Top 3 Mac App Lockers to Effectively Lock Apps on Your Mac

A Mac app locker is designed to lock apps on Mac. Such a tool can prevent others from opening your Mac apps. With it, you can effectively protect your important private apps from prying eyes. Also, there are other benefits. For example, parents can use it to restrict access to distracting apps when children use Mac for school. What is the best app locker Mac software? How do I use it? Please just read on.

 

The 3 best Mac app lockers

#1 AppCrypt

Compatibility: macOS 10.12 or later

If you are looking for a great Mac app locker or Mac app blocker, Cisdem AppCrypt can be the best tool to lock apps due to great ease of use and high effectiveness.

How to lock apps on Mac

Step 1. Download and install the tool on your MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac or Mac mini.

Free Download

Step 2. When you first open the app locker Mac, set a strong password and click Submit.

Step 3. In the menu bar at the top of your screen, click the AppCrypt icon. Choose Open Main Window.

Step 4. Enter the password to access the main window.

Step 5. Under the App Lock tab, click the plus icon.

Step 6. From the Applications folder that appears, select an app or multiple apps that you want to lock. Click Open.

It’s that easy. You can follow the steps to effortlessly lock apps such as Mail, Photos, Safari, System Preferences, Quicken, Evernote and others.

Now let’s verify the locking. When I try to launch a locked Mac app, it won’t open. And I will be prompted to enter the password.

When a person tries to open a locked app and enters a wrong password, the app will still be locked. In addition, AppCrypt will record the failed attempt and take a picture of this person. You can disable photo taking in Preferences if needed.

How to unlock apps?

You can unlock apps by entering the correct password. If you don’t want to keep an app locked anymore, you can remove the lock from this app. Enter the password to access the main window. Under the App Lock tab, select the app and then press the Delete key.

Tips

• Enable the auto lock There is an optional feature to automatically relock an unlocked app after it’s not active for some minutes or you are away from your Mac for some minutes. You can enable the feature by going to Preferences.

• Lock Mac apps at certain times Under the App Lock tab. Select the app to bring up a clock icon. Click the icon, enable Custom Schedule and add a schedule.
• Set this Mac app locker to run automatically at startup You can do this to most effectively protect your important apps. Go to Preferences, select the checkbox next to Launch at system startup.
• Block websites This app locker for Mac can also block websites. It lets you block specific sites, categories of sites, and URLs with certain keywords.

AppCrypt main features:

• Lock applications with password on Mac
• Let you lock apps permanently or at certain times
• Provide a report of failed attempts to launch locked apps
• Also allow you to block websites on Safari, Chrome, etc.
• Require password to quit or uninstall AppCrypt
• Password protect your privacy
• Can be used for parental control
• Support macOS 10.12 or later

Free Download

The video shows you how to use the Mac app blocker to block unauthorized access to apps.

#2 AppLocker Mac

Compatibility: macOS 10.11 or later

AppLocker Mac is a simple, useful tool to lock your important or sensitive Mac apps. The interface is easy to understand and almost minimal. There is little learning curve. It’s compatible with various macOS version and optimized for M1 Macs.

It offers a free version, and the free Mac app blocker can merely lock one app. To be able to lock more than one app and access full features, you need to upgrade. The Pro version provides features for you to unlock apps with your fingerprint or a nearby device via Touch ID or Bluetooth ID.

Below is how to block apps on Mac that you want to keep private and secure with it.

Step 1. When you first open AppLocker Mac, it will ask you to add a password. To make sure that you use a relatively strong password, this Mac app blocker doesn’t allow a password that is shorter than 3 characters. Never forget your password!

Step 2. Click the add button in the top right corner, which will bring up a new window.

Step 3. Select an app to lock by clicking it.

Now the app is locked and protected.

To make the locking more effective, there are two things that you can do: select the Start at Login checkbox and set up Extra Security.

When someone with access to your Mac tries to open a password locked app, he or she will be asked to enter the password. If the person doesn’t know the password, the app won’t open.

On the one hand, AppLocker Mac is easy to operate and requires no configuration. On the other hand, it’s not versatile enough due to low degree of customization and lack of more-advanced features. All in all, it’s a handy app locker Mac.

#3 iLocker for Mac

Compatibility: macOS 10.11 or later

iLocker for Mac is a flexible and safe Mac app locker that can block access to apps with a password. You can use it to prevent others from opening your apps. You can also use it to prevent your children from spending too much time on certain apps.

It keeps track of any failed access to a password-protected app and lets you know the specific date and time when the failed access took place.

Step 1. Open the app. Enable Password Protection.

Step 2. Set a password.

Step 3. Under the Apps tab, select a Mac app to lock by clicking the plus icon. Alternatively, you can easily do it by dragging the app into this app locker for Mac.

For each locked app, there is an option to set a schedule, which gives more flexibility. For example, you can keep certain apps locked only during homework hours.

Whenever you want to use a locked app, just unlock with the password or Touch ID. It’s easy and instant.

By using a app locker for Mac, one can receive one or more of the following benefits.

• Your colleagues, roommates or other people will have no access to your apps, not to mention any opportunity to post embarrassing status updates on your social media profile, such as Twitter, WhatsApp, etc.
• Your jealous boyfriend or girlfriend won’t be able to snoop through your photos, emails or messages.
• You can keep your kids locked out of the apps. They only can access movies, TV shows and games at a specified time.
• You can prevent thieves or strangers from intruding. If your apps in Mac were unprotected, hackers and thieves would easily find a way to break in your personal life and steal your secret information.
• You are able to keep away from distracting apps while you are working or studying. Mac app blocker can effectively prevent you from using social media apps such as Facebook Messenger, game apps and others that may distract you from what you are doing.

Conclusion

Mac comes with built-in basic security options and enables users to add a password to lock screen, which however can’t satisfy some users’ needs sometimes. One of the anticipated features is the ability to block important individual apps so as to better protect privacy.

How to lock apps on MacBook Air or other models? With a Mac app locker, it will be super easy. You no longer have to worry that your private apps are snooped on or that your children secretly play video games on Mac when they are supposed to do homework. Locking apps with password is a good way to protect privacy, limit screen time and reduce digital distractions. Be sure to make your password strong and don’t forget it.