How to Lock the Keyboard on a Mac? 2022 Guide

You must keep your MacBook secure from tampering since it contains all the sensitive data that needs to be kept private. Additionally, kids and animals frequently play with the keyboard, which may be entertaining for them but can be problematic for you. However, by reading this guide, you can prevent these inconveniences. You can lock and unlock the keyboard on a Mac with the aid of this guide.

You can either lock down the entire Mac or lock the keyboard on a Mac by downloading a third-party app like Keyboard Locker, Lockey, or Karabiner Element. The keyboard on a Mac can be locked with an app, but key shortcuts cannot be used to unlock the keyboard.

When someone least expects it, locking a Macbook keyboard can come in handy. You can find instructions on how to clean, catproof, and lock your keyboard, as well as a few other helpful hints, below this sentence. Hopefully, these pointers will give everyone a clearer understanding of how to effectively protect their MacBook!

How to Lock a Macbook Keyboard

A Mac keyboard must occasionally be locked, whether the user is trying to keep children or stray cats away from it or just wants to put it away while watching a movie. Any person must, however, possess the necessary knowledge in order to carry this out. The following methods can be used to lock a Mac keyboard!

Third-Party Apps

To better manage your Mac’s system and keyboard, it can occasionally be worthwhile to download one or more apps. The keyboard on your Mac can be locked using programs like Karabiner Element, Lockey, and Keyboard Locker while the display remains on and operational. If you’ve ever wanted to use your Mac to watch a video or listen to music without a keyboard, this is perfect for you.

However, some of these apps might stop functioning as the Mac operating system is updated. If after a Mac update you are unable to lock your keyboard using any of these apps, you will need to find another one to use.

One of the most well-liked third-party programs that lock your Mac keyboard is called Karabiner Element. To lock your keyboard through Karibener Element, do the following:

1. Open the downloaded the Karabiner Element app
2. Type “disable” into the search box
3. Click on the box that corresponds to the internal keyboard

Locking the Entire Computer

It isn’t much you can do to lock your Mac’s keyboard only if you don’t want to download a third-party app. However, you can lock down the entire computer.

You can lock your Mac using the key combination Control+Shift+Power Button, or you can put it to sleep by pressing Option+Command+Power Button. Both of these choices will turn off the computer’s keyboard as well as the rest of the system. If you are using a MacBook, you can of course just close the lid, but that prevents you from using your keyboard in any way. (Source)

Settings

To use your Mac while the keyboard is locked, do the following:

1. Open System Preferences
2. Click on Accessibility icon
3. Click on the top right “Options” button
4. Click the box to create a checkmark next to “Ignore Built-In Trackpad When Mouse Keys is On”
5. Click “OK”
6. Close System Preferences

Locking and Cat-Proofing the Mac Keyboard

For people who have both a cat and a Macbook, there is probably the annoying experience of the wandering cat coming over and using the laptop keyboard as a bed when it is all warmed up. The fact that the computer is also used for other, more useful and significant purposes doesn’t change the fact that some people might find this to be very cute. These pointers will help you cat-proof your Mac.

Any of the aforementioned ideas will work to lock the keyboard. However, using an external display is one of the most well-liked strategies for keeping the cat away from your keyboard. A person can keep the laptop closed the entire time by simply plugging in an external keyboard and monitor. This will make the cat less likely to use the laptop as a bed, especially when it’s in operation.

Simply using the Macbook in an area where the cat is unlikely to try to use it is another advice item. A cat can easily get up and make itself at home on a desk or couch, so those solutions aren’t always effective.

It might be a good idea to type on a kitchen counter, a bar, or another area where the cat is not permitted to use the computer or distract the person typing or working there. Although technically speaking this isn’t locking the keyboard, it should still help with the issue.

Another suggestion is to go to your bedroom and lock the door if nothing else seems to be working and you’re tempted to choke the cat. The cat can stay inside, but you can go outside and breathe some fresh air.

