Password Protect Apps on Mac: Lock iMessage and Others
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“Is there a way to password protect the Messages app on my MacBook? My kid sometimes uses my Mac, and I don’t want them accessing my messages.”
Want to lock iMessage on your Mac? You are in the right place.
iMessage uses end-to-end encryption on conversations to help protect privacy. However, this can't prevent people with access to your Mac from snooping on your chats.
The solution is to lock the Messages app with a password. This article will show you how to lock Messages on your MacBook, iMac, or Mac mini step by step. There are also details on how to automatically re-lock Messages after inactivity or when you leave your Mac, how to stop Messages notifications, and more.
Cisdem AppCrypt
The Best Messages Locker for Mac
- Lock apps (e.g., Messages, Photos, and Evernote) with a password
- Automatically re-lock apps after a period of inactivity
- Record failed attempts to open locked apps, with date, time, and intruder photos
- Block websites, pages, URL keywords, and website categories (e.g., Porn, Gambling, and Social Media) with a password
- Lock apps and block websites 24/7 or at scheduled times
- Easy to use
- Hard to bypass
- Help with privacy protection, productivity, and parental control
How to password protect iMessage and other apps on Mac
How to lock apps on MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and other Mac computers easily with password? This part will walk you through the entire process of putting a password on iMessage on Mac. The tool used is Cisdem AppCrypt, an app locker and website blocker.
Steps: How to lock Messages on MacBook, iMac, etc.
1. Download and install this Mac app locker.
Free Download macOS 10.12 or later
2. The first time you launch it, set a password as prompted.
Note
It's highly recommend to set a strong password and to enable the Launch at System Startup option. If this option is enabled, AppCrypt will start working and locking every time your Mac boots up.
3. Click the lock icon in the menu bar and choose Open Main Window.
Then, enter the password to access AppCrypt's main window.
4. In the App Lock tab of the main window, click the big Add button, which will open the Applications folder.
To lock iMessage on Mac, select the Messages app and click Open.
Note
To prevent tech-savvy people from bypassing the lock, AppCrypt has automatically added three system apps (System Settings, Activity Monitor, and Terminal) to the App Lock tab by default. It's highly recommended that you don't remove them from this tab.
From now on, the Messages app will be permanently locked with the password you set, as long as this app locker is running. (It requires the password to quit or uninstall the app locker or change its settings. ) People with access to your Mac can’t access the app and messages within. It’s that easy and effective.
If someone tries to bypass and enters a wrong password, in addition to stopping the access, AppCrypt will record the failed attempt with time and date and take a photo of the person who tried to break in.
Tip
Open AppCrypt's Preferences, go to the App Lock section, and enable the two options there.
Enabling the first option will automatically re-lock Messages after the app has been unlocked but inactive for a period of time, such as 5 minutes. Enabling the second option will automatically re-lock Messages when you are away from your Mac for a while. These can add an extra layer of security.
Bonus tips to help better protect iMessage on Mac
How to block access to Messages by locking the screen of your Mac
To keep the iMessage messages and other information on your Mac private and secure when you are away, you can lock the screen. There are two things that you can do.
Before you leave your Mac, go to the Apple menu and choose the Lock Screen option.
Also, set your Mac to require a password when it wakes from sleep.
1. Click the Apple menu. Go to System Settings.
2. Choose Lock Screen from the left menu.
3. Click the pop-up menu next to the Require password after screen saver begins or display is turned off option and choose a period of time such as immediately or 1 minute.
This way, your Mac is locked and protected, so are the Messages app and all other stuffs on your Mac.
If locking Mac’s screen isn’t practical to you, the best solution is to lock the Messages app.
How to stop iMessage on Mac from popping up
You choose to password protect iMessage on Mac for the sake of privacy. Once apps are password protected on Mac, other people won’t be able to open them or access the content within. It’s a good decision to take.
Another way to stop the exposure of privacy is to stop notifications. Notifications are a great way to always keep you informed. However, imagine that an embarrassing iMessage notification pops up when you are giving an important presentation or sharing screen during an online meeting. How to prevent iMessage from popping up on Mac? Follow the steps below.
1. On your Mac, open System Settings through the Apple Menu.
2. Click Notifications.
3. Scroll down until you find Messages. Select it.
4. Under the Messages alert style section, choose None.
From now on, nothing will pop up when you receive messages. You can easily get notifications back at any time if you want to.
How to sign out of iMessage on Mac when you no longer use it
If you enabled Messages in iCloud on both your Mac and other devices like your iPhone, then the messages you send or receive on your iPhone will also be synced with your Mac. When you lend your Mac to other users and do not lock the Messages app, they can easily access it and invade your privacy. In this case, you can sign out of your iMessages account on Mac.
1. Open the Messages app on your Mac.
2. Open the Messages menu. Click Preferences.
3. Go to the Accounts tab.
4. Choose iMessage from the left sidebar.
5. Click Sign Out.
The next time you want to access it, it will ask you to enter your Apple ID and password.
Conclusion
Can you put a password on iMessage on Mac? Yes. You can set a login password to block access to your Mac; however, this may not be suitable in certain situations, such as when you temporarily share your Mac with others. In such a case, a tool like AppCrypt can help. It allows you to easily and effectively protect Messages and other sensitive apps with a password. This prevents others from viewing your chats and privacy even if you are away from your Mac or lend it to someone.
Norah Hayes likes to share her tips on how to improve focus and stay motivated at work. She believes it is essential to eliminate all online distractions during work hours.
Ethan Long joined Cisdem in 2015 as a developer and now serves as the editorial advisor for Cisdem AppCrypt. He actively tests and uses Cisdem AppCrypt and other screen-time management tools to ensure AppCrypt meets its promises in real-world scenarios.
Michael Harden
The app lock you shared looks promising, but I still think Apple should introduce a built-in lock for Messages.
Random Michael
From what you write, AppCrypt seems a great app to lock apps. I'm also interested in the site blocking feature. I'll definitely try it out.
Timothy
I like this app very much. Now I can feel free to lend my Mac to friends. It is a trustworthy app , using it from a quite long time.
Bers Khamitov
Hi Rosa, I am quite interested in this program. But I have a question: How does it keep records of the failed attempts?
Rosa Reyes
When someone tries to access your password protected application, AppCrypt will ask he or she to enter a password. If the password is wrong, system will keep a record automatically with photo, time and reason.
Kelsey
I know there are some paid apps can add password protection to individual applications, but are there any free ways to do that?
Rosa Reyes
As far as I know, there are no free ways to password protection individual applications. But you can use Mac's built-in Parental Control to set restriction on some apps.
Wayne
Password protecting individual applications is very helpful to protect my sensitive information from prying eyes. I love this app. Thanks for suggesting.