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

An app locker or app lock is a tool to lock apps. It may also be called an app blocker. You can use such a tool to lock apps that containing sensitive or private information to protect your privacy. Additionally, you can use it to block access to distracting apps or addictive games. What is the best app locker for Mac? This article talks in detail about 3 Mac app lockers. You can choose the one that best suits your needs.

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. Also, select the Launch at System Startup checkbox.

Step 3. In the menu bar at the top of your screen, click the lock icon to choose Open Main Window.

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

Step 5. Under the App Lock tab, use the Add button or drag and drop to add one or multiple apps to lock.

It’s that easy. You can follow the steps to effortlessly lock apps such as Photos, Messages, Mail and WhatsApp.

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.

To unlock an app, just enter 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 lock 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. This, for example, can block you or your child from accessing distracting apps during work or study hours. (If you want to use this tool for yourself, please ask someone else to set the password in step 2.)

There is a video tutorial to show you how to use this Mac app blocker to block unauthorized access to apps.

Free Download

#2 AppLocker Mac

Compatibility: macOS 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 not compatible with earlier macOS versions.

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 it harder to bypass the lock, there are three things that you can do: select the Start at Login checkbox, select the Lock administrative applications, 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. For example, due to the lack of the schedule feature, it’s not a good choice to block apps at certain times. 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.

Conclusion

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.

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.