How to set up hot corners on a Mac

In short

Open System Settings, click Desktop & Dock, scroll to the bottom and click Hot Corners…. Open the menu for a corner, choose an action such as Lock Screen or Mission Control, then click Done.

6 of 6 steps show a real screenshot from our MacBook Neo.

Steps

1. 1

   Open System Settings

   Click the Apple menu at the top left of the screen, then choose System Settings….

   Done
   
2. 2

   Click Desktop & Dock

   Desktop & Dock is in the sidebar, below Appearance. The page opens with the Dock settings at the top.

   Done
   
3. 3

   Scroll to the bottom and click Hot Corners…

   The button is at the bottom right of the page, below the Mission Control section.

   On our MacBook Neo it is labelled Hot Corners… and sits next to Shortcuts….

   Done
   
4. 4

   Choose an action for a corner

   A small picture of the screen appears with a menu at each corner. Click a corner's menu and choose an action, such as Lock Screen.

   On our MacBook Neo the menu lists Mission Control, Application Windows, Desktop, Notification Center, Apps, Quick Note, Start Screen Saver, Disable Screen Saver, Put Display to Sleep, Lock Screen and a dash. The dash means the corner does nothing.

   Done
   
5. 5

   Add a key to prevent accidents (optional)

   Apple says that if you hold Command, Shift, Option or Control while the menu is open, the corner then works only while you hold that key.

   On our MacBook Neo, holding Command puts a ⌘ in front of every item, for example ⌘ Lock Screen.

   Done
   
6. 6

   Click Done and try it

   Click Done at the bottom right of the hot corners window. Then move the pointer all the way into the corner to start the action.

   On our MacBook Neo three corners show a dash and the bottom right corner shows Quick Note.

   Done
   

If you do not see this option

• You cannot see the Hot Corners… button Desktop & Dock opens at the Dock settings. Scroll down past Windows and Mission Control; the button is at the very bottom, next to Shortcuts….
• A corner already shows Quick Note Apple says the bottom right corner is set to Quick Note by default. Our MacBook Neo shows it that way. Source: Use hot corners on Mac
• There is no Desktop & Dock or Hot Corners button Apple says that on older versions such as macOS Big Sur you choose System Preferences, click Mission Control (or Desktop & Screen Saver, then Screen Saver), then Hot Corners, and click OK when you are done. Sources: Use hot corners on Mac, Use hot corners on Mac (macOS Big Sur 11)

If this does not work

• A corner works only with a key held Apple says holding Command, Shift, Option or Control while the menu is open sets a corner to need that key. On our MacBook Neo the items then show a ⌘ in front. Choose the action again without holding a key.
• A note window appears in the bottom right Apple says that corner is set to Quick Note by default. Open its menu and choose the dash.
• A corner keeps starting by mistake Open its menu again and hold Command, Shift, Option or Control while you choose the action, so the corner only works with that key held.

Good to know

To switch a corner off, open its menu and choose the dash.

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.

A hot corner can lock the screen; other ways to do it: How to lock the screen on a Mac.

Hot corners not enough? Mac trackpad gestures: the full list.

macOS 27 compared with macOS 26: We rewrote this guide on macOS 27.0.1 (MacBook Neo): it now has 6 steps instead of 5. The macOS 26 page keeps the steps and screenshots as they were.

Version history: the macOS 26 version of this guide, with its own screenshots.

About this guide

Device

Mac

Shown on

macOS 27.0.1 (MacBook Neo)

App

System Settings

Real screenshots

6 of 6 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

2 official, linked below

Sources

• Apple Support: Use hot corners on Mac
• Apple Support: Use hot corners on Mac (macOS Big Sur 11)

Links checked October 2026. Menus and features can change with updates.

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