Questions about Locking Computer

[Ambrosia7177]

I am setting up my new Mac and have forgotten exactly how things work...

When my computer goes to sleep, I would like it to be locked. Also, when I do Ctrl + Shift + Eject I would like it to be locked.

In the past I had issues getting this to work because you have to set the security features and Sleep and Screen Saver a certain way, and I forget what that combination is.

Can someone help me sort this all out?

Thanks.
[doublepost=1506698852][/doublepost]Oops, I just noticed Apple changed the settings from Mountain Lion to Sierra!

Anyway, I am wondering...

1.) Does macOS truly lock your computer on either "sleep" or "screen saver" as the check box says?


2.) On Sierra, how do you choose a time to "Sleep"?


3.) How does "Turn off display" relate to "Sleep"?


4.) Do I even need a screen saver if I want to lock my computer?

 

[Raz0rEdge]

To lock the screen on sleep or screen saver activation, go to Sys Prefs->Security and enable the "Require password" option there and set it to Immediately.

Now, set your screen saver to 1 minute (for test) and leave the machine alone. Once the screen saver activate, click on the mouse or keyboard and you will be asked for your password to get back in. With this confirmed, set your screen saver to go off when you want.

Sleep and Turn off display are essentially the same and you control that from Sys Prefs->Energy Saver. Set the time to turn off the display (sleep) to be a short time and you can do the same test as above. Let it alone, it will go off, click the keyboard/mouse and you should be prompted for password..

On my 2016 MBP with TouchBar, I have the lock screen icon on the TB to be able to lock the computer at any time.

 

[DeltaMac]

Note that if you upgrade to High Sierra, you have a standard menu choice to lock the screen, and other system options that give you a proper locked system, if that's what you want (sleep, turn off display, all would need an unlock to get back to your computer, again, if that's what you want, there's an setting for that )

 

[Ambrosia7177]

I guess it doesn't make sense to ask about my old system when I am setting up my new system, but...

On my old system, there was some peculiar sequence you had to do to get things to work.

It seems to me that you had to make your Mac sleep before the screen saver came on, or the other way around in order for things to work?

I'm looking to secure my Mac - should I walk away from it and get distracted, I want it to lock after so long.

It looks like under Energy Settings, I choose "Turn display of after" and uncheck "Prevent computer from sleeping automatically when the display is off" and that combined with Security > "Require password 0 minutes after sleep or screen saver begins"?

I still don't understand the difference between "sleep" and "screen saver"

And I don't see where you set "sleep" on your Mac?

 

[DeltaMac]

Newer Macs don't have the System Preference/Energy Saver slider for Sleep --- just the display setting.
If yours does not have Sleep setting, it's one that does not have that control from Energy Saver settings.
The screen saver has nothing to do with Energy Saver preferences. The settings for THAT is in the Screen Saver pref screen (naturally )
Sleep is a power-down state (similar to hibernation, but not really the same). All processes pause, some are stopped. The only real power available is a small amount used to keep RAM energized.
Screen saver is NOT a low power mode, and does not affect other computer processes, it simply changes what appears on the screen. Any other processes continue.
The idle interval for automatic sleep can be set in the terminal (don't know the command off hand, but someone else will answer that for you, if it is important for you.)

I personally don't care about the idle period to begin sleep, and use sleep manually.

If you want the security setting to require password at sleep, or screen off --- you can set that in the Security & Privacy pane/General tab. You can set the interval for the delay the requirement to require a password for both sleep and screen saver.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

Here is what I have so far...

Desktop & Screen Saver
X Screen Saver starts _never_

Security & Privacy
X Require a password _immediately_ after sleep or screen saver
X Disable automatic login

Energy Saver
X Turn display off after 15 minutes ?????
_ Prevent computer from sleeping automatically when the display is off ?????
X Put hard disks to sleep when possible
X Wake for Wi-Fi network access ?????
X Enable Power Nap while plugged into power adapter

Advanced
- Log out after <60> minutes of inactivity ?????



***********************************************
I'm still confused...

1.) I believe the settings above will lock my computer after 15 minutes of inactivity??


2.) Does "Turn display off" trigger "Require password immediately after sleep or screen saver"??


3.) Does "Prevent computer from sleeping..." disable locking "Require password immediately after sleep..."


