Turn Lockdown Mode on or off on your Mac

Why it happens

Lockdown Mode is an extreme protection setting for people who might be targeted by sophisticated attacks, such as journalists, activists or public figures. It works by switching off features attackers could use, so some websites, attachments and calls behave differently. Most people never need it, and that's also why it can make things seem broken if it was turned on without you noticing.

How to fix it

1. Click the Apple menu, choose System Settings, then click Privacy & Security in the sidebar.

2. Scroll down to Lockdown Mode, in the Security part of the page. Click Turn On… to switch it on, or Turn Off… if it's already on.

   Privacy & Security›Lockdown Mode

3. Read the message, confirm, and type your Mac password if asked. Save your work first, because your Mac restarts to apply the change.

4. After the restart, Lockdown Mode is on or off as you chose. While it's on, many Messages attachments other than photos are blocked, some web features in Safari are switched off, and calls and invitations from people you haven't contacted before may be blocked.

Still not fixed?

1. Lockdown Mode protects only the device you turn it on for. For full protection, turn it on on your iPhone and iPad too, in Settings, then Privacy & Security, then Lockdown Mode. Turning it off on your Mac doesn't turn it off on your other devices.

2. If a website you trust doesn't work properly in Safari, you can exclude just that site from Lockdown Mode in Safari's settings for that website. That keeps the protection on everywhere else.

3. Worried you're being targeted by spyware? Keep Lockdown Mode on, and install every update in Software Update as soon as it arrives. Updates often fix the security holes attackers use.

   General›Software Update

4. If your Mac shows an error when you try to turn Lockdown Mode on or off, or you think your Mac has been attacked, contact Apple Support for help.