see the button? Open the Terminal app (press ⌘ Space, type “Terminal”), paste this, and press Return:

    xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine /Applications/Mantel.app
  4. 4

    Let Mantel set up your screensaver

    Sign in, then follow the app’s steps. It installs the screensaver for you and opens the right page in System Settings. If macOS blocks the screensaver too, the app shows a button for it. Or paste this into Terminal:

    xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine ~/Library/Screen\ Savers/Mantel.saver
  5. 5

    Pick Mantel as your screensaver

    In System Settings → Screen Saver, scroll to Other and choose Mantel. Set when it starts under Lock Screen → “Start Screen Saver when inactive”.

Show it on a TV

Most smart TVs (Samsung, LG, Android/Google TV, Fire TV) have a web browser.

  1. On the TV, open the browser and go to mantel/display.
  2. The TV shows a 6-letter code.
  3. On your phone, open Mantel → Devices → A TV, and type the code.
  4. Check the device name is your TV, then tap Connect this TV.

Older TVs automatically get a lighter version. Looks marked “works on older smart TVs” play best there.

iPad, spare monitor or any browser

In Mantel → Devices → Any browser, create a viewing link and open it on the other screen. On an iPad, tap Share → Add to Home Screen, and turn on Guided Access (Settings → Accessibility) to keep it on display.

Your Mac doesn’t need to be on for these. They load your photos straight from the internet.

Adding photos from Google Drive

Google Drive is the best home for your photos. They stay in your own account, backed up, and you can add more from your phone’s Drive app any time. Mantel just displays them.

  1. In Google Drive, make a folder (e.g. “Mantel – Family”) and put photos in it.
  2. Tap Share → under General access choose Anyone with the link → Viewer.
  3. Tap Copy link, then in Mantel → Library → + → Photos from Google Drive, paste it.

“Anyone with the link” doesn’t make the folder public or searchable. Only people who have the exact link can open it.

New photos you add to the folder appear in Mantel automatically.

Videos

Create a video album in Library and upload clips. They’re compressed on your device before uploading, and play silently on loop. Each account has a video storage allowance, shown at the bottom of Library.

Your account & recovery key

When you create an account you get a recovery key (it starts with MNTL). It’s the only way to reset a forgotten password. There are no reset emails. Keep it in your Photos, a password manager, or printed out.

Forgot your password? On the sign-in page tap Forgot password?, or scan the QR code on your recovery key image. Lost the key? Sign in and make a new one in Settings → Recovery key.

See every device signed in to your account, and sign any of them out, in Devices.

Troubleshooting

“Mantel is damaged and can’t be opened.” This is the same Apple check. Run this in Terminal, then open Mantel again:

xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine /Applications/Mantel.app

The screensaver is black or says it can’t connect. Open the Mantel app and click Reconnect, or check your Wi-Fi.

Mantel doesn’t appear under Screen Saver. Open the Mantel app → Install screensaver, then quit and reopen System Settings.

Photos aren’t showing. Check the Drive folder is still shared as “Anyone with the link”, then Library → the album → Sync from Drive now.