Lock any macOS app with Touch ID, Apple Watch, or password.
Free, open source, and more powerful than paid alternatives.
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 blur overlay and requires authentication.
Unlike App Store alternatives, MakLock is distributed directly — giving it full overlay and process management capabilities that sandboxed apps simply cannot offer.
| Feature | MakLock | AppLocker ($17.99) | Cisdem AppCrypt ($19.99/yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free forever | 1 app free, paid for more | Trial only |
| Open source | Yes | No | No |
| Touch ID | Yes | Paid only | No |
| Lock on app switch | Yes | No (launch only) | Yes (direct version) |
| Apple Watch unlock | Yes (wrist detection) | No | No |
| Full-screen overlay | Yes (blur, all monitors) | Yes (solid, single monitor) | Dialog box |
| No content flash | Yes (NSPanel) | No (brief flash on launch) | N/A |
| Auto-close apps | Yes | No (sandbox) | Yes (direct version) |
| Close apps on sleep | Yes | No | No |
| Auto-lock on idle | Yes | No | Yes |
| Auto-lock on sleep | Yes | No | No |
| Panic key | Yes | No | No |
| Multi-monitor | Yes | Unknown | No |
| Bypass resistant | Yes | No (Bundle ID edit) | Unknown |
| Can't be deleted without auth | N/A | No (sandbox) | Yes (direct version) |
AppLocker (App Store) is sandboxed — it can only intercept app launches, not activations. If an app is already running, switching back shows content without authentication. Its overlay can also freeze the entire Mac, requiring a hard reboot. MakLock uses a non-activating NSPanel overlay that never steals focus, preventing these issues.
- Lock apps with Touch ID (single prompt)
- Password fallback for Macs without Touch ID
- Apple Watch proximity unlock with wrist detection
- Full-screen blur overlay on all monitors
- Auto-lock after idle timeout (configurable)
- Auto-lock on sleep/wake
- Auto-close inactive apps (prevents notification snooping)
- Close protected apps on sleep (privacy on shared laptops)
- Menu bar app (no Dock icon, runs silently)
- Panic key emergency exit (
Cmd+Opt+Shift+Ctrl+U) - System app blacklist (Terminal, Xcode, etc. can never be locked)
- Multi-monitor support
- First launch onboarding
- Settings with tabbed UI
- Automatic updates via Sparkle 2
- Trusted Wi-Fi auto-unlock (coming in v1.1)
- Per-window overlay (coming in v1.2)
Full-screen blur overlay with Touch ID unlock
Settings with protected apps management
Menu bar with quick toggle and status
Download MakLock 1.0.0 — open the DMG and drag to Applications.
Signed with Developer ID and notarized by Apple. No Gatekeeper warnings — just download and run.
brew tap dutkiewiczmaciej/tap
brew install --cask maklockgit clone https://github.com/dutkiewiczmaciej/MakLock.git
cd MakLock
open MakLock.xcodeprojBuild and run with Cmd+R. Requires Xcode 15+ and macOS 13+.
- App Monitor — watches for protected app launches and activations via NSWorkspace
- Lock Overlay — instantly shows a full-screen blur overlay on all displays
- Authentication — prompts Touch ID, checks Apple Watch proximity, or asks for password
- Re-lock on quit — Cmd+Q clears authentication, so the next launch requires re-auth (even for apps that stay alive in background like Messages)
- Auto-lock — re-locks on idle timeout, sleep, or when Apple Watch leaves range
- Auto-close — optionally terminates inactive protected apps to prevent notification snooping
MakLock is a native Swift/SwiftUI application distributed outside the App Store for full system access.
MakLock/
App/ Entry point, AppDelegate
Core/ Services (AppMonitor, Auth, Watch, Overlay, Idle, Sleep, Inactivity)
UI/ Design system, Components, Settings, Lock Overlay
Models/ Data models (ProtectedApp, AppSettings, LockSession)
Resources/ Assets, Info.plist, Entitlements
Key frameworks: SwiftUI, AppKit, LocalAuthentication, CoreBluetooth, IOKit, ServiceManagement, HotKey (SPM), Sparkle 2 (SPM)
MakLock includes multiple safety mechanisms to ensure you never get locked out:
- Panic key —
Cmd+Option+Shift+Control+Uinstantly dismisses all overlays - System blacklist — Terminal, Xcode, Activity Monitor, and other critical apps can never be locked
- Timeout failsafe — overlays auto-dismiss after 60 seconds without interaction
- Dev mode — DEBUG builds include a Skip button and 10-second auto-dismiss
- macOS 13.0 (Ventura) or later
- Apple Silicon or Intel Mac
- Touch ID recommended (password fallback available)
- Apple Watch with watchOS 9+ for proximity unlock (optional)
Contributions are welcome! See CONTRIBUTING.md for guidelines.
If you find MakLock useful, consider giving it a star on GitHub — it helps others discover the project.