Unlock My Mac Helper
A small companion app that adds an "Unlock My Mac" action to the Shortcuts app, so ProximityShortcuts can wake and unlock your Mac the moment you return.
Why is this a separate download?
ProximityShortcuts is distributed through the Mac App Store, which means it runs inside Apple's sandbox. The sandbox does not allow apps to post the keystrokes that would be needed to type a password into the login window, so the unlock step has to live outside the App Store build.
This helper is designed to do just that: it exposes an "Unlock My Mac" action to the Shortcuts app, so a shortcut triggered by ProximityShortcuts when you return can hand off the actual unlock to the helper.
How It Works
1. ProximityShortcuts
Detects that your iPhone or Apple Watch has returned and runs the shortcut you configured for the "device back" event.
2. Shortcuts.app
Your shortcut calls the Unlock My Mac action provided by this helper.
3. Unlock Helper
Wakes the display, reads your password from the Keychain and types it into the login window.
Setup
Install the helper
Download the zip, unzip it and move ProximityShortcuts Unlock Helper.app into your Applications folder. Open it once.
Store your password and grant Accessibility
In the helper window, type your macOS login password and click Save Password. It is stored in the macOS Keychain. Then grant the helper Accessibility permission in System Settings so it can post the unlock keystrokes.
Build a shortcut
Open Shortcuts.app, create a new shortcut and add the Unlock My Mac action. Give it a name like "Unlock".
Wire it into ProximityShortcuts
In ProximityShortcuts, set the new shortcut as the action to run when your device returns. When you walk back to your Mac, it will wake and unlock by itself.
Security & Privacy
Stays on your Mac
The helper has no network access. Your password is stored only in the macOS Keychain, protected by your login.
Runs on demand
The helper is launched by Shortcuts only when an unlock is requested, performs the action, and exits.
Signed & notarized
Signed with a Developer ID certificate and notarized by Apple, so Gatekeeper accepts it without a right-click workaround.
Keep in mind this isn't really a secure way to unlock your Mac. It's meant as a convenience for trusted spaces, not a replacement for typing your password, Touch ID, or Apple Watch unlock.
Common Questions
Do I need this if I only want to lock the Mac?
No. ProximityShortcuts can lock the screen, pause media and trigger any other shortcut on its own. The helper is only needed if you want the Mac to unlock automatically when you return.
Why does it need my password?
macOS has no API to unlock the screen, so the helper
types the password into the login window the same way
you would. The password is stored in the Keychain with kSecAttrAccessibleAfterFirstUnlock, so it
is readable only after you have logged in once after
boot.
Why is this not on the App Store?
Typing into the login window is not allowed for sandboxed apps. To do this reliably the helper has to be distributed outside the App Store, signed with a Developer ID and notarized by Apple.
What happens if I change my macOS password?
Open the helper and update the stored password. The helper will overwrite the existing Keychain entry.
How do I remove it?
Open the helper, click Delete next to the stored password to clear the Keychain entry, then drag the app to the Trash.