How to Set Up a Keyboard Shortcut to Lock Your Mac Screen

Are you tired of using your mouse to lock your Mac screen? Do you want a quick and easy way to secure your device while stepping away for a few minutes? Look no further! With the help of Automator, you can set up a keyboard shortcut to lock your Mac screen with ease.

To get started, first open System Preferences and navigate to the Keyboard section. Click on the Services tab and scroll down to the General section. Here, you'll find an option labeled 'Start Screensaver.' Enable this service by clicking on it.

Next, launch Automator and create a new service. In the Utilities action group, drag the Start Screen Saver action over to the workflow area. Make sure that the default setting for the 'any application' option is selected.

Tell the new service that it receives 'no input' instead of the default 'text.' This will allow you to set any keyboard command you'd like to lock or start a screen saver on your Mac.

Now, let's assign a keyboard shortcut. Click on the Keyboard Shortcuts tab and look for the Services group. Click on the '+' button at the bottom left corner of the window to create a new shortcut. Type in the keyboard shortcut you want to use, such as 'CTRL-OPT-L' (on a Mac), and click OK.

Once you've set up your keyboard shortcut, you'll be able to hit 'CTRL-OPT-L' and activate the screen saver to lock your screen. This is especially useful for road warriors who need to save battery life and protect their device from opportunistic thieves.

While putting your Mac to sleep can also help conserve battery life, it may not be the ideal option for users who want their Macs to keep working while they step away. Additionally, waking up from a sleep state takes longer than from a display lock state, although this difference has decreased with modern Macs and fast SSD storage.

By setting up a keyboard shortcut to lock your Mac screen, you can enjoy increased security and convenience. Try it out today and see the benefits for yourself!

If you have any tips or tricks for putting your MacBook to sleep or locking your MacBook's screen, please let us know in the comments below!

Mac lock hotkey