SnappyZones 
SessionGuard Lock, do not sleep
The lock screen comes up. CPU and processes stay up. WalkAway never calls sleep.
WalkAway
Lock when you leave
Walk away. The screen locks. Your jobs keep running.
A discreet menu bar utility that watches one trusted Apple Watch or iPhone. When you walk away past a short delay, WalkAway locks the screen. It does not sleep the Mac.
macOS can unlock with Apple Watch. It does not lock when you leave. WalkAway fills that gap — without killing encodes, downloads, or renders.
- macOS 13+
- Menu bar
- Apple Watch
- Free
Latest version 0.1.2
Platform macOS 13 Ventura+
Category Session control
Licence Free
Features
Armed, local, honest
One toggle. One trusted device. Lock the screen, never the machine.
One trusted BLE device
Pick your Apple Watch or iPhone. WalkAway measures RSSI against a threshold you set.
Away delay, lock once
Away must last the delay (default 8 seconds) before lock. One lock per absence. Coming back clears the latch.
Arm and Disarm
Armed evaluates presence. Disarmed never locks from walking away. Lock Now works either way.
No auto-unlock
WalkAway does not type your password. Return uses system Unlock with Apple Watch, Touch ID, or password.
Privacy-friendly
No accounts, no tracking, no password stored. Bluetooth is used only to measure your device.
How it works
How it works
Presence in, lock screen out. Jobs never stop.
- 01
Pick a device
Open Preferences and choose your Apple Watch. Armed turns on automatically.
- 02
Walk away
When the signal stays weaker than the threshold past the delay, WalkAway locks once.
- 03
Come back
Unlock with Watch or Touch ID — that is macOS, not WalkAway. The next leave can lock again.
Quick start
Quick Start
From install to an armed lock in a few minutes.
- 01
Install
Download the DMG, drag WalkAway to Applications, and open it.
- 02
Allow Bluetooth
macOS will ask to use Bluetooth. Allow it so WalkAway can see your Watch.
- 03
Pick your Watch
Open Preferences, select the device, set the delay if you want. Armed is on.
- 04
Walk away once
Leave the desk. After the delay the lock screen should be up. ffmpeg should still be running.
Download WalkAway
Get the latest build for macOS, straight from the product site.
Free to use — including for businesses.
Requires macOS 13 Ventura+ · v0.1.2
Install
- Download the DMG
- Drag WalkAway to Applications
- Open WalkAway
- Allow Bluetooth, pick your Watch in Preferences
- Lock the screen when you walk away — jobs keep running
- One trusted Apple Watch or iPhone via Bluetooth
- Away delay and RSSI threshold you control
Frequently asked questions
Does WalkAway sleep the Mac?
No. It locks the screen. Builds, downloads, and renders keep running.
Does it unlock when I come back?
No. Unlock is the system: Apple Watch, Touch ID, or password. WalkAway never stores your password.
Why Apple Watch instead of iPhone?
iPhone BLE addresses can change. Apple Watch is the reliable pick. AirPods can appear in the list too.
Why does the first lock ask for System Events?
WalkAway locks through System Events. macOS asks once. WalkAway does not write TCC.db or flip Privacy switches for you.
Is my data collected?
No. No accounts, no tracking. Settings live in a local JSON file.
How is this different from SessionGuard?
SessionGuard keeps a session awake. WalkAway locks when you leave. Same catalog, opposite job.
How do I update?
Use Check for Updates… in the WalkAway menu. The first install is still this site’s DMG.
Need a hand?
Installation trouble, a permission that will not stick, or a bug worth reporting — we answer every message ourselves.