MakLock for MAC
Free, open-source menu bar app for Mac that locks chosen apps behind Touch ID, Apple Watch proximity or a backup password.
MakLock Overview
MakLock is a lightweight menu bar app that protects your macOS applications with Touch ID, Apple Watch proximity or a backup password. When someone tries to open or switch to a protected app, MakLock blocks access with a full-screen blur overlay on all your monitors and asks for authentication. It watches for app switches as well as launches, so returning to an app that is already running also needs unlocking.
The app can lock again after an idle timeout or on sleep and wake, and it can close inactive protected apps so that their notifications cannot be read. Quitting a protected app with Command-Q clears its authentication, so the next launch asks again. MakLock is written in Swift and released under the MIT license by Maciej Dutkiewicz. Version 1.0.1 improves Apple Watch connections. It needs macOS 13 or later and is signed with a Developer ID and notarized by Apple.
MakLock is distributed outside the App Store, which is how it gets the overlay and process control it needs. Some system apps, such as Terminal and Xcode, can never be locked. A panic key combination, Command-Option-Shift-Control-U, is an emergency exit. Trusted Wi-Fi auto-unlock and per-window overlays are planned but not available yet.
Key Features
MakLock puts a lock in front of the apps you choose.
- Touch ID: Unlock protected apps with a single prompt.
- Apple Watch: Proximity unlock with wrist detection.
- Backup password: A fallback for Macs without Touch ID.
- Full-screen blur: The overlay covers all monitors.
- Auto-lock: Locks again after an idle timeout or on sleep and wake.
- Auto-close: Ends inactive protected apps to stop notification snooping, and can close them on sleep.
- Panic key: An emergency exit with Command-Option-Shift-Control-U.
- Automatic updates: New versions arrive through Sparkle 2.
What’s New in Version 1.0.1
MakLock 1.0.1 makes Apple Watch unlocking more reliable.
- Fixed Apple Watch Bluetooth reconnection and proximity reliability.
- Improved Watch connectivity after sleep and wake.
MakLock FAQ
Is MakLock free?
Yes. MakLock is free and open source under the MIT license.
Which macOS version does MakLock need?
macOS 13 or later.
How do I unlock an app with MakLock?
With Touch ID, Apple Watch proximity or a backup password.
Do I need a Mac with Touch ID?
No. MakLock has a password fallback for Macs without Touch ID.
Does MakLock also lock an app that is already open?
Yes. It reacts to app activations as well as launches, so switching back to a protected app shows the lock overlay.
What if I get locked out?
The panic key Command-Option-Shift-Control-U is an emergency exit. System apps such as Terminal and Xcode can never be locked.
Is MakLock signed by Apple?
Yes. The project says it is signed with a Developer ID and notarized by Apple, so there should be no Gatekeeper warnings.
Is MakLock on the Mac App Store?
No. It is distributed directly, which gives it overlay and process control that sandboxed apps do not have.
Can I install MakLock with Homebrew?
Yes, from the developer's tap: brew tap dutkiewiczmaciej/tap, then brew install --cask maklock.
Where does the MakLock download on maklock.FULLMAC.app come from?
The download button leads to the official MakLock releases on GitHub at https://github.com/dutkiewiczmaciej/MakLock/releases/latest. maklock.FULLMAC.app does not change or repackage the app.
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