How to Lock a MacBook Keyboard

Whether you have a cat that hops on your keyboard every chance it gets, or you’re about to perform a deep key cleaning, locking your keyboard can come in handy. Many of the best keyboards come with locking features, but computer owners often don’t know how to use them. So that’s why, for all the Apple users out there, we’ll show you how to lock a MacBook keyboard for all the Apple users out there.

If you’re in the market for a highly specialized keyboard, you can check out our hand-wired keyboard guide. And if you want to do some wiring (or de-wiring) yourself, you can find our article on how to make a keyboard wireless.

How to Lock a MacBook Keyboard

Locking a MacBook keyboard can be done in a couple of ways. One way is to lock the entire computer, a quick and handy technique to use when cleaning. The other way is to download a third-party app that allows you to lock just the keyboard. This method is often helpful for those using external keyboards who want to avoid any unwanted keystrokes.

We also cover many other keyboard tips and maintenance guides, such as this article explaining how to fix a spacebar on a keyboard.

Use a Keyboard Shortcut

The first keyboard shortcut is pressing Control+Shift+Power all at once. Doing this key combination will lock your entire computer. Another keyboard locker key combo is Command+Option+Power. This combo switches off the keyboard alongside putting the display to sleep.

You can also do this by clicking the Apple icon in the top left corner and pressing “sleep” on the dropdown menu. And, of course, closing the laptop screen also disables the keyboard.

Using a Third-Party App

STEP 1

Go to the app store and download a well-reviewed keyboard locker app.

STEP 2

After installing the app, select the option that disables your keyboard. To unlock the keyboard, toggle the digital switch with your mouse to the off or unlock position. Keep in mind that when you update the OS, the apps may stop working. In this case, you’ll have to find another app to use or update the app’s software.