“Lock Desktop” – New Mac OS X App
April 15th, 2007 | 
I’ve uploaded one of my first applications for a Mac. It’s extremely easy to use. The tool allows you to lock your desktop when you’re away from the computer and requires a password when you get back. This is something you can run on demand, instead of waiting for a screen-saver, or logging off. Lock Desktop 1.0 even keeps your programs running in the back.
Download the file below.
Lock Desktop – Mac OS X
Mac OS X – Application that will “lock” desktop. This feature was available on my PC and allowed to leave my workstation and ensure that my desktop remained safe. This application runs an Automator script to lock the desktop.
Cool, thanks for the utility.
Awesome! Now all it needs is a custom icon.
Did you know that in “Key Chain” you can enable a menu-bar LOCK icon that allows you to lock your keychain? Doing so sends your mac to the screen saver which can not be quit with out first unlocking your keychain…. (I’m not denying the usefulness of your app… er, script. I’m a stickler for not having one more piece of software on my mac when Apple built-in a desired functionality already).
Keep up the good work.
just an fyi, the screenssaver lets you do this too
Additional FYI, you can do this exact thing by clicking on your user icon in the menu bar and selecting “Login Window…” instead of logout. It’s similar to switching users without actually switching to a different user.
I have an external USB keyboard plugged to my Macbook Pro. Lock Desktop works great with one exception. Every time I run “Lock Desktop,” it locks the system and brings up the “Keyboard Setup Assistant” saying my keyboard is not recognized. I can ignore the Keyboard Setup Assistant by clicking out of it, but it’s just kind of a nuisance.
Once I log back in, the system automatically recognizes the keyboard again. Do you have any suggestions?
First of all thank you Chris.
Do you people who found the script not useful considered that this is an Automator action, which may be triggered if there is a particular reason to lock the session automatically? Say a call by your mistress on iChat while your wife is around!
And you can use the same script line with Applescript.
really good
Vraiment excellent. A trouvé sa place dans le Dock
Merci
Shocked that Apple does not have a key sequence for this like Microsoft does. This is great; click on the desktop icon and away it goes. I had my screensaver set to 3 minutes etc. and that got old real quick.
You don’t need a keystroke to set the screen saver which requires a password to unlock it.
Just set a hot corner action in the ‘Desktop and Screen Saver’ system preferences pane.
You set the unlock screen saver with password in the ‘Security’ system preference pane.
Then you just move your cursor to the hot corner and your screen saver is instantly activated and requires a password to unlock it. Who needs a keystroke?
Geez some people are dense: “Who needs a keystroke?”
It’s not about ‘needing’ a keystroke; it’s about wanting a keystroke. I use a MacBook Pro, where the touchpad is sometimes my only option and a keystroke is much faster. Anyone who’s been a notebook user for more than a year realises the awesome speed boost of using keys over the mouse.
Given the criticism regarding the fact that this capability can readily be accessed without your Automator script, i just want to point out that this is the *only* one-click solution. I put it in my dock and all it takes is a quick chop and voila.
But question, can key-stroke or function button be set to run this action? I’m a MBP user just like Tim and keystrokes are vastly easier than trackpad actions more often than not.
Thanks for the app..i like it.
Thanks for everyone’s comments. The script is free. If you don’t like it, don’t download it.
I found it really useful so I wanted to share. I also want a keystroke….but haven’t found a good solution, yet.
-Chris Cook
“Lock Desktop” developer
Your a kind guy, Chris, sharing this with those not capable.
I made such a script a long time ago for the very the same reason, even tho using a trackpad is not so slow or difficult to use as some of the replies here suggest. But then again, as Tim states boldlyin his posting, we may save 1/100 second this way. Way to go Tim
, I guess you are the densest among the dense around here*lol
Anyway as you say, its free and if you dont like it, dont’ download it. I downloaded it as I am way to lazy to make the automator action again. Saved me some minutes this way.
Thanks and congratulations with your new job.
