Comments on: Lock your Mac’s screen like in Windows [Update 1]

By: William Chiew

William Chiew — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 10:11:35 +0000

This is the most miss keyboard shortcut from windoz, now who else dare to say SL cannot lock screen? Haha…

Madgunde thanks and keep up the good work!!

By: Tom

Tom — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 04:45:21 +0000

Another easy way to do lock osx is to drag /System/Library/Frameworks/ScreenSaver.framework/Versions/A/Resources/ScreenSaverEngine onto your dock. When you click it the screensaver will activate. I find this a bit easier than a hot-corner with a multi screen setup.

By: Hugo

Hugo — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 23:05:09 +0000

Alright… very nice. That worked. I made sure to test that I indeed still had an internet connection by running a download while I used Lock System and the download kept going even while locked. Thank you.

By: madgunde

madgunde — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 22:56:57 +0000

Hi Hugo,

In iChat Preferences, make sure on the General tab, set “When fast user switching…” to either “Set my status to Away” or “Do nothing”.

If you’re using a PPPoE connection for your internet access, make sure in System Preferences–>Network–>PPPoE–>Advanced–>PPP that all of the following are UNchecked:
• Prompt every X minutes to maintain connection
• Disconnect if idle for X minutes
• Disconnect when user logs out
• Disconnect when switching user accounts

Also probably not a bad idea to enable (check) the following:
• Connect automatically when needed

If using an AirPort (WiFi) connection, under System Preferences–>Network–>AirPort–>Advanced–>AirPort, UNcheck the following:
• Disconnect when user logs out

If you’re using some other network connection, look through the Network pref pane for your connection for any similar options to the above and disable them. That should solve your problem.

Let us know what works for you!

By: Hugo

Hugo — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 21:42:43 +0000

I have tried it with Snow Leopard and it works. However, when I lock my screen it seems as if it disconnects me from the internet as well. Therefore, if I just want to lock my screen and keep a program downloading something or iChat connected to still receive IM’s it does not work. Is there a way to fix this?

By: tim

tim — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 10:50:29 +0000

Thanks sooo much!! I so hope that 10.6 will fix this with a Win+L type of shortcut! But since this is a long missing feature of OSx all i can say is i really love ur simple and 1 click-able solution!

Great job

By: madgunde

madgunde — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:27:50 +0000

Guess I should have posted this a long time ago then. Looks like I wrote it back in June 2004, so I’ve been sitting on this little gem for 5 years. In fact, from the creation date, it’s 5th birthday is coming up on the 30th.

Wow, has it been that long? Guess I created it while I was still on Mac OS X 10.3 Panther when Fast User Switching was new. Damn, time does fly…

By: BlackMacX

BlackMacX — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:20:57 +0000

All I can say is “great” and “finally”. I have wanted something like this for years (it’s one of my pet-peeves with Mac OS X). I will give it a try tonight.

By: madgunde

madgunde — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:32:35 +0000

You’ve been doing what for months? Using this hint or doing it the old way? I’ve been using this little app for a couple years now, just thought to post about it because I saw a discussion about the topic somewhere else and it dawned on me how many people don’t know about it and who might be looking for an elegant solution.

Windows + L? That’s awesome! That’s two fewer keys I have to press! Now I just have to develop the muscle memory to hit it quickly. Let’s face it, to anyone who’s used Windows for years, Ctrl-Alt-Del and Enter feel so natural we can hit them blindfolded!

Thanks for your comment!

By: Andrew Serwatuk

Andrew Serwatuk — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:26:29 +0000

You should have told me, I’ve been doing this for months

And just a side note about Windows… Windows Key + L will lock your screen (or bring you to the fast user switching login menu)