Based on this article: https://workspacevita.com/how-to-use-own-videos-screensavers-mac-catalina/
The difference is that the Aerial Configuration screens shown there are outdated.
First, you need to prepare the video file so it would be visible to Aerial. Due to security.
- Create
/Users/Shared/screensavers
folder. - Put a copy of your video file to
/Users/Shared/screensavers
. - That should be enough.
So, for the latest version of Aerial:
- Download Aerial as a
.zip
here. - Unpack the archive using Finder (double-click), you'll get the
Aerial.saver
file. - Double-click this unpacked file as well. It should be added to the list of your screensavers and the Screensavers configuration should be open.
- Having Aerial selected in the list of screensavers, click Screensaver options....
- You'll see a huge list of different videos with landscapes, cities, nature etc.
- Click the gear icon, it is the middle one among the three on the top left of the dialog box.
- Click Custom Sources.
- Click Add Local... button on the bottom of the right panel.
- From Finder, drag your
/Users/Shared/screensavers
folder and drop it on the input, or just type in the path. - The folder with one video should appear in the list. If it wasn't, try to close the dialog and the screensaver selection dialog and reopen them again. If it wasn't still, try going to Advanced section of the settings and, first, change the resolution settings to match your video, and if still nothing improved, try Reset All Settings there and repeat the steps from 4 to 10.
- Go back to the list of videos by clicking the icon with the film.
- Select Source -> Screensavers in the navigation bar on the left.
- Mark your video as Favourite.
- And now select in the Aerial currently plays combo box Only favourites.
- That should be it.