4.) Does "Wake for Wi-Fi" unlock my computer?


5.) If I chose to turn on the screen saver after 15 minutes, or I "Turn off display after 15 minutes", then what is the purpose of "Log out after <60> minutes of inactivity"???


All of these settings seem to contradict one another, and it sure seems like all of this could be simplified!!

 

[DeltaMac]

I'm still confused...

1.) I believe the settings above will lock my computer after 15 minutes of inactivity??
**NO - your computer screen will turn off, but not lock your system

2.) Does "Turn display off" trigger "Require password immediately after sleep or screen saver"??
**NO - turn display off only turns the display off. This is not sleep or screen saver, only display off.

3.) Does "Prevent computer from sleeping..." disable locking "Require password immediately after sleep..."
**Of course.

4.) Does "Wake for Wi-Fi" unlock my computer?
**No. "Unlock" needs you to type in your account password, so a wakeup would depend on whether the system is already locked. If locked, a wake command would require your password to unlock.

5.) If I chose to turn on the screen saver after 15 minutes, or I "Turn off display after 15 minutes", then what is the purpose of "Log out after <60> minutes of inactivity"???
** "Log out after 60 minutes of inactivity", means that your Mac will be logged out after 60 minutes of inactivity.
So, the screen turns off after 15 minutes (with no activity)
The screen remains off, unless you press a key, or some other activity that will turn the screen back on.
As your Mac is neither sleeping, or on screen saver, pressing a key will simply turn on the display.
Until 60 minutes have elapsed (or 45 minutes after the display turns off), when your Mac will log out, so pressing a key will bring up the login screen.

Finally, if you sleep your Mac, or choose to start the screen saver, then with your settings, you will need a password immediately to begin using your Mac again. There is no delay when you select Sleep, or start screen saver manually. Your password is required then

'tis not rocket science --- you just have to note what settings you have, and use them, as intended.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

'tis not rocket science --- you just have to note what settings you have, and use them, as intended.

That was the best non-response I have seen in ages...

 

[DeltaMac]

Well, yes, that was my final comment - perhaps not what I intended.
My response was where I attempted to clarify each of your 5 "confusion" points
That is all within the quotes, eh?

 

[Ambrosia7177]

Well, yes, that was my final comment - perhaps not what I intended.
My response was where I attempted to clarify each of your 5 "confusion" points
That is all within the quotes, eh?

That was confusing!

No, I didn't see your responses to my question - who types a response inside the original quote??
[doublepost=1507162708][/doublepost]>>1.) I believe the settings above will lock my computer after 15 minutes of inactivity??
>
>NO - your computer screen will turn off, but not lock your system

That is not what I'm seeing. It locks my computer with the settings in my OP.


>>2.) Does "Turn display off" trigger "Require password immediately after sleep or screen saver"??
>
>NO - turn display off only turns the display off. This is not sleep or screen saver, only display off.

Again, not what I am experiencing...


>>3.) Does "Prevent computer from sleeping..." disable locking "Require password immediately after sleep..."
>
>Of course.

Not what I am seeing...


>>4.) Does "Wake for Wi-Fi" unlock my computer?
>
>No. "Unlock" needs you to type in your account password, so a wakeup would depend on
> whether the system is already locked. If locked, a wake command would
> require your password to unlock.


>>5.) If I chose to turn on the screen saver after 15 minutes, or I "Turn off display after 15 minutes",
>>then what is the purpose of "Log out after <60> minutes of inactivity"???
>
>"Log out after 60 minutes of inactivity", means that your Mac will be logged out after
>60 minutes of inactivity. So, the screen turns off after 15 minutes (with no activity)
>The screen remains off, unless you press a key, or some other activity that will turn the screen back on.
>As your Mac is neither sleeping, or on screen saver, pressing a key will simply turn on the display.
>Until 60 minutes have elapsed (or 45 minutes after the display turns off),
>when your Mac will log out, so pressing a key will bring up the login screen.



>Finally, if you sleep your Mac, or choose to start the screen saver, then with your settings,
>you will need a password immediately to begin using your Mac again.
>There is no delay when you select Sleep, or start screen saver manually. Your password is required then

True, but it's a hastle.

