When you have to step away from your Mac, the most effective approach to prevent unauthorized access to your computer is to lock it. You will be prompted to enter your password to get past the lock screen. This action will not close or disrupt any applications that are already running. This article will walk you through the various methods for locking your Mac. This post will walk you through the steps of locking your Macbook. So let’s get started:
How to Lock Macbook
Setting up a password
You will be required first to create a password before you can lock your Mac computer. This password will be needed to get into your Mac and approve any changes to your personal machine.
1. To access the system preferences, go to the Apple menu by clicking the Apple icon in the upper left corner of your screen.
2. Navigate to the “Security and Privacy” tab.
3. Go to the tab labelled “General,” and check the box labelled “Require password.” The timing of the password can also be customized, with options ranging from “immediately” to “8 hours.” If you want your computer to automatically lock itself whenever it enters sleep mode or screensaver mode, you must select the “immediately” option.
It is also important to point out that by choosing “Advanced” in the lower-right-hand corner of the window, you can specify the maximum amount of time your computer can be idle before it automatically logs you out and prompts you for a password to re-enter. This is an excellent option for the very last line of defense against potential invaders.
After you have set your password, you will have numerous options available to you for locking your Mac. The most suitable technique for you will depend on your routines and preferences and the context in which you most frequently use your computer, which may be a private or public environment.
Closing the lid
If you use a MacBook, you may easily hide your work by closing the lid. This is by far the simplest option, but it will only work if you set the computer to lock “immediately” when you set up your password.
By Apple menu bar
The Apple symbol in the menu bar provides a further straightforward method for locking your Mac. From the menu that drops down when you click on the Apple icon, select “Lock Screen.”
Read More: How To Clean MacBook Keyboard 3 Steps
By using keyboard shortcuts
You can lock your Mac quickly and efficiently using your keyboard:
- Press Control + Command + Q: This shortcut will take you directly to the lock screen.
- Press Control + Shift + Power button: This shortcut will turn your displays off only — background tasks, like music, will continue.
- Press Command + Option + Power button: This shortcut will let your computer sleep.
NOTE: If you use an earlier Mac with a button to eject media, you should hit that button instead of the one labelled “Power.”
By using Hot Corners
If you want to lock your screen with the flick of your wrist rather than by using a shortcut, you may program your screen to enter screensaver mode when the pointer is moved to a specific part of the screen. This can be done by setting up a shortcut. This function is known as Hot Corners, and the following is a rundown of how to configure it:
1. Select the Apple icon from the menu. Click “System Preferences” at the bottom of the menu that has dropped down.
2. Click “Desktop & Screen Saver”
3. In the new window shown, go to the “Screen Saver” tab and click the “Hot Corners” button.
4. In the pop-up menu that appears when you right-click the corner you wish to use, select “Start Screen Saver,” and then click “OK.” The screensaver will activate on your computer anytime you move the cursor into the previously selected corner.
By using the Mac Touch Bar
It is possible to add a “Screen Lock” symbol to the Touch Bar of a MacBook Pro provided you can personalize it.
1. To access System Preferences, click the Apple icon on the dock.
2. Navigate to and select “Keyboard.”
3. From the menu for the Keyboard, select “Customize Control Strip.”
4. A menu of icons will appear at the bottom of your screen at this point. Locate the “Screen Lock” symbol and then drag it into the touch bar. You are free to organize the buttons however you see fit.
5. Once complete, click “Done.” Using the Touch Bar, you will now have the ability to lock your screen.
Additional FAQs
What are the 3 keys to lock Mac?
To lock your screen immediately, use Control + Command + Q. Using the shortcut Shift-Command-Q, you can log out of your user account on macOS. You will be required to provide confirmation. To log out of your account quickly without asking for confirmation, enter the Option-Shift-Command-Q combination.
What button is shift lock on Mac?
On the keyboard of your Mac, there are two Shift keys. There is one located in each of the four corners of your keyboard. On the left side of the keyboard, directly below the Caps Lock key is where you should find the Shift key. The second key can be found on the right side of the keyboard, directly above the arrow keys.
What is a security key for Mac?
Your Apple ID is afforded an additional layer of defence against phishing attempts when you use a physical security key. A security key is a small external device that can be used for verification when signing in with your Apple ID using two-factor authentication. This type of verification requires using a device that looks like a tag or a thumb drive.
Does my Mac have security?
Protecting your Mac from malicious software is the job of the technically advanced runtime protections in macOS, which work deep within the operating system. This begins with cutting-edge pre-installed antivirus software to detect, prevent, and eliminate malware.
