All Mac settings
Settings Pathfinder · Mac
Require password after sleep or screen saver
Sets how long after the screen saver begins or the display turns off a password is required.
In macOS 26
System Settings then Lock Screen then Require password after screen saver begins or display is turned off
“On your Mac, choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click Lock Screen in the sidebar. (You may need to scroll down.) Click the pop-up menu next to “Require password after screen saver begins or display is turned off,” then choose the time that passes before a password is required.” — Apple User Guide
Where it has lived
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macOS 14 and later
System Settings then Lock Screen then Require password after screen saver begins or display is turned off
Checked against Apple's User Guides from macOS 14 onward. Menus can differ slightly by region, language, model and installed apps.
Sources for this page
Last verified 8 Oct 2026
- 1 Require a password after waking your Mac - Apple Support support.apple.com · guide for version 14.0
- 1 Require a password after waking your Mac - Apple Support support.apple.com · guide for version 15.0
- 1 Require a password after waking your Mac - Apple Support support.apple.com · guide for version 26
- 1 Require a password after waking your Mac - Apple Support support.apple.com · current guide