TL;DR
To change the lock screen on a Mac:
- Open Finder and go to Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter this path: /Library/Caches/Desktop Pictures.
- Find the folder with your user UUID and locate the lockscreen.png file.
- Replace this file with your image (make sure it’s named lockscreen.png).
- Click Replace when prompted.
Tried and Tested ✅: The methods and steps mentioned in this article have been tried and tested firsthand by Ojash Yadav on his MacBook Pro M3 and rechecked for errors on Hashir’s MacBook Air M2.
After months of seeing the same lock screen, I figured it was time to personalize it—and I was surprised by how easy it was. In this guide, I’ll show you exactly how I changed the lock screen on my Mac.
Prepare Your Mac Lock Screen Image
To prepare your Mac lock screen image, make sure it’s in .PNG or .HEIC format and match your screen resolution. Use the macOS Preview app to resize and save it as lockscreen.png. If needed, convert the image to .PNG through the Export option in Preview.
How to Change the Lock Screen on a Mac
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Here is how you can change the lock screen on a Mac:
- Launch Finder on your Mac.
- Navigate to Go > Go to Folder via the menu bar.
- Type the following path into the address bar and hit Enter:
/Library/Caches/Desktop Pictures
- You’ll find one or multiple folders in the Desktop Pictures directory labeled with user UUIDs. Access the folder corresponding to your user, and you should spot a file named lockscreen.png.
- Swap this file with your personalized image, ensuring it’s named lockscreen.png.
- Click Replace on the warning prompt.
- You should see your custom image in the folder.
- Restart your Mac to view the updated login wallpaper.
Keep in mind: If you update your Mac desktop wallpaper later on, it will also change your lock screen image.
How to Change Your Mac’s User Avatar
Here’s how to change your Mac’s user icon:
- Click the Apple icon and select System Settings.
- Click your Apple ID in the upper left corner.
- Hover over the profile image and select Edit when it pops up.
- A new window will appear, allowing you to choose an image source or opt for the Camera to snap a photo with your Mac’s webcam. There’s also an option to set a Memoji as your avatar.
- Select a profile icon and click Save.
When connected to your Apple account, this profile picture will be consistent across all devices linked to that Apple ID. Updating your Apple ID image on your iPhone or iPad will also modify your Mac’s user profile picture.
How to Add Custom Text to Lock Screen on Mac
You can write a custom message on your Mac’s lock screen via System Settings. This message will appear on your Mac’s lock and login screens. Here’s how to add custom text to your Mac’s lock screen:
- Click the Apple logo and select System Settings.
- Click Lock Screen in the left sidebar.
- Toggle on the Show message when locked switch.
- Click the Set button next to this switch.
- A new window will appear. Type your message in the box and click OK to save it.
- It will appear on your Mac’s login and lock screen.
Customize Your Mac’s Lock Screen Like a Pro
Changing the lock screen on a Mac allows you to personalize your computer’s appearance. Whether you prefer a scenic photo, a favorite image, or a simple background, macOS offers customization options to make your lock screen uniquely yours.
Here are some more tips to explore to enhance your Mac experience:
- You can easily transfer photos from an iPhone to a Mac if the wallpaper you want is on your iOS device.
- To make image transfer easy and successful, you can convert HEIC to JPG on Mac.
- If you don’t want to see the lock screen every few seconds, you can change sleep time on your Mac.