If I have to run to pee or whatever, I find it easier to do Command + Shift + Power to quickly lock my Mac.

 

[DeltaMac]

As a new alternative in High Sierra, Control + Command + Q will also immediately lock the screen.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

As a new alternative in High Sierra, Control + Command + Q will also immediately lock the screen.

Care to explain why I didn't see any of the things you claimed in your responses?

 

[DeltaMac]

hmm...
I tried to respond to each question with what I considered to be a clear answer.
Although your questions did seem quite clear, maybe I can clarify some of my responses.

>>>1.) I believe the settings above will lock my computer after 15 minutes of inactivity??
>>
>>NO - your computer screen will turn off, but not lock your system

>That is not what I'm seeing. It locks my computer with the settings in my OP.

Your screen shuts off after 15 minutes. Technically not a locked computer, but simply requires you to enter password to use the computer. You COULD consider this locked, but I do not. For example, if you had a remote connection to the computer, the screen being off would not interfere with you using the computer remotely. But, you would still need to enter your password to turn the screen on, if you were at the computer then.

>>>2.) Does "Turn display off" trigger "Require password immediately after sleep or screen saver"??
>>
>>NO - turn display off only turns the display off. This is not sleep or screen saver, only display off.

>Again, not what I am experiencing...

Again, "Turn display off" is neither a screen saver or a sleep function, which are distinct from "Turn display off"
Of course, there's not much difference to you, as you still have to enter a password when returning to the computer.

>>>3.) Does "Prevent computer from sleeping..." disable locking "Require password immediately after sleep..."
>>
>>Of course.

>Not what I am seeing...
You did not say what you actually see... If you have a setting preventing sleep, then it won't go to sleep automatically --- because you have set it to NOT sleep. However, that does not disable the need to enter a password immediately after sleep, when you decide to put it to sleep manually. Your Mac simply won't go to sleep on its own. No need to disable the requirement then.

You have asked quite a few "what if..." questions, so I am not sure where this is all going... You DID say in your first post

When my computer goes to sleep, I would like it to be locked.

and that sounds like your ultimate goal.
And, I think High Sierra has that all under control with the Lock Screen command, either under the Apple menu, or simply pressing Control+Command+q
If you have your computer set to require password when sleeping, you can set the delay before that happens at idle.
Pressing the Lock Screen, bypasses the delay, as the screen is now locked --- because you chose to lock the screen manually.
(I hope this sorts it out for you, MY goal was to make this more understandable (?)

 

[Ambrosia7177]

@DeltaMac,

Thanks for the response. Before responding to you, could you please help me to understand what the difference is between "Sleep" mode, "Screen Saver" mode, and "Locked Screen" mode?

I find all of these terms and settings in my new Mac running (not yet updated) Sierra to be VERY confusing!

hmm...
I tried to respond to each question with what I considered to be a clear answer.
Although your questions did seem quite clear, maybe I can clarify some of my responses.

>>>1.) I believe the settings above will lock my computer after 15 minutes of inactivity??
>>
>>NO - your computer screen will turn off, but not lock your system

>That is not what I'm seeing. It locks my computer with the settings in my OP.

Your screen shuts off after 15 minutes. Technically not a locked computer, but simply requires you to enter password to use the computer. You COULD consider this locked, but I do not. For example, if you had a remote connection to the computer, the screen being off would not interfere with you using the computer remotely. But, you would still need to enter your password to turn the screen on, if you were at the computer then.

My end goal is to make my computer secure while I am away. Maybe I brought my MBP to work, and I stepped away from my desk and don't want a co-work (or my boss) to be able to get onto my computer!

You imply that a "locked monitor" is not the same as a computer in "sleep" mode, and thus not as secure...

Of course I haven't found any information on how to force my Mac to "sleep" or how to change when it "sleeps".

>>>2.) Does "Turn display off" trigger "Require password immediately after sleep or screen saver"??
>>
>>NO - turn display off only turns the display off. This is not sleep or screen saver, only display off.

>Again, not what I am experiencing...

Again, "Turn display off" is neither a screen saver or a sleep function, which are distinct from "Turn display off"
Of course, there's not much difference to you, as you still have to enter a password when returning to the computer.

Why did Apple create all of these confusing states??

Why isn't there an option in System Preferences called "Put my computer to SLEEP after ____ minutes"???

