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How to Set Up Cats Lock on a Mac and Customize Its Behavior

Set up Cats Lock from the Mac App Store, activate it with ⌘L or the menu bar, and tailor its appearance, sound, profiles, and optional keyboard modes.

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Cats Lock temporarily blocks keyboard input on a Mac. Install it from the Mac App Store, then activate it from the app, menu bar, or its default ⌘L shortcut. You can customize that shortcut, choose what the lock looks and sounds like, and enable optional modes such as Smart Detect. The documented way to release the lock is to use the same shortcut.

Check compatibility and install Cats Lock

Get Cats Lock from the Mac App Store listing. The listing currently specifies macOS 13.1 or later and supports Apple Silicon and Intel Macs. The developer’s release notes say Ventura support began with version 1.5.3 and describe macOS 13.0 or later, so the sources differ on the minimum point release. Check the live App Store listing for the requirement that applies to your Mac.

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After installing and opening the app, use its window or menu bar to activate the lock. The developer describes version 2.0 as the latest version as of September 30, 2026; versions and availability can change.

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Activate and release the keyboard lock

The default shortcut is ⌘L. The App Store listing and developer’s press kit say you can customize the shortcut in Settings, but do not specify a control-by-control path. Use the app’s Settings rather than relying on a particular menu sequence that may differ by version.

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When the keyboard is locked, the documented exit route is to press the same shortcut again. Set or confirm the shortcut before starting a lock, and remember it if you are using the lock while cleaning keys or preventing accidental input.

You can also start the lock from the app window or menu bar. A one-tap widget is documented for macOS 14 or later in the release notes for version 1.6.0, dated August 26, 2026.

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Choose how the lock looks and sounds

The app listing describes several lock-screen and sound options. These are configurable features, not a fixed setup sequence:

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  • Background and message: choose a built-in background style, icon or emoji, custom message, or personal photo.
  • Sound: select a built-in warning sound, import a sound, or use silence.
  • Stealth Lock: block keyboard input without displaying an overlay or playing a sound. This may suit a meeting or another situation where a visible warning would be distracting.

For a visible deterrent, choose a lock-screen style and, if useful, a message. For quiet use, select silence or Stealth Lock. The listing does not identify exact control names or menu locations for these choices.

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Decide whether optional modes fit your setup

The standard keyboard lock is distinct from optional features that broaden how the app responds or what it blocks. Enable only the options you need:

  • Smart Detect: an optional feature, off by default, that the developer describes as on-device detection of cat-style typing. Enabling it requests Accessibility permission.
  • Function-row blocking: optional blocking of function-row keys; the listing says it requires Accessibility permission.
  • Built-in keyboard blocking: on a MacBook, you can optionally block its built-in keyboard while leaving an external keyboard usable. This option also requires Accessibility permission. A Mac-compatible external keyboard is useful for this workflow, but is not required for ordinary use of Cats Lock.
  • Keep awake: an optional setting can keep the Mac awake while locked.
  • Trackpad behavior: the listing says the trackpad can be unlocked separately in relevant lock modes. Release notes document built-in trackpad locking in version 1.3.1, dated June 22, 2026.

The developer’s listing says the core keyboard lock does not require Accessibility permission, unlike Smart Detect and the optional function-row and built-in-keyboard controls. Its privacy statements about Smart Detect are developer claims, not independent security verification.

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Save recurring setups as profiles

If you use different combinations of modes, sounds, and lock screens, the listing says you can save lock profiles and start them from the menu bar. For example, a cleaning profile could use a visible screen and warning sound, while a quiet profile could use Stealth Lock. These examples illustrate how the documented options can be combined; the app listing does not prescribe profile names or a specific creation flow.

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Version and price details

The developer’s press kit describes Cats Lock as version 2.0 and a $4.99 one-time purchase, with no subscription, as of September 30, 2026. Both details may change, so check the live App Store listing before buying. The App Store listing also says there are not enough ratings or reviews to display an overview; that is not a rating score.

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