Get alerted when someone closes your MacBook lid
Enable Screen Closed in Unplug Alarm and activate the Mac app. Closing the lid then triggers the alarm actions you selected, such as a loud siren or a notification through the paired Client app.
Quick setup
- Enable Screen Closed in the menu bar app.
- Choose the siren and any paired Client notifications.
- Activate the alarm.
- Close the lid during a controlled test and check the response.
Enable the Screen Closed option
Open the app from your Mac’s menu bar and find Alarm On. Select Screen Closed, then choose the actions you want under Alarm Actions. Play Siren Sound enables the local audible response. Activate the app after choosing your options.
You can select Screen Closed on its own or combine it with Power Unplugged. The distinction is practical: a lid event can happen while the charger stays connected, while a charger can be removed without anyone closing the screen. Choose both if you want either event to trigger your selected actions.
Test the lid option before using it in a shared room. Know how to deactivate the app and check the response with your own Mac and connected equipment. A planned test is easier to troubleshoot than an unexpected alarm in a quiet library.
Add a phone notification to the local alarm
A siren is useful when you or other people are close enough to hear it. A phone alert gives you another way to notice that the lid was closed. Install Unplug Alarm Client on your phone and pair it with the Mac to set up that remote alert path.
The yearly plan includes remote alerts and photo notifications through the Client app. On iPhone, the Client also supports Critical Alerts with permission, including when the phone is muted or Do Not Disturb is enabled. Test the setting you intend to use rather than assuming every phone configuration delivers sound.
An Android Client is also available. Use the Client for the phone you carry, then verify the notification arrives when you close the MacBook screen during a controlled test. Network availability and notification settings are part of the remote setup.
Know what a lid-close alarm detects
A lid-close alarm responds to the screen being closed while protection is active. It does not mean that every touch, lift, or movement of the MacBook is detected. This is why the trigger names matter more than a broad promise of laptop protection.
Photo capture is a separate action you can select. A built-in camera cannot see through a closed lid, so do not expect every lid-close event to produce a useful photograph of a person. Use the photo option as additional event information and test its result on your own machine.
If you use an external display, check your complete desk setup as part of the test. Your normal routine may involve closing the laptop yourself. Activate the alarm only when you want a later lid event to count as something worth investigating.
Make the alarm part of your work routine
At a café or shared office, choose your triggers before a work session and activate the app when needed. Keep the Client paired if you rely on remote alerts. When you return to working or want to pack up, deactivate the alarm before closing the lid yourself.
The useful outcome is a clear signal that something changed. Keep the Mac within sight where possible and retain your usual screen-locking habits. Start with the simple lid test, then add charger detection or phone notifications as you confirm each part works.
More questions
Does a lid-close alarm detect someone lifting an open laptop?
Screen Closed monitors the lid event. It should not be treated as a motion or lift sensor.
Can a photo show someone after the lid is fully shut?
The built-in camera’s view is blocked when the lid is closed. Test photo capture separately and do not rely on a clear photo for every lid event.
