How to put a message on the Lion login screen
Mac Tip #500, 24 August 2011

Now when you log in to a Mac using Lion the screen has a grey background, a little round User photo and a space for the password. You can also easily add a message on that screen, if you know where to look. Here’s how.

This Tip has the magic round number of 500. It marks 10 years of strictly Mac Tips, although there were a couple of years of Tips for Eudora on the Mac before that. It’s been a huge journey, and I know some readers have been along for the whole time. Thanks so much everyone for reading, questioning, commenting and contributing. Without you, of course, there would be no point. Happy 500th everyone!

Can people see who owns your Mac?

Silly as it sounds for such a treasured possession, I have at least once in my life walked off and left my laptop behind in a cafe. It was in a bag by my seat and I just plain forgot it.

My Login screen says who owns the computer.

Luckily I remembered before too long and it was there waiting for me when I returned.

But what say the cafe owners had found it and wanted to return it to the rightful owner? A message on the login or lock screen could help them do that.

My MacBook Pro now carries a message that says:

This MacBook Pro belongs to Miraz Jordan, http://knowit.co.nz

Anyone can visit my site and find ways to contact me there.

Lion now has a place in the System Preferences where you can add a message with a simple click and some typing.

Security & Privacy settings

1. Open System Preferences.
2. Click on Security & Privacy on the first line.
3. Click on the General tab. Settings relating to login and other tasks appear.
4. If necessary, click the lock at bottom left of the window and enter an Admin username and password to unlock the settings.
5. Check the box beside Show a message when the screen is locked.
6. Type a message in the message box.
7. When you’re finished close the System Preferences.

Security & Privacy System Preference.

Now when you log in to your Mac or if you lock the screen the message you entered will be displayed near the bottom of the screen.

Login screen with screensaver.

What message do you use on your login screen?

My apologies for the poor quality photos of the login screens — it’s impossible to make a normal screenshot of those screens and I had to rely on my iPhone for the pictures.

Our MacTips donation drive took place in April. If this 500th Tip moves you to contribute funds for our further development we’re still accepting donations and subscriptions. Subscribe to MacTips. In particular, a monthly sub (you choose the amount) is a fine thing. Thanks for reading!

Comments and guest Tips

Do tell us in the Comments how you’ve used the message on the login screen on your Mac.

A quick note for those many readers who receive the Tips by RSS or by email: to leave a Comment please visit this Tip on the website and add your comment there.

Could you write a guest MacTip? If so, contact Miraz.

Credit where it’s due

This Tip was written by Miraz Jordan, http://mactips.info, and is available under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.