Jun 17, 2010
How to lock the screen in Mac OS X
One of the things I missed when I switched to this MacBook was the easy ability to lock my screen. When I leave my desk at work, I desperately do not want some hooligan sitting down to write the president of our university an email, asking for a pony while using my account. Gnome, the user interface I prefer with Linux, has screen locking available from the logout window pretty easily, and in Windows I just have to perform the three-finger-salute (alt+ctrl+del) to get a Lock Screen button. But there was nothing obvious in OS X to mimic this functionality.
Rob at work showed me how to lock the screen on OS X server, though, which is identical to OS X for the desktop, so I thought I’d share.
Step 1: Opening the Keychain Access utility
Keychain Access can be reached through the Utilities folder or by typing "keychain" in Spotlight.
First, open up the Utilities folder. You can get to this by either hitting Command+Shift+U with the desktop (Finder) selected, or by opening Finder, browsing to the Applications folder, then double clicking on the Utilities folder.
Step 2: Opening the Keychain Access Preferences
Reach the preferences window through the menu bar at the top of your screen.
Once you have Keychain Access opened up, you’ll see the Keychain Access window on your screen. You can ignore this, because what we really want to get into are the Keychain Access preferences. To reach these preferences, click on the words Keychain Access at the top left of your screen and then select Preferences from the drop-down menu.
Step 3: Modify Keychain Access Preferences
Check the box labeled Show Status in Menu Bar.
All we need to do in this window is check the box labeled Show Status in Menu Bar. Once completed, go ahead and hit the red button (X) at the top left of this window to close it. You can also close the main Keychain Access window.
Step 4: Lock Screen (if so desired)
You can now lock the screen by clicking on the padlock icon at the top right of you screen.
You can now lock your screen by using the padlock icon at the top right of you screen, located on the menu bar to the left of the clock and other icons.
Thanks so much. Its been driving me crazy trying to figure this out. I have very nosy siblings and wanted to be able to keep them out without putting the mac to sleep everytime.
Thanks again! =)
You’re welcome! I’m glad it was helpful for you
How do you get it done automatically? Say after leaving your screen for 15 mins you want the screen to lock automatically
You can set this within the Security settings in System Preferences. Under the General tab, check the box (it’s at the top) labeled “Require password immediately after sleep or screen saver begins.”
Thanks,
I’ve been trying to figure out an easy way to do this and finally someone posts a very sensible solution. I fail to see why Apple doesn’t have a keyboard shortcut for this that is easy to find.
Another way:
System Preferences – Accounts – Login Options – Check Show fast user switching as ICON (or any of the other 2 options, i use icon as it doesnt take too much space on your menu bar)
An icon (or the one you chose) should now be on your menu bar, click it and then click Login Window.
Its the similar as logging out but you wont actually log out all your open programs or whatever will still be there (Similar to lock screen on windows)
SIMPLES