Apple released the macOS 10.14 Mojave update with several features and optimizations. It took me over a week to discover and tweak most of them. One of the first things I did was to customize the lock screen on my MacBook Air running Mojave.
The entire activity barely took a couple of minutes, and now my MacBook Air's lock screen looks more personal than ever. Thankfully, Mojave continues to offer a few ways to change the lock screen look and options from the vanilla one offered out of the box.
Pro Tip: If you use the lock screen for privacy reasons, then consider enabling FileVault, the disk encryption setting, through System Preferences > Security & Privacy > FileVault and click on Turn on FileVault button.EFI TOOL - Unlock EFI Firmware Lock, iCloud Password Lock in less than 30 sec. Unlimited unlocks (2011-2017 iMac, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Mac mini, and Mac Pro 2013) Click here. Restart the Mac: You may experience UI lag in your MacBook Air — animations and graphics that get choppy when they start opening apps or resizing windows. Click the Apple logo on the menu bar.
Let's start with an easy option.
Change the Desktop Wallpaper
A large wallpaper can make the desktop look crisp and clear. Get a wallpaper in at least Full HD resolution for MacBook Air and 4K resolution for MacBook as well as MacBook Pro.
Tip: We recommend using at least 4K UHD (3840x2160) in case you plan to connect your MacBook, MacBook Air or MacBook Pro to a 4K monitor or TV. You'll need a 5K wallpaper for the 5K iMacs.Step 1: Right-click on the desktop and select Change Desktop Background from the context menu.
Num Lock
Step 2: Navigate to the wallpaper or pick in anyone from the available album folders as your wallpaper.
Step 3: Click on the Apple Menu and select Lock Screen to confirm that the new wallpaper is visible on the lock screen. Alternatively, you can press Control+Command+Q shortcut keys to lock the screen.
I chose an official Firewatch game's wallpaper for my desktop as the lock screen background.
Also on Guiding Tech How To Speed Up a Slow Mac
Change the User Account Picture
Apple provides about 43 different images to choose as your account photo which is visible at the lock screen and the login screen. You can set a custom photo which could be your picture or anything else. Here's how you can change the user account picture.
First of all, you must add the image you want to put as your User account image in the Photos app.
Tip: Using a square image with 700x700 pixel resolution yielded better results to set at the User account picture replacement.Transfer the image(s) to the Photos app and then follow these steps:
Step 1: Click on the Apple Menu and choose System Preferences.
Step 2: Head to User & Groups.
Step 3: Click on the current User account image, and it will roll out a photo selection menu.
Step 4: Select Photos. Now keep scrolling the left pane containing thumbnails till you see the new images you added at the bottom. Select the one you want to use and hit next.
You can take a picture of yourself using the camera and set it as your account photo.
Step 5: Use the zoom slider to align the image correctly and hit Save when you are satisfied.
Now you can use the Control+Command+Q shortcut to view the lock screen and check your new User account image.
Add a Message or Text on the Lock Screen
MacBooks are lightweight, convenient to carry around, and easy to forget at airports, cafes or conferences. How can one identify whose laptop it is and reach out to the rightful owner? Well, you can leave a custom text message on the lock screen that would help anyone to reach out to you and return your laptop.
Such custom text is also an excellent way to leave cheeky a message for your sneaky sibling or a co-worker. Here's how you can set one:
Step 1: Go to System Preferences using the Apple menu and click on Security & Privacy.
Step 2: Click on the lock icon at the bottom right corner of the window to unlock the setting and enter the administrator password.
Step 3: Check the second option that states 'Show a message when the screen is locked' and click on the Set Lock Message button.
Step 4: Add text in the field, hit the OK button and finally click on the lock icon to lock it back.
You can access the lock screen using Control+Command+Q shortcut and view the custom text on the lock screen.
Password Protect After Screen Saver Starts
Often we prefer to use a screen saver and select the Mac system to automatically go to sleep mode when not in use. The screen saver or the sleep mode do not activate the lock screen by default. So anyone can take advantage of that and gain access to your system. To avoid that, you can set a password requirement whenever the computer goes into sleep mode or after the screen saver starts.
Step 1: Go to System Preferences from the Apple Menu.
Step 2: In the Security & Privacy settings, check the first box for Require password and pick a preferred time from the drop-down menu.
Now you can step away from your Mac without worrying about someone being sneaky.
Also on Guiding Tech 3 Solid Ways to Hide and Encrypt Files and Folders on Mac Read MoreAll Glam, No Sham
The macOS 10.14 Mojave allows using a few tricks with the lock screen. While most are quite simple and efficient, one needs to set the screen saver and energy saver settings smartly to make the best of them.
The only thing missing is notification support — mostly for emails, Slack and few other productivity apps. Indeed, just like the lock screen on an iPhone, iPad, or an Android-based smartphone. Most importantly, the ones that can hide sensitive information like on Android and iOS lock screens. However, if you come across a good one, do share with us in the comments section below.
The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.Read NextHow to Prevent a Mac From Connecting to the Wrong Wireless NetworkAlso See#macos #customization
Did You Know
Apple's A12 Bionic chip is the first 7nm mobile chipset.
