Quick reference: Below are the most common questions new and experienced users ask. Click a question to jump directly to its answer.
ProximityLock is a macOS security application that automatically locks your computer when the Bluetooth device you select (e.g., iPhone, Apple Watch, AirPods) moves out of range. It works silently in the background, requiring no manual shortcuts.
Any Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) device works. Common choices are iPhone, Apple Watch, AirPods/Pro, fitness trackers, or any other BLE‑advertising accessory. Devices that only advertise when disconnected from other accessories tend to work best.
When your device’s signal falls below the configured threshold for the selected timeout period, ProximityLock directly launches macOS ScreenSaverEngine to start the screen saver. The actual password‑required lock is enforced by the system setting “Require password immediately after sleep or screen saver begins”.
Critical: Without enabling “Require password immediately after sleep or screen saver begins” in System Settings → Lock Screen, the screen saver will activate but anyone can wake it without a password. This defeats the security purpose of ProximityLock.
Yes. The easiest way is to find the "Automatically start at login" toggle in the main ProximityLock window and turn it ON — it takes effect immediately. ProximityLock will register itself to launch automatically when you log in.
If you prefer, you can still add ProximityLock.app manually in System Settings → General → Login Items & Extensions. Either way, the app will launch with the same window-state and monitoring state it had when you last quit.
The threshold is a dBm value that separates “in‑range” from “out‑of‑range”. Lower (more negative) values make ProximityLock less sensitive, requiring you to be farther away before locking. Higher (less negative) values lock sooner. A good starting point is the typical signal strength you see when sitting at your desk minus a few dBm (e.g., if you usually see –70 dBm, set threshold around –75 dBm).
The timeout defines how long ProximityLock must observe a signal below the threshold before it decides you have left. Shorter timeouts lock faster but can cause false alarms; longer timeouts tolerate brief signal drops caused by interference.
This usually means the threshold is set too high or the timeout is too short. Open the Settings window, watch the real‑time signal graph, and adjust the threshold downward or increase the timeout until the green “safe” zone comfortably covers your normal signal level.
No. ProximityLock uses passive Bluetooth scanning, which is extremely power‑efficient—especially with BLE devices. It also automatically pauses monitoring when the computer sleeps, further reducing any impact on laptop battery life.
Zero data transmission: All signal analysis, device selection, and settings are stored locally on your computer. ProximityLock never makes network connections, collects analytics, or sends any information to third‑party services.
~/Library/Preferences/com.sinz.ProximityLock.plist.Visit the “About ProximityLock” page for version information and a link to the changelog. Updates are delivered through the App Store; you’ll be notified when a new version is available.
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