RetraceDocs

Control recording and privacy

App Lock

Protect your timeline with Touch ID or a 4-digit passcode. Retrace locks again when you put it away or leave your Mac.

Updated August 2026

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What Is App Lock?

App Lock requires Touch ID or a 4-digit passcode before anyone can view your Retrace timeline. It protects the app's private interface while your captured history remains encrypted on disk.

Note
App Lock does not pause normal screen recording. Retrace can keep capturing in the background while the timeline is locked, then show that history after you unlock it.

When Retrace Locks

With App Lock enabled, the protected interface locks:

  • When Retrace launches
  • After you close, hide, or minimize the Retrace window
  • When your Mac sleeps or locks
  • When you switch to another macOS user session

Simply switching to another app does not lock Retrace unless you also hide or minimize its window.

Setting Up App Lock

  1. Open Settings → Privacy.
  2. Under App Lock, click Enable.
  3. Choose Touch ID or 4-Digit Passcode, then click Continue.
  4. Confirm with Touch ID, or enter and confirm your new passcode.
Tip
You can type your passcode with the keyboard or use the on-screen number pad.

Changing Your Unlock Method

Retrace uses one App Lock method at a time. To switch between Touch ID and a passcode, disable App Lock, enable it again, and choose the other method.

Unlocking Retrace

Open Retrace and authenticate on the lock screen. Touch ID starts automatically when it is your chosen method. For a passcode, enter all four digits and Retrace checks it immediately.

Incorrect Passcodes

After repeated incorrect attempts, Retrace briefly pauses passcode entry. The wait gets longer if incorrect attempts continue. After 10 consecutive incorrect attempts, Retrace erases protected local history and turns App Lock off.

Important
The 10-attempt reset is permanent. Choose a passcode you will remember.

If You Cannot Unlock Retrace

The lock screen includes Forgot passcode? or Can’t unlock?. This recovery option resets App Lock by erasing protected local history from this Mac.

The reset removes:

  • Screen captures and timeline history
  • Notes, labels, and app activity
  • Voice-note audio and its encryption key
  • Database recovery copies and old archive encryption keys

It keeps:

  • Your other settings
  • App exclusions
  • Completed backups and exported files

Reset App Lock

  1. Click Forgot passcode? or Can’t unlock?.
  2. Type DELETE to confirm.
  3. Click Erase Protected History.
  4. When erasure is complete, click Create or Verify Empty Archive and Continue.
Important
The reset itself cannot be undone. A completed backup can restore its database history, but backups do not contain voice-note audio.

Disabling App Lock

  1. Open Settings → Privacy.
  2. Click Disable beside your current unlock method.
  3. Confirm by clicking Disable again.

You can enable App Lock again at any time from the same Privacy settings.

Next Steps