Having your Mac auto lock is not only neat it is a safety feature. That will not allow anyone access to your Mac that shouldn’t have access. Most things on Apple are easy to carry out. But I do believe that this feature should be easier to activate so I will show you How to Auto Lock Mac.
- In the top left-hand corner click the Apple Menu ()
- From the Apple menu select System Settings
- On the system settings select Lock Screen
- From the “Start Screen Saver when inactive” dropdown selects a time.
- Now select “Immediately” from the “Require password after screen saver begins or display is turned off” menu.
- Close down System Settings
It is not always easy following along with a how-to with a simple list. So I have the how-to with pictures and, if you look below, even video instructions.
How to Auto Lock Mac
Using your Mac in a public library has become the norm. Yet, I wince as I walk past an unoccupied and unlocked Mac.
Not only can someone get access to all your personal data. If they were to steal the Mac they would be able to use it without a lock.
Auto-locking your Mac is just not worth doing and with the introduction of Touch ID, you don’t actually have to type in a password.
Step 1. In the top left-hand corner click the Apple Menu ()
Step 2. From the Apple menu select System Settings
Step 3. On the system settings select Lock Screen
Step 4. From the “Start Screen Saver when inactive” dropdown selects a time.
You can choose a wide raging amount of times from the dropdown. Your Screen saver will activate after the set amount of time you choose.
If safety is a concern then you will want to require a password when the Mac is activated again.
Step 5. Now select “Immediately” from the “Require password after screen saver begins or display is turned off” menu.
When you reactivate the Mac the password box will popup and you will be required to enter a password. You can also use touch ID to open the Mac if you have this feature.
Step 6. Close down System Settings
Now you are all set your Mac will turn on a screen saver after the time you set. Then once activated again a password to get access to the Mac will be required.
This is the perfect setup for anyone who leaves their Mac unattended. If you want to put the Mac into the lock screen yourself we have another option.
How to Lock Your Screen Manually With Hot Corners
Having your Screen auto-lock is great but if want to lock it without having to wait then there is a solution. You can set up hot corners to carry out tasks quickly and you can even add a hot corner to lock your Mac screen.
Lock Your Screen Manually With Hot Corners
- In the top left-hand corner click the Apple Menu ()
- From the Apple menu select System Settings
- On the system settings select Desktop & Dock
- Scroll to the bottom and select Hot Corners
- Choose a corner and from the dropdown select “Lock Screen“
Now, as soon as you move the mouse to the selected hot corner. Your Mac screen will lock and if you have set up a password required you will need to enter this when reactivating the Mac.
Lock Your Mac With a Keyboard Shortcut
Using hot corners is great but you can accidentally turn on the lock screen if you move the mouse to the corner. While this can be rare when it does happen it can be very frustrating. In this case, using the Mac keyboard shortcut may be the answer.
Lock Your Mac With a Keyboard Shortcut
To lock your Mac using a keyboard shortcut you should press Control (^) + Shift (⇧) + Power. Older Macs that do not have a power button will need to press Control (^) + Shift (⇧) + Eject.
How to Set Your Mac’s Screen to Lock Automatically
If you prefer video, I have you covered with this simple-to-follow video on How to Set Your Mac’s Screen to Lock Automatically.
