Mac Lock Screen | 5 Best Ways to Lock Screen on Mac

Jason

By Jason

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Mac Lock Screen

If you are looking for different ways to Mac lock the screen or put your Mac to sleep, then you might first know that both these things are different from each other.

It is important to know the distinction between the two, and hence, you will not confuse these two terms in the future.

In the case of a locking screen on a Mac, your system’s screen will go into sleep mode, and you need to type your login password to unlock your Mac lock screen.

When you put your Mac to sleep, you do not necessarily have to put in a password to unlock the Mac lock screen. But you can put a lock on the sleeping mode also.

Part 1. Simple Steps to Lock Screen on Mac in Sleeping Mode:

To put a lock screen on sleeping mode, you have to set up a password. You can put a password by following some instructions given below.

Follow some steps to put a password on your Mac’s sleeping mode.

Step 1: Launch the Option “System Preferences”

Launch the option “System Preferences” on your Mac either from the menu or through its icon.

Step 2: Select the Tab “Security & Privacy”

Now, select the pane “Security & Privacy” from the tab “System Preferences.”

Step 3: Opt for the Tab “General”

Then, opt for the tab “General” and look for the option that says “Require password . . .” and check it.

lock screen on Mac in sleeping mode

Step 4: Choose the timings

After that, choose timings from the dropdown list.

Now, you have to enter your password every time your Mac goes off in sleeping mode and when a screensaver appears. It will get locked each time and with being unlocked with your passcode.

Part 2. How Can You Lock the Screen on Mac?

If you are wondering how you can lock the screen on Mac most easily and quickly, then know some amazing ways further below.

There are times when you do not want anyone to see your Mac display, so just close the lid of your Mac, and it goes into sleeping mode. In this case, you must type your login password before reopening it.

But you can hide your Mac display from others, in fact, without closing it using other ways. You can use these tricks on MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, or MacBook. Let’s get started to learn other ways to lock your Mac.

1. Using Apple Menu for Mac Lock Screen

For this, you have to choose the option “Sleep” from the Apple menu. You do not have to log in with your password in this way.

It will lock your display effectively, and you would not require entering a password for unlocking but in case you are putting on an Apple watch at that time then it will get locked and unlocked immediately.

Using Apple Menu for Mac Lock Screen


If you do not want to let this happen even when you are wearing an Apple watch, then you can lock your Mac screen by changing the settings on your Mac.

For this, you have to navigate to “System Preferences” and then select the option “Security & Privacy.” Go to “General” and uncheck the option “Allow Apple Watch to unlock your Mac.”

2. Using Shortcuts to Lock Screen on Mac

Another option to lock the Screen on Mac is through shortcuts. You can use some shortcuts to lock the Mac screen.

If your Mac is running on OS High Sierra, then you need to go to the menu and select the option “Lock Screen” to lock your screen, or you can press a key combination Command+Control+Q. Through this, you can lock your screen in the quickest way possible.

If you are using older operating systems on your Mac, then you can press a key combination Control+Shift+Power Button. If your system has a visual drive, then you can press Control+Shift+Eject. This will lock your Mac’s display.

To enter sleep mode, you can press a key combination on the keyboard as Command+Option+Power (Eject). It works almost similarly for locking down the Mac screen, but it even shuts down the hard drive and puts the CPU into a low power consumption mode. It even shuts down all the background tasks to save energy.

3. Putting up Hot Corners to the Lock Screen on Mac

With the help of hot corners, you can create a shortcut for the sleeping mode on your Mac. These hot corners help you to complete action by moving your mouse pointer to those specific corners.

To create a hot corner, look for some steps given below.

Step 1: Choose “System Preferences”

To put a hot corner, you have to go to “System Preferences.”

Step 2: Select the Pane

Then, select the pane “Desktop & Screen Saver.”

Step 3: Click “Hot Corners”

Now, you have to click on “Hot Corners,” present at the bottom right. From the drop-down menu, choose one specific corner.

Step 4: Choose the Action

After that, select the option “Put Display to Sleep” or “Start Screen Saver” from the menu.

Putting up hot corners to lock screen on Mac

4. Using User Switching for the Lock Screen

The user switching lets you switch to another user account on your system quickly. To use this feature, you have to return to the login window of your Mac.

You can set up this function by going on to your “System Preferences” and from there to “Users & Groups.”

