Lock Notes with Mac Login Password in macOS 13

Yes, you can lock your notes using your Mac login password in macOS 13 (macOS Ventura). Apple updated the Notes app to allow users to secure individual notes using their existing Mac user account password or Touch ID, removing the requirement to create and remember a separate custom password. This article explains how this feature works, how to enable it in your settings, and how to apply it to your notes.

How to Enable Mac Login Password for Notes

By default, macOS 13 will prompt you to choose between using your login password or creating a separate custom password the first time you lock a note. If you want to configure or verify this setting manually, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Notes app on your Mac running macOS 13.
  2. In the menu bar at the top of the screen, click Notes and select Settings (or press Command + ,).
  3. Locate the Locked Notes section.
  4. Next to the "Select an account to view or change password" dropdown, select your account (such as iCloud or On My Mac).
  5. Choose Use login password. If prompted, authenticate using Touch ID or enter your current Mac login password to confirm the change.

How to Lock and Unlock a Note

Once enabled, applying the lock to any specific note is simple:

  1. Select the note you want to protect.
  2. Click the Lock icon in the toolbar at the top of the Notes window, or right-click the note title in the list and select Lock Note.
  3. To view a locked note, click on it, select Enter Password, and type your Mac user account password or use Touch ID on supported keyboards.
  4. To lock all opened notes again, click the lock icon in the toolbar and select Close All Locked Notes.

Requirements for iCloud Syncing

If you sync your notes across multiple Apple devices via iCloud, keep the following in mind:

  • Your Apple ID must have Two-Factor Authentication enabled.
  • iCloud Keychain must be turned on in your iCloud settings on all devices.
  • Other devices accessing the locked notes must run compatible operating systems (iOS 16, iPadOS 16, or later) to open them using their respective device passcodes or biometric authentication (Face ID or Touch ID). Devices on older software versions will not be able to open notes locked with a device passcode.