How to set up hot corners on a Mac

2 min read · 5 steps · Updated 2 October 2026

A hot corner starts an action when you push the pointer into a corner of the screen. No click is needed. Many people use one corner to lock the Mac and another to show the desktop.

These steps are for recent versions of macOS, where the settings app is called System Settings. The pictures are our own screenshots from macOS Tahoe 26 on a MacBook Pro.

Step by step

1. 

   Open System Settings and click Desktop & Dock

   Click the Apple menu, then System Settings. Desktop & Dock is in the sidebar. You may need to scroll down.

   Done

2. 

   Scroll to the bottom and click Hot Corners

   The button is at the very bottom of the page, on the right.

   Done

3. Choose an action for a corner

   A small picture of the screen appears with a menu at each corner. Click a menu and choose what that corner should do, for example Mission Control, Desktop, Notification Centre, Lock Screen or Put Display to Sleep.

   Done

4. Add a key to prevent accidents

   If corners trigger by mistake, hold Command, Shift, Option or Control while the menu is open and then choose the action. The corner then works only while you hold that key.

   Done

5. Click Done and try it

   Move the pointer all the way into the corner. The action starts at once.

   Done

Good to know

On a new Mac the bottom right corner is already set to Quick Note. That is why a small note window appears when the pointer rests there.

A Lock Screen corner is a quick way to lock the Mac when you leave your desk.

In short: System Settings, Desktop & Dock, Hot Corners, choose an action for each corner, Done.