How to Change Lock Screen on Mac

This article explains how to change the lock screen on a Mac. You can use this feature to customize your lock screen with a unique image and message or disable it altogether.

How Do I Change My Lock Screen Picture on My Mac?

Enabling a lock screen on your Mac when you’re not using it is the easiest way to protect your data and prevent unwanted users from snooping around. If you already lock your Mac on a regular basis and want to personalize it, you can start by changing the lock screen on your Mac with a picture of your choice.

To get started, you’ll first need to download the image you want to use for your customized lock screen and adjust its size to best match your Mac’s resolution. Follow these steps once you’ve saved the picture you want to use:

1. Click the Apple icon in the upper left corner of your screen, and select About This Mac.

2. Click Displays to identify your screen’s resolution.

3. Open your saved image in Preview and navigate to Tools > Adjust Size.

4. Adjust the pixels to match your screen’s resolution and click OK.

5. Save your image as a PNG file named com.apple.desktop.admin.

6. Open Finder and click Go > Go to Folder in the navigation menu at the top of your screen.

   You can also use the Command + Shift + G keyboard combination to open Go to Folder.

7. Copy and paste /Library/Caches in the pop-up window and select Go.

8. Drag the picture you’ve chosen for your new lock screen into the Caches folder and click Replace when prompted.

   If you're not asked to replace the image, save your image as lockscreen.png. In the Caches folder, click Desktop Pictures, open the folder you see there, and replace the image when prompted.

9. The next time you lock your computer, you’ll see the picture you chose.

   Keep in mind if you decide to change your computer’s desktop background, your lock screen will revert back to a standard version. If this happens, repeat this process to customize the lock screen picture. 

How Do I Change My Lock Screen Message on Mac?

In addition to changing your lock screen picture, you can add an inspirational or handy message.

1. Click the Apple icon in the upper left corner, and select System Preferences.

2. Click Security & Privacy.

3. Click the lock at the bottom left and type in your password to make changes.

4. Check the box next to Show a message when the screen is locked and then select Set Lock Message.

5. Type in your desired message and select OK.

6. The next time your lock screen appears, you’ll be greeted by the message you set.

How Do I Disable Lock Screen on Mac?

There are times when a lock screen can get in the way, especially when you're working from home and aren't worried about anyone messing around with your computer. If this is the case, you can disable the lock screen on Mac.

1. Click the Apple icon in the upper left corner of the screen, and select System Preferences.

2. Click Security & Privacy.

3. Click the box next to Require password.

4. When prompted, click Turn Off Screen Lock.

5. When your computer wakes back up, you’ll no longer be greeted by a lock screen. Instead, you can immediately keep doing what you were busy with before.