Update macOS Sonoma video screensaver and wallpaper based on a saved wallpaper Index.plist file

update_sonoma_wallpaper.sh

#!/bin/bash

# Check if an argument is given
if [ "$#" -ne 1 ]; then
    echo "Usage: $0 path/to/file.plist"
    exit 1
fi

# Store the path to the input .plist file
input_plist="$1"

# Define the destination path
destination_plist="$HOME/Library/Application Support/com.apple.wallpaper/Store/Index.plist"

# Check if the input .plist file exists
if [ ! -f "$input_plist" ]; then
    echo "Error: File '$input_plist' does not exist."
    exit 1
fi

# Copy the .plist file to the destination
cp "$input_plist" "$destination_plist"

# Check if the copy operation was successful
if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then
    echo "File copied successfully."
else
    echo "Failed to copy file."
    exit 1
fi

killall WallpaperAgent

echo "WallpaperAgent has been restarted."

To use, save this script to a file and give it execute permissions using the command chmod +x update_sonoma_wallpaper.sh.

Then, for each wallpaper/screensaver you want to be able to switch to, select the appropriate screen saver in System Settings > Screen Saver, and copy the updated Index.plist file found at ~/Library/Application Support/com.apple.wallpaper/Store/Index.plist to a folder somewhere, renaming the copy to something more descriptive, such as Sonoma Horizon.plist.

You can save as many screensaver .plist configs as you want this way, and then switch to the one you want by running the script like this: ./update_sonoma_wallpaper.sh Sonoma\ Horizon.plist, assuming the script is located in the same folder as the saved plist files.