# Script to enable password for screen lock on Mac

Strong passwords ensure protection against unauthorized access to your macOS devices. Administrators can remotely set the Mac to require a password when it wakes from sleep with the help of scripts in Hexnode. Enabling a password will keep the data on the Mac secure when users are away from it. Hexnode helps admins perform this action with the help of [Execute Custom Script](https://www.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/how-to-run-scripts-on-mac-using-hexnode-mdm/) feature.

Scripting language – Bash

File extension – .sh

 Disclaimer: 
The sample scripts provided below are adapted from third-party open-source sites.

 

 
 Note: 
The script is supported only for macOS versions between 10.12 to 12.7.

 

Enable password for screen lock
-------------------------------

The below code uses the `osascript` command to run an AppleScript line:

Script to enable password for screen lock

osascript -e 'tell application "System Events" to set require password to wake of security preferences to true' 

   1

  osascript -e 'tell application "System Events" to set require password to wake of security preferences to true' 

   

 

  

`osascript –e ` – Runs the main AppleScript command from within the Shell environment. The **‘osascript’** command with the **‘-e’** parameter is used to execute the AppleScript command directly within a shell environment.

`tell application "System Events" to set require password to wake of security preferences to true` – Use System Events to automatically enable the *‘Require password \_\_ after sleep or screensaver begins’* checkbox under *System Preferences*  > *Security & Privacy*  > *General*  without any prompts. When the option is enabled on the device, the delay for *‘Require password \_\_ after sleep or screensaver begins’* is set to *immediately*. When the device goes to sleep or when the screensaver is activated, the device enables the password immediately.

What happens at the device end?
-------------------------------

After executing the script from the portal, it enables the ***Require password after sleep or screen saver begins*** settings under ***System Preferences > Security & Privacy > General***.

[![After executing the script, the option 'Require Password after sleep or screen saver begins' is enabled](https://cdn.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Password-settings-after-executing-the-script-to-enable-password-for-screen-lock-on-Mac.png "Password settings after executing the script to enable password for screen lock on Mac")](https://cdn.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Password-settings-after-executing-the-script-to-enable-password-for-screen-lock-on-Mac.png)

If the *System Preferences* is kept open on the device when the script is executed from the portal, you may have to exit and open the *System Preferences* again for the script to take effect.

 Notes:- It is recommended to manually validate the script execution on a system before executing the action in bulk.
- Hexnode will not be responsible for any damage/loss to the system on the behavior of the script.