If you use a MacBook in a public environment, such as a university library, a busy coffee shop, or a corporate office, there is always a risk of misplacing your device or accidentally leaving it behind. While features like “Find My” are incredibly powerful for tracking a stolen laptop, they rely on the computer being connected to the internet. If an honest person finds your sleeping Mac, they have no easy way to figure out who it belongs to without attempting to bypass your password. Fortunately, macOS includes a built-in feature that allows you to display a custom, permanent text message directly on your lock screen.
Why Add a Lock Screen Message?
The lock screen message is visible the moment anyone opens the lid of your MacBook or wakes your desktop Mac from sleep. It sits neatly below the password entry box.
The most common and practical use for this feature is to display your contact information. By adding a simple message like, “If found, please call [Your Phone Number] or email [Your Email Address],” you provide an immediate, frictionless way for a good Samaritan to return your expensive hardware. You can also use this space to display a daily motivational quote, a reminder, or an IT asset tag number for corporate environments.
How to Set the Lock Screen Message
Setting up your custom text takes only a few seconds via the System Settings.
- Click the Apple Logo in the extreme top left corner of your screen.
- Select System Settings from the drop-down menu (or System Preferences if you are on an older version of macOS).
- In the left-hand sidebar, scroll down and click on Lock Screen.
- Look for the option labelled Show message when locked.
- Click the toggle switch next to this option to turn it on (it will turn blue).
- Once enabled, a new Set… button will appear directly next to the toggle. Click this button.
- A small text entry box will pop up on your screen. Type your desired custom message into this box.
- Click OK to save your text.
Testing the Message
You can immediately verify that your message looks correct without actually putting the computer to sleep.
Simply click the Apple Logo again and select Lock Screen (or press the keyboard shortcut Control + Command + Q). Your screen will instantly lock, and you should see your newly created custom text displayed prominently above the sleep/cancel buttons at the bottom of the screen.