lock

How to lock files, folders, and your Desktop on Mac

Sandy Writtenhouse / March 2, 2021

Many times we take precautions to secure our digital items from others. We password-protect things like files and folders to prevent changes by others. But who protects us from ourselves?

If you’ve ever changed a file or moved a folder by mistake, then you know what I mean. The worst is when you do something like that and don’t even realize it until you need the item.

On your Mac, you can lock files, folders, and your Desktop (folder) to prevent unwanted changes. This doesn’t require a password. It’s just a simple “lock” to keep you, or someone else, from editing, moving, or even removing a file or folder. Here’s how it works.

How to lock cells in Microsoft Excel on Mac to protect your data

Sandy Writtenhouse / September 9, 2020

If you have an Excel spreadsheet or workbook that you want to either share with others, you likely have data that you don’t want them to be able to change. Maybe you want to allow them access to only edit certain cells. On the other hand, you may have data that you want to make sure doesn’t get accidentally changed as you work on the sheet yourself.

Unlike Numbers, you can lock cells in Microsoft Excel in a variety of ways. You can lock specific cells, cell ranges, rows, and columns. There are a few sets of steps in the process, but after you do it once, it will come easily for future workbooks. Here, we’ll walk you through how to lock cells in Microsoft Excel on Mac.

How to lock tables and workbooks in Numbers

Sandy Writtenhouse / September 2, 2020

Numbers is a great option for spreadsheets and workbooks on iOS and Mac. As an alternative to Microsoft Excel, Apple Numbers has some of the same handy features but is lacking in others. So if you’re interested in locking cells in Numbers or locking an entire workbook, both to prevent unwanted changes, we’ll show you your options.

How to view carrier lock status to verify that an iPhone is unlocked

Christian Zibreg / September 16, 2020

There are several ways you can prove to a potential buyer that your iPhone is unlocked, including crude methods such as pulling out your SIM card and putting one from a different carrier inside. With iOS and iPadOS 14, you can access carrier lock status information directly in order to quickly verify that an iPhone or iPad is unlocked, and we show you how.

How to lock the Dock on your Mac to prevent unwanted changes

Sandy Writtenhouse / January 15, 2020

If you spend time customizing the Dock on your Mac, it can be aggravating when something gets changed by someone else. You may let a guest or your child use your computer and suddenly your Dock is positioned elsewhere, sized differently, or doesn’t have the apps you pinned to it.

To prevent your Dock from being messed with by another, you can lock it down using Terminal. We’ll show you the commands you need to lock the Dock’s position, size, and contents to prevent unwanted changes. So if you’re ready, here’s how to lock the Dock on your Mac.