macOS takes security very seriously. By default, if you stop typing or moving your mouse for a few minutes, your Mac’s display will go to sleep to conserve battery. The moment the display goes dark, macOS automatically locks the entire computer. When you wiggle the mouse to wake the screen back up, you are instantly prompted to re-enter your password or use Touch ID.
While this is an essential security practice if you work in a bustling corporate office or a public coffee shop, it can be incredibly frustrating if you work alone from a secure home office. If you are reading a long physical document at your desk and the screen times out, having to constantly re-authenticate just to glance back at your digital notes adds unnecessary friction to your workflow.
You can decouple the screen sleep function from the security lock function, allowing your Mac’s display to turn off to save power without immediately demanding a password when you wake it up.
How to Stop macOS from Locking on Sleep
You must adjust the delay timer within the Lock Screen settings.
- Open the System Settings (or System Preferences) via the Apple Logo in the top-left menu bar.
- Scroll down the left sidebar and click on Lock Screen.
- In the right-hand pane, look for the dropdown menu labeled Require password after screen saver begins or display is turned off.
- By default, this is likely set to “Immediately.” Click the dropdown menu.
- Select a much longer grace period that suits your workflow, such as After 5 minutes, After 1 hour, or even Never if you want to completely disable the password requirement (though “Never” is a massive security risk if your laptop is ever stolen).
macOS will now respect your chosen grace period. If your screen goes to sleep, you can wiggle your mouse within that designated time window and your desktop will instantly appear, allowing you to get right back to work without typing a password.