Locking and Cleaning

Knowing how to clean a Mac is a good way to take care of it, in addition to locking the keyboard to keep pesky cats out. It will not be enjoyable to discover a messed-up screen if the keyboard is still on and blocking it, as cleaning it touched far too many keys.

Before cleaning the Mac, make sure the keyboard is locked; otherwise, pressing the incorrect keys at the wrong time could cause a mess that would be difficult to clean up.

Here are a few tips that apply to any product to clean:

• Use lint-free cloths
  • avoid towels, paper towels, or abrasive towels
• Avoid excessive wiping
  • this can cause damage
• Unplug external power sources and cables
  • nobody wants to be electrocuted
• No liquids near, or moisture in, any openings

Simply exercise caution when using liquids near electronics.

• Don’t use aerosol sprays, bleach, or hydrogen peroxide

Apple suggests using Lysol and Clorox Kitchen disinfecting wipes as cleaning products. Some more specific wipes are:

• 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipe
• 75 percent ethyl alcohol wipe

The amazing Mac can be used more effectively with the help of these hints and tips, which also help to lock the keyboard and prevent cats and dust from interfering. To get the most out of a computer, cleaning, preventing catwalks, and the keyboard lock ought to be sufficient.

How to Enable Num Lock on a Mac Keyboard

The number pad can still be locked even though the default Mac keyboard lacks a Number Lock key. Just follow the instructions below.

• Go to the Apple logo and click System Preferences.
• Choose Universal Access in the System category.
• Go to the Mouse tab and select the On option next to Mouse Keys.
• Check the box labeled Press the Option key five times to turn the Mouse keys On or Off.
• The shortcut for turning on and off the Num lock will then be enabled.

How to Turn on Sticky Keys on Mac

Sticky keys allow Mac users to enter key combinations sequentially rather than simultaneously, which is very advantageous. Typically, these keys are turned on by default in System Preferences. Here’s how to activate them, though, if they’re not already.

• Go to System Preferences in the Apple menu.
• Go to Universal Access and open the Keyboard tab.
• There will be On and Off buttons right next to the Sticky Keys option.
• You can easily turn them on by checking the On button.

Troubleshooting a MacBook Keyboard Not Working

Dust and other contaminants may cause your Mac keyboard to stop functioning. Additionally, even a tiny amount of contamination from food, dust, or liquid can harm a newer MacBook that has Apple’s butterfly keyboard. Because of the issues with these keyboards, Apple even created a Keyboard Service Program for the MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air.

So, if the keyboard on your Mac has stopped working, you can try some of the fixes listed below. However, since Apple fixes the majority of these issues without charging you, you shouldn’t attempt any complex repairs or disassemble the keyboard yourself.

Clean Your Keyboard

The most frequent cause of faulty Mac keyboards is dust and debris. So, try your best to clean the keyboard first.

Put Your MacBook on Charge

Occasionally, the keyboard on your MacBook could stop functioning if the battery is low. In this situation, you ought to try plugging in your laptop and giving it some time to charge. Once the Mac has been charged a little, you can check to see if the keyboard is functional.

Turn Off the Mouse Keys

Your keyboard’s number pad may stop functioning if you unintentionally turned on the Mouse Keys. In order to ensure that the keys are off, navigate to the Mouse tab in System Preferences.

Turn Off Slow Keys

If Slow Keys is enabled, you will need to press each key more forcefully than usual in order for the system to recognize it. If you only briefly press each key, you might get the impression that the keyboard is completely inoperative. Here’s how you can turn the Slow Keys off:

• Go to the Apple menu and open System Preferences.
• Click the Accessibility tab and navigate to Keyboard and then Hardware.
• Turn off the Slow Keys.

Conclusion

The simplest way to lock and unlock the keyboard on a Mac at any time is to use third-party applications like Keyboard Locker and Karabiner-Elements. Alternatively, you could just lock down your Mac as a whole. I hope this post is useful to you.

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