How to show a message on the Mac lock screen

howtosimply.com/guides/how-to-show-a-message-on-the-mac-lock-screen/ · Checked October 2026 · MacBook Pro · macOS Tahoe 26

4 of 4 steps with real screenshots · 4 official sources below

Device

Mac

Shown on

macOS Tahoe 26 (MacBook Pro)

App

System Settings

Path

System Settings › Lock Screen › Show message when locked › Set

Real screenshots

4 of 4 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

4 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Open System Settings

   Click the Apple menu in the top left corner of the screen and choose System Settings.

   Done

2. 

   Click Lock Screen in the sidebar

   Lock Screen is in the group with Privacy & Security. Scroll down in the sidebar to find it.

   Done

3. 

   Switch on Show message when locked

   It is in the second group of the page. In the picture it is off, and the Set… button next to it is grey.

   Done

4. 

   Click Set and type the message

   In the picture the switch is still off, so Set… at the right is grey. After you switch it on, click Set…, type a short message and click OK.

   Done

If you do not see this option

• Your Mac has System Preferences, not System Settings. Apple says that on macOS Monterey you choose System Preferences, Security & Privacy, then General, and select Show a message when the screen is locked. If the lock at the bottom left is closed, click it first. Source: Change Security & Privacy General preferences on Mac
• You cannot find Lock Screen in the sidebar. Apple says you can type a word, such as message, in the search field at the top of System Settings and click the matching option. Source: Find options in System Settings on Mac

If this does not work

• You want to check the message. Apple says you can lock the screen straight away: choose Apple menu, then Lock Screen. Apple says the message appears in the login window. Source: Lock the screen of your Mac · Source: Change Lock Screen settings on Mac
• You see the screen saver, not the message. Apple says the Lock Screen shows your screen saver after a period of inactivity. The message is part of the login window, which you see when you go to unlock the Mac. Source: Lock the screen of your Mac · Source: Change Lock Screen settings on Mac

About this guide

A short line on the lock screen, such as a phone number or an email address, gives an honest finder a way to return a lost MacBook. The message is shown to anyone who tries to log in.

The screenshots show System Settings on macOS Tahoe 26.

Good to know

Show password hints, the row above, is a separate setting. On our Mac it is off.

In short: System Settings, Lock Screen, Show message when locked, Set.