More in Mac
Top 4 Ways to Fix Mac Desktop Icons Missing or Not Showing
Your Mac provides several tools to help you identify it. The simplest is About This Mac, available by choosing About This Mac from the Apple () menu in the upper-left corner of your screen. The other is the System Information app. Learn how to use these tools to identify your Mac.
If you don't have your Mac or it doesn't start up, use one of these solutions instead:
- Find the serial number printed on the underside of your Mac, near the regulatory markings. It's also on the original packaging, next to a barcode label. You can then enter that serial number on the Check Coverage page to find your model.
- The original packaging might also show an Apple part number, such as MQD32xx/A ('xx' is a variable that differs by country or region). You can match the Apple part number to one in the list below to find your model.
List of MacBook Air models
MacBook Air models are organized by the year they were introduced, starting with the most recent. Click the model name for detailed technical specifications.
MacBook Air models from 2012 and newer can run the latest version of macOS. For models from before 2012, the latest compatible operating system is noted.
2020
MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020)
Colors: Space gray, gold, silver
Model Identifier: MacBookAir9,1
Part Numbers: MVH22xx/A, MVH42xx/A, MVH52xx/A, MWTJ2xx/A, MWTK2xx/A, MWTL2xx/A
Tech Specs: MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020)
2019
MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2019)
Colors: Space gray, gold, silver
Model Identifier: MacBookAir8,2
Part Numbers: MVFH2xx/A, MVFJ2xx/A, MVFK2xx/A, MVFL2xx/A, MVFM2xx/A, MVFN2xx/A, MVH62xx/A, MVH82xx/A
Tech Specs: MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2019)
2018
MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018)
Colors: Space gray, gold, silver
Model Identifier: MacBookAir8,1
Part Numbers: MRE82xx/A, MREA2xx/A, MREE2xx/A, MRE92xx/A, MREC2xx/A, MREF2xx/A, MUQT2xx/A, MUQU2xx/A, MUQV2xx/A
Tech Specs: MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018)
2017
MacBook Air (13-inch, 2017)
Model Identifier: MacBookAir7,2
Part Numbers: MQD32xx/A, MQD42xx/A, MQD52xx/A
Tech Specs: MacBook Air (13-inch, 2017)
2015
MacBook Air (13-inch, Early 2015)
Model Identifier: MacBookAir7,2
Part Numbers: MJVE2xx/A, MJVG2xx/A, MMGF2xx/A, MMGG2xx/A
Tech Specs: MacBook Air (13-inch, Early 2015)
MacBook Air (11-inch, Early 2015)
Model Identifier: MacBookAir7,1
Part Numbers: MJVM2xx/A, MJVP2xx/A
Tech Specs: MacBook Air (11-inch, Early 2015)
2014
MacBook Air (13-inch, Early 2014)
Model Identifier: MacBookAir6,2
Part Numbers: MD760xx/B, MD761xx/B
Tech Specs: MacBook Air (13-inch, Early 2014)
MacBook Air (11-inch, Early 2014)
Model Identifier: MacBookAir6,1
Part Numbers: MD711xx/B, MD712xx/B
Tech Specs: MacBook Air (11-inch, Early 2014)
Macbook Air Scroll Lock Tool
2013
MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2013)
Model Identifier: MacBookAir6,2
Part Numbers: MD760xx/A, MD761xx/A
Tech Specs: MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2013)
MacBook Air (11-inch, Mid 2013)
Model Identifier: MacBookAir6,1
Part Numbers: MD711xx/A, MD712xx/A
Tech Specs: MacBook Air (11-inch, Mid 2013)
2012
MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2012)
Model Identifier: MacBookAir5,2
Part Numbers: MD231xx/A, MD232xx/A
Tech Specs: MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2012)
MacBook Air (11-inch, Mid 2012)
Model Identifier: MacBookAir5,1
Part Numbers: MD223xx/A, MD224xx/A
Tech Specs: MacBook Air (11-inch, Mid 2012)
2011
MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2011)
Model Identifier: MacBookAir4,2
Part Numbers: MC965xx/A, MC966xx/A
Newest compatible operating system: macOS High Sierra 10.13.6
Tech Specs: MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2011)
MacBook Air (11-inch, Mid 2011)
Model Identifier: MacBookAir4,1
Part Numbers: MC968xx/A, MC969xx/A
Newest compatible operating system: macOS High Sierra 10.13.6
Tech Specs: MacBook Air (11-inch, Mid 2011)
2010
MacBook Air (13-inch, Late 2010)
Model Identifier: MacBookAir3,2
Part Numbers: MC503xx/A, MC504xx/A
Newest compatible operating system: macOS High Sierra 10.13.6
Tech Specs: MacBook Air (13-inch, Late 2010)
MacBook Air (11-inch, Late 2010)
Model Identifier: MacBookAir3,1
Part Numbers: MC505xx/A, MC506xx/A
Newest compatible operating system: macOS High Sierra 10.13.6
Tech Specs: MacBook Air (11-inch, Late 2010)
2009
MacBook Air (Mid 2009)
Model Identifier: MacBookAir2,1
Part Numbers: MC505xx/A, MC233xx/A, MC234xx/A
Newest compatible operating system: OS X El Capitan 10.11.6
Tech Specs: MacBook Air (Mid 2009)
