Flying Toaster

Ode to the Flying Toaster

The greatest screensaver of the 90s returns — rebuilt for modern macOS and even legacy PowerPC Macs running 10.4 and 10.5 Tiger. This is a fan recreation of After Dark’s iconic Flying Toasters. All original artwork © Berkeley Systems. Download it free below.

Features

  • Native Apple Silicon and X86 Support (modern macOS only)
  • Classic 2D and optional “3D” scaling modes for authentic or modern depth.
  • Adjustable toaster and toast count, plus wing-flap speed controls.
  • “Stunts” — rare looping and swerve animations (modern macOS only).
  • Optional particle-generated clouds for depth and motion (modern macOS only).
  • Metal hardware acceleration with automatic software fallback (modern macOS only).
  • OpenGL 2.0 acceleration for smooth visuals supported PowerPC systems (OS X version only)

Compatibility

Supports macOS Big Sur and newer (Intel and Apple Silicon), and PowerPC Macs running OS X 10.4 or 10.5. Built as a lightweight universal binary under a 200 KB download.

This screensaver was built from the ground up using macOS frameworks, with attention to memory management and idle CPU performance.

Downloads

Announcement Video + Demo

Release Notes

Version 0.9.3 (Current, 04/18/26)

  • Better memory management to prevent memory leakage, tested over two-plus weeks of continuous running
  • Now distributed as a DMG

Version 0.9 (04/01/26)

  • Complete Metal rewrite for much better performance
  • Memory leak fix
  • Added cloud speed controls
  • Prettier stars

Version 0.8 (02/21/26)

  • Global size control: scaling for toasters and toast (size variation and depth-based scaling)
  • Minor performance improvement
  • Memory management hardening and defensive initialization fixes

Version 0.7 (12/25/25)

  • Added Metal hardware acceleration with automatic fallback to software rendering
  • Added FPS counter display option
  • Added optional starfield background
  • Added True black background option for OLED displays

Version 0.5 (10/21/25)

  • Initial Release

ToasterSlop — The 3D Version (1.1)

ToasterSlop: a 3D chrome toaster with feathered wings flying through a starry galaxy

ToasterSlop is a separate screensaver that swaps the classic sprites for real 3D models rendered in Metal: chrome lighting, articulated feathered wings, glowing heating coils and toast cooked to varying shades. It installs alongside Ode to the Flying Toaster with its own settings, so you can keep both. Requires macOS Sequoia or later on Intel or Apple Silicon.

  • Fully rendered toasters (14 different toasters), plus toaster ovens and waffle makers.
  • Toast, waffles, toaster pastries and bagels.
  • Optional animated recreations of the Mac OS X 10.5, 10.6 and 10.7 backgrounds.
  • Render quality settings.
  • Tons of animations to bring personality to the toasters.
  • Massive amounts of granular controls for backgrounds, clouds, toaster types, 3D field depth and toast settings.
  • A few easter eggs, some of which depend on background settings.
  • Performance optimizations and minor corrections to models.

Planned Features

Currently, I am building a ScreenSaverKit framework for developers to use for creating their own macOS screensavers. Future plans for this screensaver include a 10.6+ Snow Leopard version for early x86 Macs, and possibly adding in clouds for retro versions, as well as OpenGL 1.x support for earlier PowerPC systems.

Available free on Patreon — no subscription required. Follow for updates, bug fixes, and upcoming ports for older Macs.


Created by Greg Gant you can find me on YouTube