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There is a MacBook user who can't or won't remember passwords. Therefore, I checked all settings and disabled all password prompts. There is now no password prompt at login and screen saver. However, the password - that the user can't or won't remember - is still asked after the user unintentionally selected the option Lock Screen in the Apple menu or after pressing the keys Control + Command + Q (see screenshot below). The lock screen appears without having to know the password. However, you need to know it to be able to use the computer again. I would like to disable this option to avoid accidental lockout. How can I achieve this?

I am not looking for any hints on which way the user should remember a password. Instead of a password, fingerprints should not be stored either. The user has no capabilities for unlocking via Apple Watch. Also, my question has nothing to do with the fact that the password is requested before installing new software. Without knowing the password, you are not locked out, you just can't install software.

In case there is no solution to my question, it follows that a MacBook is intended only for people who are willing and able to use passwords, fingerprints or Apple Watch. Moreover, there is a compulsion to use a password even if there is no content worth protecting. Not to mention the surprise that suddenly occurs when the administrator assumes he has turned off all password prompts.

The user has a Macbook Pro with Monterey 12.6. An example image you find below.

The problem was also explained here for an older MacOS:

Computer labs or classrooms that feature a multiuser setup are not appropriate for locking the desktop. The main reason why is because once the desktop is locked, the only one who can unlock it is the one who locked it in the first place. With classrooms and labs that person is long gone by the time the locked desktop becomes a problem.

enter image description here

granular_bastard
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3 Answers3

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If the user still has their password, they should go to System Preferences > Security and Privacy and untick Require Password. Then, enter the user's password. Have them register their finger for Touch ID, and they no longer need a password to login!

Serverman
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Try this:

https://web.sas.upenn.edu/jasonrw/2018/06/14/remove-the-lock-screen-menu-option-in-macos-10-13-high-sierra/

This is written for 10.13, however I believe the objects.xib file should still contain the Lock Screen option.

You would remove the lines containing the Lock Screen option and id tag 311 from /System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/HIToolbox.framework/Versions/A/Resources/English.lproj/StandardMenus.nib/objects.xib using the steps in the link.

Christopher
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At least until macOS 10.12 High Sierra, it is perfectly possible to have a user without any password. Just go to System Preferences --> Users and groups --> Change password (just guessing the names here, I am on a non-english version). There, type the current password and just leave the fields for the new password blanks. Then, the user will be able to unlock his session just by pressing < ENTER >.

IMPORTANT: it's unclear if a password-less user can still perform administrative tasks. sudo in a Terminal won't work for instance. It's also unclear what happens if this user is the only one on the Mac (there are 5 users on my Mac, 2 of them without password). It is apparently possible to set again a password at any moment, and I'm pretty sure macOS wouldn't let suppressing the password if it had wrong consequences, but just in case: before removing the password I recommend you create a new user with administration privileges, that you will be able to use in any circumstance.

PierU
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