On your Mac
Face recognition runs entirely on your Mac. Your face data never leaves it.
Unlock your Mac
with a look.
Face unlock for your Mac. Wake it, look at the screen, and you're in. Lock any app the same way.
Free & open source · macOS 14+
The Island
Two looks. Your pick.
A Face ID style island drops from the notch while it checks your face, then gets out of your way. Go big, or keep it minimal.
Unlock animationA full badge that plays the scan.
App Lock
Lock any app on your Mac. Unlock with a glance.
- Any app, any timeProtect Messages, Notes, Mail, or any other app. Others see a blur until you're verified by face, Touch ID, or password.
- Blur your wayBlur the whole display for maximum privacy, or only the locked window so the rest of your work stays in view.
- Relock on your termsFor each app, choose to unlock on every launch, after 5 to 15 minutes, or whenever you switch away.
- Can't be quit aroundQuitting a protected app needs your face, and Hey Mac keeps running in the background so a force quit can't slip past.
Privacy
Your face data stays on your Mac.
No servers, no accounts, no photos.
Photos saved
Hey Mac never saves a picture of your face. It keeps only encrypted data in your Keychain.
Liveness check
A built-in liveness check helps reject photos and screens held up to the camera.
Open source
Every line is on GitHub. Read it, build it yourself, or contribute.
The film
See it in 34 seconds.
Frequently asked questions.
Is there Face ID for Mac?
Macs unlock with a password or Touch ID, not Face ID. Hey Mac adds face unlock to macOS: it uses your Mac's built-in camera to recognize your face, then unlocks the lock screen and your protected apps when you look at the screen.
How do I unlock my Mac with my face?
Install Hey Mac and follow the guided setup: allow camera access, enroll your face, try a test unlock, and choose your security preferences. After that, just wake your Mac and look at the screen to unlock it. No password or keyboard needed.
Can I lock individual apps on my Mac with my face?
Yes. Hey Mac can lock any app, such as Messages, Notes, or Mail. Anyone else sees a blurred window until you're verified by face, Touch ID, or password. For each app you can require unlock on every launch, after 5 to 15 minutes, or when you switch away.
Is Hey Mac free and open source?
Yes. Hey Mac is a free, open-source Mac app released under the MIT license. The full source code is on GitHub, so you can read it, build it yourself, or contribute.
Which Macs and macOS versions does Hey Mac support?
Hey Mac runs on Macs with Apple silicon (M1 or later) using macOS 14 Sonoma or later. It works on MacBooks with or without a notch. On Macs without one, the unlock animation floats at the top of the screen.
Does Hey Mac upload my face data or photos?
No. Face recognition runs entirely on your Mac using the Apple Neural Engine. Hey Mac never saves a photo of your face; it keeps only encrypted face data in your macOS Keychain, and that data never leaves your Mac.
Is Mac face unlock as secure as Face ID on iPhone?
No. iPhone's Face ID uses a dedicated depth sensor, while Hey Mac uses your Mac's regular camera with a built-in liveness check that helps reject photos and screens. It's designed for convenience, so keep a strong Mac password.
Does Hey Mac replace my Mac password or Touch ID?
No. Hey Mac is a faster way in, not a replacement. Your Mac password and Touch ID keep working everywhere, and locked apps can always be opened with them instead of your face.
How do I install Hey Mac?
Download the Hey Mac .dmg from GitHub and drag Hey Mac into your Applications folder, or install it with Homebrew: brew install --cask iharshitmaurya/tap/heymac.
Why does macOS say it can't verify the developer of Hey Mac?
Hey Mac isn't notarized by Apple yet, so macOS shows a warning the first time you open it. Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security and click Open Anyway. You only need to do this once.
How does Hey Mac update?
Automatically. Hey Mac checks for new versions and installs them for you, so you always have the latest fixes and features.
Hey Mac.
Just look.
brew install --cask iharshitmaurya/tap/heymacNot yet notarized. On first launch, click Open Anyway in System Settings → Privacy & Security. Why?