In Terminal, choose Terminal > Secure Keyboard Entry. A checkmark beside the menu item means it is enabled. Apple says this feature can prevent other applications on the Mac or network from detecting and recording what you type in Terminal.
How to enable it
- Open Terminal.
- Choose Terminal > Secure Keyboard Entry.
- Confirm that a checkmark appears beside Secure Keyboard Entry.
Before enabling it, check whether any accessibility, automation, input, or remote-control tool you deliberately use needs to receive keystrokes from Terminal. Those tools may stop working as expected while Secure Keyboard Entry is active.
Security limits
- Apple describes the protection as something that can prevent input monitoring; it is not a guarantee against every compromised or highly privileged process.
- It applies to keyboard input in Terminal while the setting is enabled. It does not encrypt Terminal output, command history, clipboard contents, or files.
- It does not secure the remote computer used through SSH, and it cannot make an untrusted command or script safe.
- Continue to use a locked Mac, current software, and least-privilege accounts for administrative work.
