What It Does
ScreenLock listens for a configurable global hotkey and instantly launches the macOS screen saver. If your Mac is set to require a password after the screen saver starts, this effectively locks your machine in one keypress.
The default shortcut is Hyper+X (shiftcontroloptioncommandX) — designed to work with HyperCaps. Press caps lockX to lock your screen.
Using with HyperCaps
ScreenLock pairs naturally with HyperCaps. With both running:
| You Press | Result |
|---|---|
| caps lockX | Locks your screen |
| shiftcaps lock | Toggles Caps Lock on/off |
| caps lock + any key | Sends a Hyper Key shortcut |
The default Hyper+X shortcut works out of the box with HyperCaps. No configuration needed.
Settings
Click the display icon in the menu bar and choose Settings… to configure:
Shortcut
Click Change… to record a new keyboard shortcut. The shortcut must include at least one modifier key (shift, control, option, or command). All settings persist across restarts.
General
- Accessibility permission — status display and grant button
- Menu bar icon pill — optional grey background for stronger contrast on busy or wallpaper-tinted menu bars (off by default)
- Launch at Login — start automatically when you log in
Auto-updates are handled by Sparkle. Use the “Check for Updates…” menu item to check on demand; Sparkle’s prompt offers an “Automatically download and install updates in the future” checkbox the first time an update is available. ScreenLock checks for new versions automatically once a day in the background.
Locking Your Mac
For ScreenLock to actually lock your Mac (not just show the screen saver), enable:
System Settings → Lock Screen → Require password after screen saver begins → Immediately
With this set, starting the screen saver via ScreenLock will require your password to return.
Permissions
- Accessibility — required to listen for the global keyboard shortcut. macOS will prompt on first launch.
Permission status can be checked in Settings.
Installation
Two formats on every release — both signed and notarised, pick whichever suits:
- Installer (
.pkg) — recommended for first-time installs. Double-click to run; macOS Installer places the app in/Applicationswithout quarantine or App Translocation. - Download (
.zip) — unzip and dragScreenLock.appto your Applications folder.
On first launch, grant Accessibility permission when prompted.
Building from Source
ScreenLock uses Swift Package Manager. No Xcode project is required.
- Clone the repo:
git clone https://github.com/PerpetualBeta/ScreenLock.git - Run
gmake build - Launch with
open .build/ScreenLock.app
Requirements
macOS 14 (Sonoma) or later. Universal binary (Apple Silicon and Intel).