How to Change the Lock Screen on a Mac

PDF download Download Article
Customize your Mac's lock screen in a few simple steps
PDF download Download Article

Are you trying to change the lock screen on your Mac? It is a relatively easy process, whether you use a MacBook Pro, a MacBook Air, or a Mac desktop. You can change your lock screen image by updating your desktop image, or you can go into your Mac's files to change the lock screen image specifically. This wikiHow guide offers everything you need to know about changing the lock screen on your Mac.

Things You Should Know

  • To change your lock screen in System Settings, you'll need to select a new desktop wallpaper.
  • Go to System Settings > Wallpaper to select a new desktop and lock screen background.
  • If you don't want to change your desktop wallpaper, you can replace the current lock screen image file with a new one.
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Changing the Desktop & Lock Screen Background

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/0a\/Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/0a\/Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Click the Apple menu and select System Settings to do so.
    • This method teaches you how to choose a custom desktop and lock screen image.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/05\/Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-2-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-2-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/05\/Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-2-Version-3.jpg\/v4-728px-Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-2-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You'll see this in the left sidebar. [1]
    Advertisement
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/65\/Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-3-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-3-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/65\/Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-3-Version-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-3-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You can choose any of the options provided by Apple, or select an image from a photo album. The chosen image will become both your desktop and lock screen background.
    • Alternatively, you can open any image on your Mac, right-click the image, and select Set Desktop Picture . This will also update your lock screen.
    4. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Replacing the Lock Screen File

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/4a\/Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/4a\/Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-4.jpg\/v4-728px-Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Ensure the picture is saved to your computer.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/8c\/Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/8c\/Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-5.jpg\/v4-728px-Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Double-click to open the file. If Preview is not your default image viewer, right-click the file and select Open with > Preview .
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/94\/Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/94\/Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-6.jpg\/v4-728px-Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You will see the file name atop the Preview window. Double-click to edit it.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/95\/Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-7.jpg\/v4-460px-Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/95\/Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-7.jpg\/v4-728px-Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Be sure to enter the file name exactly as written.
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/9d\/Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-8.jpg\/v4-460px-Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/9d\/Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-8.jpg\/v4-728px-Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-8.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":348,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":551,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    It is represented by a blue and white smiley face on the Dock.
  6. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/5e\/Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-9.jpg\/v4-460px-Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-9.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/5e\/Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-9.jpg\/v4-728px-Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-9.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    The easiest way to get there is to click Go in the top toolbar and select Go to Folder... . Then, type /Library/Caches and click Go . Finally, double-click Desktop Pictures .
  7. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/a3\/Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-10.jpg\/v4-460px-Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-10.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a3\/Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-10.jpg\/v4-728px-Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-10.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    The exact combination of characters differs between each Mac computer.
  8. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e5\/Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-11.jpg\/v4-460px-Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-11.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e5\/Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-11.jpg\/v4-728px-Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-11.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Drag and drop your saved image onto the file currently labeled "lockscreen.png" to replace it.
  9. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/27\/Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-12.jpg\/v4-460px-Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-12.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/27\/Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-12.jpg\/v4-728px-Change-Lock-Screen-on-Mac-Step-12.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    When it boots back up, you will see your new image as the lock screen.
    10. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Force Shut Down or Restart a Frozen Mac
      How to
      Automatically Shut Down Your Computer at a Specified Time
      How to
      Tell if Your Mac Is Too Old to Update
      How to
      Create a TXT File on Mac
      How to
      Install MacOS on a Virtual Machine Using VirtualBox
      Can You Change Your Apple ID Without Losing Everything? Learn How to Keep What You Need
      How to
      Write in Another Language on Your Mac Computer
      How to
      Create Folders in Mac
      How to
      Print Double Sided on a Mac
      4 Ways to Change Screen Resolution on a Mac
      5 Ways to Turn On a Mac Computer - wikiHow
      Your Guide to Apple’s True Tone Display Technology & How to Use It
      3 Easy Ways to View Your Web Browsing History on Mac
      How to
      Set the Sleep Time on a Mac
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/choose-your-desktop-picture-mchlp3013/mac

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 21,261 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement