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Lock Your Mac Desktop (Part II)

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In case you haven't noticed it, this is the continuation of Lock Your Mac Desktop but also the compilation of all useful resources from our readers. In the earlier part, we have covered about locking Mac desktop by enabling security password upon waking up and going to login window with fast user switching. If you have yet to know those two, I recommend you to check it out. (Though I doubt most of you will…)

In this article, we will tap on readers' suggestions on locking Mac desktop, including using active screen corners, utilizing keychain access, installing lock widget, and one more quick trick.

Using Active Screen Corners

First and foremost, I am going to re-introduce again active screen corner (since most of new Mac switchers don't know about this). Basically, you can assign one of these actions to your active screen corner (and you've four corners):

  1. Show All Windows
  2. Show All Application Windows
  3. Show Desktop
  4. Show Dashboard
  5. Invoke Spaces
  6. Start Screen Saver
  7. Disable Screen Saver
  8. Sleep Display

By binding one corner for activating screen saver, and empowered with security password upon waking up screen, we can do a really quick desktop lock by only moving mouse pointer to the corner of our screen. Active corner action binding can be done inside System Preferences… → Exposé & Spaces → Exposé.

Utilizing Keychain Access

Keychain Access, a built-in application for Mac, can also be used to lock our screen besides its main functionality to keep our password protected. By following these steps, you will be able to see a lock icon stuck on your menu bar that can assist you in locking up your screen.

  1. Open Keychain Access (if you don't know where it is, use Spotlight)
  2. Go to Keychain Access → Preferences…
  3. Under General section, tick checkbox 'Show Status in Menu Bar'
  4. A Lock icon should now appear on your menu bar. Click on it to see what it can do (obviously, locking screen is on of its features)

Installing Lock Widget

If you're the type of person that hates long-winded initial setups, you can use a widget to lock your desktop. This small, nifty widget, called Locker, can be downloaded here. Just by double-clicking on it, you can lock your Mac desktop (just like when you're using fast user switching).

Employing LockTight for Global Shortcut

I just found this app, named LockTight, that enables you to assign a shortcut, let's say command-option-ctrl-L to quick-lock Mac desktop.

And anyway, LockTight will be stuck to your System Preferences after installation. (It seamlessly runs as background process)

Many options are there for you to choose: from using mouse pointer to assigning keyboard shortcut, from utilizing menu bar to installing additional widget. I believe you know which one you prefer the most. We would be very appreciate if you would share us insight regarding to your preference.

Categories: Tips and Tricks
Tags: Lock, lock, Security, security

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9 Comments

NaVi 

Hallo, me again =)   These options are far better than the previous ones! I have now locktight AND the keychain option. Both are really quick to use. I don't really lock my mac down very often so I have a question: will the screensaver keep showing when the desktop is locked? Or does the screen shut down after the predefined time? Thanks off course!

Wendy 

Eventually, your mac will go to sleep if left idle for a period of time. And the duration itself is set under Energy Saver Preferences Pane.

Ammon 

Useful post.  My fav solution for a quick lock desktop is MacLoc.  It's free and does the trick for me.

Thai Tanic 

I still like the Keychain menu the best. Thanks for posting others, too.

macsin 

thank you so much for your posting, i give a try. 

rock on

John 

I use an app called sleep and lock and it actually turns off your monitor when it locks.  that locktight looks good though as a keyboard shortcut, as I use quicksilver to lock mine or a shortcut on the dock.

Guy 

I use Lockdown<http: /> very fast and nice app and free to use.

Mr. Philippe G. C. Robert 

I LOVE the four corner binding app in apple. Brilliant!

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Travis Misterek 

Thanks for the tip on spotlight / keychain prefs for lock.

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