How to lock your Mac's keyboard without locking the screen

Block keys and clicks while everything keeps running.

Last updated October 23, 2026

Locking your screen stops everything you were watching or doing. To block only the keyboard, trackpad and mouse while your Mac keeps running, turn on Cat mode in Pulsida. Hold the Cat mode button or press ⌃⌥⌘U to unlock.

Step by step

1
Open Pulsida
Click the pulse in your menu bar.
2
Turn on Cat mode
The first time, macOS asks you to allow Pulsida in Accessibility settings.
3
Clean, play or step away
Keys, clicks and scrolling are ignored.
4
Unlock
Hold the Cat mode button, or press ⌃⌥⌘U.

Why not just lock the screen?: Locking your Mac hides your screen and may pause what's playing. Cat mode leaves everything visible and running, and only stops input.
Your typing stays private: Cat mode drops input. It never reads or stores what's typed.