Blocks every key
Swallows key presses, modifier keys and media keys through a session-level event tap. Touch ID and the power button cannot be blocked, and the app tells you so.
Open source · macOS 14+ · Universal binary · Text & Input
Clean your keyboard.
Type nothing by accident.
KeyWipeLock blocks your keyboard and, optionally, your trackpad for a countdown while you wipe them down. Start a lock from the menu bar hold Escape for 3 seconds to exit early.
Free & MIT licensed · Apple Silicon & Intel · Latest release
Features
Everything you need, nothing else.
A small native menu bar app that does one job and releases your keyboard the moment it is done.
Optional trackpad and mouse lock
Turn on pointer blocking to also ignore clicks, drags, scrolling and trackpad gestures. Toggle it from the menu or in Settings.
Presets or a custom duration
Choose 30 seconds, 1, 2 or 5 minutes, or set anything from 10 seconds to 30 minutes. Starting another lock while one is running adds time.
Countdown on every display
A dimmed full-screen overlay with a countdown ring appears on each screen. It is rebuilt after display changes or sleep, keeping the same end time.
Always a way out
Hold Escape for 3 seconds, wait for the timer, or quit the app. The block lives in the app process, so the keyboard cannot stay locked.
Simple settings
Set the default duration, pointer blocking, a soft end-of-lock chime and start at login. A first-run sheet walks you through granting access.
Screenshots
See it in action.
Install
Up and running in a minute.
KeyWipeLock is open source and not notarized with a paid Apple Developer ID, so macOS needs one extra step the first time.
- Download KeyWipeLock-macOS.zip and unzip it.
- Move KeyWipeLock.app to your Applications folder.
- Clear the quarantine flag once, then right-click the app and choose Open:
xattr -cr /Applications/KeyWipeLock.app
- When prompted, grant Accessibility access to KeyWipeLock in System Settings Privacy Security Accessibility.
Download
Get KeyWipeLock for macOS
Free, forever. Built for macOS 14 Sonoma or newer, Apple Silicon and Intel.
Not notarized: on first launch right-click KeyWipeLock.app → Open.
- macOS 14 Sonoma+
- Universal (Apple Silicon + Intel)
- MIT licensed · open source
- No ads, no accounts, no telemetry
- Built with Claude Code · how and why
FAQ
Questions, answered.
Is KeyWipeLock really free and open source?
Yes. It is released under the MIT license and the full source is on GitHub. There are no accounts, no ads, no analytics and no third-party dependencies, only Apple frameworks.
What permissions does it need?
Accessibility access is required, because macOS only lets trusted apps intercept keyboard and pointer events. Notifications are requested only if macOS disables the blocker mid-lock, and the login item is used only if you enable start at login. It does not ask for Screen Recording or Microphone access, and it does not read what you type.
Where is my data stored?
Nothing leaves your Mac. The app makes no network calls, and your few preferences, such as default duration and chime, are stored locally in the app's standard macOS settings.
Why is the app not notarized?
Notarization requires a paid Apple Developer account, and this is a free project. Right-click the app and choose Open once to get past Gatekeeper, or build it yourself from source with Xcode.
Was this written by AI?
Yes. KeyWipeLock was generated by Claude Code from a written spec as a clean-room reimplementation, with no code or assets from any commercial app. The full source is on GitHub under MIT, so you can read every line before you run it. It has had less human review than a hand-written app, so bug reports are welcome.
Support ❤️
Built by one person, given away for free.
KeyWipeLock is a free, open-source alternative to paid utilities. If it earns a spot on your Mac, a coffee keeps the updates coming.
☕ Support Or on Ko-fi