How to Lock 1Password on a Mac
1Password protects your vault with encryption and a master password, but the desktop app itself often sits unlocked on screen for minutes at a time. Here's the gap, and how to close it.
Why people want an extra lock on 1Password
1Password holds everything: banking logins, Wi-Fi passwords, private notes, sometimes crypto seed phrases. If you leave your Mac unattended with the app unlocked — at a shared desk, a coworking space, or just stepping away during a meeting — anyone nearby can browse your entire vault. The app itself doesn't need to be actively used for this to be a risk; it just needs to be visible and unlocked.
What doesn't fully close the gap
1Password's own auto-lock timer (Settings → Security → Auto-Lock) is the built-in defense, but it's generous by default — often set to lock after several minutes of inactivity, or only when the system sleeps. That's a window where the vault sits open. Lowering the timer to something aggressive like 1 minute helps, but it also means re-entering your master password constantly during normal use, which most people turn back off within a week.
What actually works
Shoo! lets you set a hard rule: 1Password quits the moment you lock your screen, log out, or hit a schedule you define — no waiting on an inactivity timer. Quitting the app clears it from the Dock and Mission Control entirely, rather than just dimming the vault behind a lock screen. When you're back, opening 1Password prompts for your master password like normal; nothing about your data or settings changes.
Try it free for 7 days — full functionality, no credit card, $17.99 once if you keep it.
Frequently asked
Does Shoo! see or store my 1Password vault?
No. Shoo! only controls whether the 1Password app process is running — it never reads your vault, master password, or any stored items.
Does this replace 1Password's own auto-lock?
No, they work together. Auto-lock protects you during a session; Shoo! makes sure the app isn't sitting open at all when you don't want it to be.
What about the 1Password browser extension?
Shoo! controls the desktop app process, not the browser extension, which keeps its own separate unlock state in Chrome or Safari. If you rely on the extension, lock it separately in your browser.
Can I open 1Password with Touch ID after locking it with Shoo!?
Yes. Once 1Password is locked it only opens after Touch ID succeeds. If your Mac has no Touch ID, you can confirm with Apple Watch (double-press the side button) or a private backup password that is separate from your Mac login password.
Is 1Password still protected if I switch desktops or come back to it later?
Yes. Shoo! does not draw an overlay or check only at launch. It ends the 1Password process when locked, so switching Spaces or returning to the app later can't show what was on screen. It reopens only after you verify.