So I was looking around at options to create a key combo to lock the screen on OS X Leopard. I came across several different options and none of them were really want I wanted. Some required running an apple script to start a screen saver, others require the key chain access application or having an icon on you menu bar or dock. All I wanted was a simple key combo to lock the screen. It’s as easy as 1-2-3…4-5-6-7-8. This is how you do it:
- Get Quicksilver if you dont already have it. So many good things come from this app that it’s worth it if not for this, then for it’s pure awesomeness.
- Enable fast user switching (System Preferences>Accounts>Login Options-last check box)
- Go into Quicksilver Preferences (default is option+space>command+,) and make sure you have the Extra Scripts and User Accounts Module enabled under plugins.
- Open the Quicksilver interface (option+space) and select “Fast Logout”, press ‘Tab’ then ‘right arrow’ to open up the command selections and select ‘Run: run a shell script’ and press enter. This should bring you to the user login window.
- If that worked, go back into Quicksilver Preferences (option+space>command+,) and select ‘Triggers’.
- Add a new trigger by pressing the ‘+’ symbol at the bottom. Select ‘Add new hotkey’. You should now see the default as the last command you picked (Fast Logout and ‘Run’).
- Click Save
- Now click on the ‘Trigger’ (it should say ‘none’) and select the hot key you wish to use. I chose to use ‘command+option+L’ as command+L has other functions.
That’s it. You can now lock your Mac to your heart’s content with a simple keystroke.