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Use your eye

How do i lock my retina macbook pro ?
On windows 7 i use "Windows" + "L" keys.

Because it's retina it locks when it doesn't scan your retina from the eye...

Just kidding....

System Prefferences -> Accounts&Groups -> Login Options -> Check Show Fast user switching menu as....

On the menu bar you will probably see your user name. When you will click on it you will be able to log out or lock.

Please note that this doesn't work the same as in Windows.
 
If you just want to lock the screen:

Keychain Access>Preferences>General>Show keychain status in menu bar

Then just select the lock on the top right corner of the screen then choose lock screen.
 
If you just want to lock the screen:

Keychain Access>Preferences>General>Show keychain status in menu bar

Then just select the lock on the top right corner of the screen then choose lock screen.

Nice. Is it possible to get a short key to this lock?
 
If you just want to lock the screen:

Keychain Access>Preferences>General>Show keychain status in menu bar

Then just select the lock on the top right corner of the screen then choose lock screen.


What makes this different than just setting the option to require a password from Sleep/Screensaver? Just curious.

That's what I have, and I set a hot corner to activate the screensaver. Soon as I do that, the screen is locked.
 
Nice. Is it possible to get a short key to this lock?

I don't think so, no.

What makes this different than just setting the option to require a password from Sleep/Screensaver? Just curious.

That's what I have, and I set a hot corner to activate the screensaver. Soon as I do that, the screen is locked.

Sleep, as the name implies, makes the computer sleep. That stops tasks you're still doing (e.g. listening to music, backing things up, downloading things in the background, etc). Might be improved with Power Nap a bit though.

Screen lock keeps everything still running- all it does is lock the screen.
 
Nice. Is it possible to get a short key to this lock?


The shortcut is ctrl+shift+eject, unfortunately the MBPr and MBA don't have an optical drive, so dotn have the eject key! so the shortcut is useless on these machines.
 
I don't think so, no.



Sleep, as the name implies, makes the computer sleep. That stops tasks you're still doing (e.g. listening to music, backing things up, downloading things in the background, etc). Might be improved with Power Nap a bit though.

Screen lock keeps everything still running- all it does is lock the screen.


Ah, but mine is set not to sleep when plugged in. I also have the NoSleep app. Music, webpages, apps, etc all stay running when the screensaver is activated.

Require password when from Sleep/Screensaver is the option name in Settings, I wasn't referring to the action of actually putting the computer to sleep.
 
The shortcut is ctrl+shift+eject, unfortunately the MBPr and MBA don't have an optical drive, so dotn have the eject key! so the shortcut is useless on these machines.

Are you sure?

I have a mid-2010 Air here that quite certainly does have an eject button.

If the newer airs and retina pro don't, try f12 instead.
 
Instead of doing finger gymnastics, you might consider writing a quick AppleScript to do it, and then save that AS as an executable. The binary you want to call from the AS is:

/System/Library/Frameworks/ScreenSaver.framework/Resources/ScreenSaverEngine.app/Contents/MacOS/ScreenSaverEngine

When you "Save As..." in the AS editor, choose the "Application" file format, and it'll compile it and write the entire .app/ directory structure. Then just put that anywhere in your path. Name it something short; mine's called ss.app.

When I want to lock my screen:
  1. CMD-SPACE to open Spotlight
  2. ss[ENTER]

Bang, screen locked.

jas
 
Ah, but mine is set not to sleep when plugged in. I also have the NoSleep app. Music, webpages, apps, etc all stay running when the screensaver is activated.

Require password when from Sleep/Screensaver is the option name in Settings, I wasn't referring to the action of actually putting the computer to sleep.

Ah I see. That would mean the screensaver runs, right?

Using the lock screen function results in a black (off) screen. Saves a bit of battery if not plugged in.
 
You can use BetterTouchTool to create a multitouch gesture to make your computer go to sleep or show the login screen. I have a five finger swipe to the right to sleep mine.
 
Instead of doing finger gymnastics, you might consider writing a quick AppleScript to do it, and then save that AS as an executable. The binary you want to call from the AS is:

/System/Library/Frameworks/ScreenSaver.framework/Resources/ScreenSaverEngine.app/Contents/MacOS/ScreenSaverEngine

When you "Save As..." in the AS editor, choose the "Application" file format, and it'll compile it and write the entire .app/ directory structure. Then just put that anywhere in your path. Name it something short; mine's called ss.app.

When I want to lock my screen:
  1. CMD-SPACE to open Spotlight
  2. ss[ENTER]

Bang, screen locked.

jas

Cool.
It did not like that code.. i would like such a solution! :)
 
Cool.
It did not like that code.. i would like such a solution! :)

This actually works as he described. Paste this into the script editor:
PHP:
tell application "/System/Library/Frameworks/ScreenSaver.framework/Resources/ScreenSaverEngine.app/Contents/MacOS/ScreenSaverEngine" to open
 
This actually works as he described. Paste this into the script editor

Thanks for the AppleScript, and I apologize for not including it in my original post... duh.

Compile that, then test it from the AS editor. It should fire the screen lock right up for you, forcing you to enter your password to unlock it. "Save As..." an "Application", and then make sure that .app is somewhere where Spotlight can find it.

Easy peazy.

ETA: You'll have more luck telling the application to "activate" instead of "open". So in the AS editor:

Code:
tell application "/System/Library/Frameworks/ScreenSaver.framework/Resources/ScreenSaverEngine.app/Contents/MacOS/ScreenSaverEngine" to activate

jas
 
Last edited:
Ah I see. That would mean the screensaver runs, right?

Using the lock screen function results in a black (off) screen. Saves a bit of battery if not plugged in.


That's weird, I tried the Keychain screen lock that was mentioned and it also turned my screensaver on, albeit the wrong screensaver that I had set.


Either way, it looks like, works as long as their is a password prompt for access. I think its basically the same thing, just that there are different ways to get to it. One downside to my mentioned procedure is that if you place your mouse cursor in that selected hot corner on accident, your screensaver will activate.
 
That's weird, I tried the Keychain screen lock that was mentioned and it also turned my screensaver on, albeit the wrong screensaver that I had set.


Either way, it looks like, works as long as their is a password prompt for access. I think its basically the same thing, just that there are different ways to get to it. One downside to my mentioned procedure is that if you place your mouse cursor in that selected hot corner on accident, your screensaver will activate.

Oops, I seem to have made a mistake.

I was using a black screensaver so it appeared that the screen had turned off, but I just changed the screensaver back to something normal and it looks like it does not turn off the screen.

Apologies for being misleading :eek:

I did however take advantage of the opportunity and turned on the 'show with clock' feature- now I can use my MacBook as an oversized digital clock even when it's locked :p
 
Thanks for the AppleScript, and I apologize for not including it in my original post... duh.

Compile that, then test it from the AS editor. It should fire the screen lock right up for you, forcing you to enter your password to unlock it. "Save As..." an "Application", and then make sure that .app is somewhere where Spotlight can find it.

Easy peazy.

ETA: You'll have more luck telling the application to "activate" instead of "open". So in the AS editor:

Code:
tell application "/System/Library/Frameworks/ScreenSaver.framework/Resources/ScreenSaverEngine.app/Contents/MacOS/ScreenSaverEngine" to activate

jas

Thanks to you and NeoMayhem. I will try this script, but I might fail to do it because i am not coder ;) Thanks ill let you know if i manage to set it up! :D

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Not on my rMBP it doesn't :(

dont work for me too
 
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