Help Index > Macintosh Computers

Configuring your computer to use a password protected screen saver

Setting up a password protected screen saver will help to keep unauthorized users off of your computer. Once you are away from your system for a certain period of time, the screen saver will activate and will not let anyone resume access until they can confirm the correct password.

• Click on the Apple menu at the top left hand corner of your screen
• Select "System Preferences..."



• Click on the "Desktop and Screen Saver" icon
• Click on the "Screen Saver" button
• Select the screensaver that you wish to use from the "Screen Savers" menu
• Select the time of inactivity that you wish to occur before the screen saver starts with the "Start screen saver" meter



• You may also press the "Hot Corners..." button if you want the option of starting the screen saver manually. To do this, after you have pressed the "Hot Corners..." button, select a corner convenient for you, then pull down the menu next to the corner and choose "Start screen saver". From then on, anytime you put your cursor into this corner, the screen saver will start
• Next, pull down the View menu and select "Security"



Place a check next to "Require password to wake from sleep and screen saver" and also next to "Disable automatic login"



• Your computer is now set to password protected itself after a certain period of inactivity (in this case, 5 minutes, as specified on the "Start screen saver" meter).

Please note that this is only going to occur for this one account. If you have multiple accounts setup on the system, you will have to go through these steps for each account. However, if the system goes into screen saver mode and someone from another account needs to use the computer, they will either have to be an administrator and use their password, or they will have to restart the system. In latter case, any unsaved data will become lost!

Help:
If you have questions, or need assistance, please contact the Service
Desk (706-721-4000 or e-mail ).