>>>3.) Does "Prevent computer from sleeping..." disable locking "Require password immediately after sleep..."
>>
>>Of course.

>Not what I am seeing...
You did not say what you actually see... If you have a setting preventing sleep, then it won't go to sleep automatically --- because you have set it to NOT sleep. However, that does not disable the need to enter a password immediately after sleep, when you decide to put it to sleep manually. Your Mac simply won't go to sleep on its own. No need to disable the requirement then.

I expected "Prevent computer from sleeping..." to make it so I couldn't lock my computer when I choose "Require password immediately after sleep or screen saver..."

You have asked quite a few "what if..." questions, so I am not sure where this is all going... You DID say in your first post

Again, my goal is to make it so I can lock my MBP when I leave it.

I know there is an option to "Sleep" under the Apple icon, but I was ideally looking for a way to securely lock my Mac by doing command + shift + power button because that is what I have become accustomed to with the old MBP I am on now. And for me, it is easier to do those keystrokes when I am ready to walk away then having to use my touch pad to navigate up to the menu bar and choose a menu option.

Speed is key!

and that sounds like your ultimate goal.
And, I think High Sierra has that all under control with the Lock Screen command, either under the Apple menu, or simply pressing Control+Command+q

Good to know, but I'm actually writing a guide for securing Sierra, so I would like to learn my options in that environment, understand that maybe Apple improved things for new Macs.

(I hope this sorts it out for you, MY goal was to make this more understandable (?)

I appreciate your effort to help. Apple is just making this way to hard on my near new MBP with Sierra.

 

[ApolloBoy]

Thanks for the response. Before responding to you, could you please help me to understand what the difference is between "Sleep" mode, "Screen Saver" mode, and "Locked Screen" mode?

Isn't that all self-explanatory? Sleep mode puts the computer to sleep, meaning it becomes inactive and goes into a low power state. Screen saver just puts on the screen saver and locked screen means it goes back to the log in screen. Simple stuff, not confusing at all.

 

[sgtnukem]

I have a question if you don't mind. I can't find a way to STOP my iMac from locking when the display goes to sleep. I've tried every setting I could find. This just started happening after the latest High Sierra update. Thank you in advance.

hmm...
I tried to respond to each question with what I considered to be a clear answer.
Although your questions did seem quite clear, maybe I can clarify some of my responses.

>>>1.) I believe the settings above will lock my computer after 15 minutes of inactivity??
>>
>>NO - your computer screen will turn off, but not lock your system

>That is not what I'm seeing. It locks my computer with the settings in my OP.

Your screen shuts off after 15 minutes. Technically not a locked computer, but simply requires you to enter password to use the computer. You COULD consider this locked, but I do not. For example, if you had a remote connection to the computer, the screen being off would not interfere with you using the computer remotely. But, you would still need to enter your password to turn the screen on, if you were at the computer then.

>>>2.) Does "Turn display off" trigger "Require password immediately after sleep or screen saver"??
>>
>>NO - turn display off only turns the display off. This is not sleep or screen saver, only display off.

>Again, not what I am experiencing...

Again, "Turn display off" is neither a screen saver or a sleep function, which are distinct from "Turn display off"
Of course, there's not much difference to you, as you still have to enter a password when returning to the computer.

>>>3.) Does "Prevent computer from sleeping..." disable locking "Require password immediately after sleep..."
>>
>>Of course.

>Not what I am seeing...
You did not say what you actually see... If you have a setting preventing sleep, then it won't go to sleep automatically --- because you have set it to NOT sleep. However, that does not disable the need to enter a password immediately after sleep, when you decide to put it to sleep manually. Your Mac simply won't go to sleep on its own. No need to disable the requirement then.

You have asked quite a few "what if..." questions, so I am not sure where this is all going... You DID say in your first post

and that sounds like your ultimate goal.
And, I think High Sierra has that all under control with the Lock Screen command, either under the Apple menu, or simply pressing Control+Command+q
If you have your computer set to require password when sleeping, you can set the delay before that happens at idle.
Pressing the Lock Screen, bypasses the delay, as the screen is now locked --- because you chose to lock the screen manually.
(I hope this sorts it out for you, MY goal was to make this more understandable (?)