Thanks for this! I’ve been looking for something like this for a few days. I’m a windows switcher who used WinKey + L a lot. All of the alternatives on the Mac didn’t work for me (hotcorner for screen saver is not a good solution, keychain access in menu bar, enabling fast user switching, which both put another icon in the menubar)
Also, if you have QuickSilver installed, you can create a trigger that launches this Automator app…..now Apple + L locks my screen. Perfect!!
It may be useful for iCal.
I was searching for something like it to set iCal to lunch a tune in iTune and then freeze everything so nobody can use my computer if i dont wake up or if i’m not in the room.
Thank you, Chris. I was looking for this.
Bye!
Thanks Chris.
A very handy solution. Much appreciated.
Extremely useful application. Awesome work!!. Hats off to you.
Very nice app Chris. I linked to your page over at my site, I hope that’s okay. If not, just shoot me an email and I”ll get rid of it.
Is there anything preventing this application from being set to “Open at Login” or otherwise cause a loop?
Thanks for this nice Script Chris. I’m a Winows switcher, too. Very Useful.
By the way I’m using Spark to start Lock Desktop with a shortcut. I use CTRL+ALT+Apple+L because I use Apple+L to reach the address bar in Firefox.
Sry for my bad english…
patrick, the french person, says: Really excellent. A found its place in the Dock Thanks
.
And i agree
Great job, I was struggling with using the screensaver option as sometimes I have to leave the office real quickly and I don´t like the idea of leaving the computer unattended until the screensaver comes off.
Also, I was a bit annoyed with having to type my password everytime I was coming back to the computer after reading a paper or a document that kept me busy for longer than the screensaver set time.
Well done Chris.
Thanks Chris, awesome tool, really appreciate it. All the best for you.
Chris, thanks for this user-friendly tool.
I’ve searched for this a long time.
This program rocks…i have roommates that all ways get on my computer as soon as i step away…even if it is just to go to the bathroom…so now i can lock it and no one can get on it…wooo hooo
This app is great! Any chance of an update that adds a universal keyboard shortcut? something like Ctrl+cmd+L ???
Thanks again!
Quicksilver with your automator script, works perfect!
Thanks!
QS + this = awesome. Yes, screensaver is set. Yes, I use the keychain mouse menu. Some of us key command faster than using a mouse, especially on a 30″ screen.
Very useful, thanks.
Thanks Chris. Just fo me this.
Very Convenience.
Chris,
Thanks for sharing! If you continue development of this idea, I’d love to be able to “paste” a picture (such as a screenshot of a spreadsheet) into the program, so that instead of a blue screen, it looks like there’s some work being done. (There used to be a program that did this, but that was under system 8 — or even 7!) Thanks again!
Dave
Thank you!!! Having been a Linux user for several years before switching to Mac a year ago, this is one feature I really missed. This works great. Thank you.
Kevin
This is great! Thank you for sharing it.
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Thanks everyone. I’ve updated the application!!
I must be stupid, but I’m trying to download it and it jumps to a new page that says “you must be logged in to download” but why or how does one login to download?
ohhh and just found this for those wanting a keystroke lock… haven’t tested it myself, called LockTight.
http://mac.pieters.cx/
or
http://www.gkoya.com/2006/11/23/locktight-for-mac-os-x-intel/
I think the first one if the universal code and the secod for intel only.
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Very good. Many thanks
Chris – thanks for this application, works great on MBP13 and Snow Leopard! Any chance to implement hot key activation in the near future?
I’ve been a huge fan of this action for some time. I was looking for the same solution as many, wanting a Mac equivalent to [Win] + L to lock the desktop.
While I’ve been using this in conjunction with Quicksilver since Tiger, I’ve noticed that under Snow Leopard it is MUCH slower. I’d read somewhere that Automator scripts that slow down under Snow Leopard should speed back up if rebuilt under Snow Leopard’s Automator.
Could you provide the applescript text or the steps to generate the Automator workflow?
Many Thanks,
Waldo
great! thank. i love it and use it. for the shortcut thing i use spark.
maeddes
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