# Mac Input Lock

> Temporarily block keyboard, mouse, and trackpad input on a Mac while the existing screen, calls, videos, music, camera, and microphone continue working.

Canonical homepage: https://macinputlock.com/

## Price and source

Open source under MIT. The official ready-to-install app costs $9 once, including automatic updates. You can also build it yourself for free. The official app is signed and Apple-notarized and covers Macs in the purchaser's household. No app account, activation, or subscription is required.

## Compatibility and permission

Requires macOS 14 Sonoma or later. The official build supports Apple Silicon and Intel. Accessibility permission is required to intercept system-wide input events and recognize the unlock sequence locally.

## Locking and unlocking

Choose a case-sensitive unlock sequence of one or more visible characters. Press Start for a five-second countdown. Type the exact sequence to unlock. Control–Option–Command–D (⌃⌥⌘D) locks instantly; the same shortcut unlocks. Test the sequence before relying on it.

If the menu-bar icon is hidden while input works, reopen Mac Input Lock from Applications or Spotlight for its full controls. An optional Dock icon provides another way to find it.

## Privacy and automatic updates

The Mac app does not record or transmit typing and has no analytics or telemetry. Optional automatic updates and manual update checks use the network. The website separately uses Google Ads purchase measurement. Customers can reuse their bookmarked receipt download page to reinstall without purchasing again.

## Limits and recovery

Mac Input Lock is an accidental-input utility, not a security lock. It leaves the screen visible, unlike macOS Lock Screen. It is not the iPhone/iPad Guided Access feature: it does not confine apps, filter content, or provide parental controls. Normal sleep settings still apply. Physical hardware controls outside the macOS event stream, including the power button, remain controlled by macOS.

If neither the key sequence nor the shortcut restores input, hold the physical power or Touch ID button until the Mac turns off and restart. Unsaved work may be lost. Ordinary Force Quit controls are not practical while input is blocked. The app does not automatically relock after restart.

For physical cleaning, follow Apple's shutdown and unplug guidance. Blocking input does not protect hardware against moisture.

## Public pages

- [Mac Input Lock](https://macinputlock.com/)
- [Guided Access for Mac](https://macinputlock.com/mac-guided-access)
- [Lock your keyboard for cleaning](https://macinputlock.com/lock-mac-keyboard-for-cleaning)
- [Compare Mac input locks](https://macinputlock.com/keyboardcleantool-alternative)
- [Application source and build instructions](https://github.com/nickdoesntwantspam/mac-input-lock)
- [Apple's cleaning instructions](https://support.apple.com/en-us/103258)

Product facts reviewed: 2026-10-19. This file is a public reference; it does not grant access to paid downloads.