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How to Lock a Mac Computer

This wikiHow teaches you how to secure the screen on your Apple desktop or laptop computer, preventing others from accessing your files and data. Open the Apple Menu. Do so by clicking on the apple icon in the upper-left corner of the...
Part 1 of 2:

Requiring a Password

  1. How to Lock a Mac Computer Picture 1How to Lock a Mac Computer Picture 1
    Open the Apple Menu. Do so by clicking on the apple icon in the upper-left corner of the screen.
  2. How to Lock a Mac Computer Picture 2How to Lock a Mac Computer Picture 2
    Click on System Preferences. It's near the top of the drop-down menu.
  3. How to Lock a Mac Computer Picture 3How to Lock a Mac Computer Picture 3
    Click on Security & Privacy. It's a vault icon near the top of the dialog box.
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    Click on General. It's a tab at the top of the dialog box.
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    Click the padlock icon. It's in the lower-left corner of the dialog box.
  6. How to Lock a Mac Computer Picture 6How to Lock a Mac Computer Picture 6
    Enter an admin username and password. If you haven't set a password for your Mac, follow these instructions to do so.
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    Check "Require password." It's near the top of the dialog box.
  8. How to Lock a Mac Computer Picture 8How to Lock a Mac Computer Picture 8
    Click on the drop-down menu next to "Require password."
  9. How to Lock a Mac Computer Picture 9How to Lock a Mac Computer Picture 9
    Click on immediately. It's the first option in the drop-down menu.
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    Click on the Apple Menu. It's in the upper-left corner of screen.
  11. How to Lock a Mac Computer Picture 11How to Lock a Mac Computer Picture 11
    Click on Sleep. It's near the bottom of the drop-down menu. Your Mac will go to sleep and you'll have to enter your password to access it again.
    1. You'll also have to log-in with your password anytime you power on or restart your Mac.
Part 2 of 2:

Using the Keychain Shortcut

  1. How to Lock a Mac Computer Picture 12How to Lock a Mac Computer Picture 12
    Go to Finder. Do so by clicking on the dark and light blue, square icon that contains a smiley face, or by clicking on the background image on your desktop.
  2. How to Lock a Mac Computer Picture 13How to Lock a Mac Computer Picture 13
    Click on Go. It's in the menu bar at the top-left part of the screen.
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    Click on Utilities. It's near the bottom of the drop-down menu.
  4. How to Lock a Mac Computer Picture 15How to Lock a Mac Computer Picture 15
    Scroll down and double-click on Keychain Access. It's next to a keychain icon.
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    Click on Keychain Access. It's in the menu bar in the top-left corner of the screen.
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    Click on Preferences. It's near the top of the drop-down menu.
  7. How to Lock a Mac Computer Picture 18How to Lock a Mac Computer Picture 18
    Click on General. It's a tab at the top of the dialog box.
  8. How to Lock a Mac Computer Picture 19How to Lock a Mac Computer Picture 19
    Check "Show keychain status in menu bar." It's near the top of the dialog box.
    1. A padlock icon will appear on the right side of the menu bar at the top of the screen.
  9. How to Lock a Mac Computer Picture 20How to Lock a Mac Computer Picture 20
    Click on the padlock icon. It's on the right side of the menu bar at the top of the screen.
  10. How to Lock a Mac Computer Picture 21How to Lock a Mac Computer Picture 21
    Click on Lock Screen. It's at the top of the drop-down menu. The screen will go to sleep, and you'll have to enter your log-in password to access your Mac.
    1. Use this shortcut anytime you want to quickly lock your Mac.
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