Then, you have to click your padlock and type your user password. Now, click on the option “Login Options” and mark checkboxes against “Show fast user switch menu as.” You can choose other options for displaying your account name, full name, or icon.

Using user switching for lock screen

After making changes, click on the menu for fast user switching present on the right side and select the window for “Login.” In this way, you can lock your Mac through fast user switching.

5. Adding keychain Access

This feature is available in the older versions but has been removed from the High Sierra operating system. So, to add a keychain, follow the given instructions:

Step 1: Navigate “Finder”

Firstly, you have to navigate to “Finder” on your Mac.

Step 2: Choose “Utilities”

Then, look for “Applications” and choose “Utilities” from there.

Step 3: Opt for “Keychain Access”

After that, you have to opt for “Keychain Access” and select the option “Preferences” from there.

Step 4: Mark the Checkbox

Then, you have to tick mark the checkbox against “Show keychain status in menu bar.”

Adding keychain access

Step 5: Choose the Option “Lock Screen”

Now, you can see an icon for a lock in the menu bar of Finder. Click on it and select the option “Lock Screen” in order to lock your system.

Part 3. Another Way to Protect Your Mac

As you know, one of the most common reasons behind locking your Mac is to protect your data from prying eyes. No one likes other people checking their browsing history, personal data, and other files.

If your major concern is to protect your Mac, then MacKeeper is the best choice for you. This tool gives you further privacy protection.

Unique characteristics of MacKeeper:

  • It helps to remove junk files, unnecessary data, and unneeded applications.
  • It deletes browsing history, messages, and attachments without the risk of losing personal data.
  • Improve the performance of your Mac.
  • It protects your Mac from different kinds of threats.
  • Fix any issues after finding them on your Mac (how to fix Mac stuck on the Apple logo).
  • It comes with Anti-theft technology, which protects your Mac offline and online.
  • It gives customer support 24*7.
  • Be a highly secure and safe tool for Mac.

With so many amazing features, MacKeeper is undoubtedly a must tool for your Mac. It efficiently optimizes your data. It frees us extra space on your Mac by deleting unnecessary data from your system.

With this tool, you can delete sensitive data from your Mac, such as browsing history, in the quickest way possible.

MacKeeper

So, you can use this application to boost the performance of your system. This tool is designed especially for Mac.

It effectively does various tasks like freeing up space, deleting junk files, optimizing your Mac, and much more. Download Mackeeper NOW to keep your device safe and secure now and then.

Thus, all these methods will help to lock your Mac or put it into a sleeping mode in the quickest way possible. You can put a lock on while your Mac goes to sleep mode.

So, no one sees what you are up to, even in the sleeping mode of your Mac, as it needs a password to unlock your Mac lock screen.

The other methods are also effective in locking the Mac screen. Now, you do not have to worry about your personal data anymore.

If you are looking for a better way to protect your Mac, then MacKeeper is the best choice to ensure better protection.

FAQs

Q: How do I disable the lock screen on Mac? A: While it’s not recommended to disable the lock screen completely, you can adjust the lock screen settings by going to “System Preferences,” selecting “Security & Privacy,” and modifying the “General” settings accordingly.

Q: Can I change the lock screen background on Mac? A: Yes, you can change the lock screen background by going to “System Preferences,” selecting “Desktop & Screen Saver,” and choosing a new wallpaper or screensaver for your lock screen.

Q: What should I do if I forget my lock screen password on Mac? A: If you forget your lock screen password, you can reset it by restarting your Mac in Recovery mode and following the instructions provided by Apple’s official support documentation.

Q: Is it possible to customize the lock screen notifications on Mac? A: Yes, you can manage lock screen notifications by going to “System Preferences,” selecting “Notifications,” and customizing the settings for each application individually.

Q: Can I use a third-party app for additional lock screen features on Mac? A: While the default lock screen features on Mac are comprehensive, some third-party apps offer additional customization and security options. Ensure that you choose reputable apps from trusted sources to maintain the security of your Mac.

Conclusion

The Mac lock screen not only provides essential security but also serves as a canvas for personalization. By customizing and securing your lock screen, you can create a visually appealing and safe environment for your Mac experience.

Jason
Jason

Skilled software testing specialist with expertise in comparisons and research, passionate about blogging, reviews, and creating video tutorials.

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