Our premium guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to enable managed mode on a personal Mac computer to fully control settings remotely.
It's possible to enforce restrictions on a Mac device that help block adult content or attempts to bypass.
In many cases, it is possible to create a blocking system on a Mac without needing device management. However, for those self-managing or needing a more restrictive setup, device management may be something to consider.
Here's an overview of what you can do with Device Management.
Enforce Settings for Admin Users
Using Device Management, you can enforce settings on a Mac that even a user account with Admin access can't override.
- Enforce system settings to restrict access to certain panels in the Mac system settings application. You can also lock specific settings that you specify in the Device Manager.
- Enforce Browser settings to enforce or block certain browser extensions and disable or lock on certain browser settings.
Persistently Enable Content Filtering with the Mac Enforcer Tool
If you use Tech Lockdown's Content Filter, you will have the option to install the Enforcer Tool, which will prevent the content filtering VPN from being disabled or uninstalled on your system.
It is not required that you manage your Mac device in order to use the Mac Enforcer Tool; you will be able to use the tool on a standard Mac device. However, having both enabled is the most effective way to fully lockdown your Mac device.
Mac Restrictions
Using the Mac Enforcer Tool
The Mac Enforcer Tool enforces the Warp client, which is used to keep your Mac connected to your Content Policy.
Common Mac Device Management Use Cases
Here are some of the common reasons why you should manage your Mac device.
Disable Guest Users and Profiles
Mac computers have an option to sign in as a guest user, which often bypasses device restrictions.
You can use Device Management to completely disable guest users on Mac.
Web browsers like Chrome also allow switching to Guest profiles, which can bypass important browser settings that enforce content filtering.
You can use Device Management to remove this feature as well.
Lock Access to Specific Settings
You can use device management to control what settings a user has access to (even an Admin).
Enforce Advanced Browser Restrictions
Many browsers have hidden settings that are more easily enabled if you have a managed Mac device. These settings could be configured individually, but it can often be confusing or tiresome:
- Limit Safari and prevent private browsing and private relay.
- Disable Browser Privacy Features that bypass content filtering on Mac.
- Enforce DNS settings on a managed Mac.
Enforce Browser Extensions
Browser extensions add an extra layer of blocking and bypass prevention alongside a DNS Content Policy . Browser extensions can block pages containing keywords in the title and page description, so it's a flexible additional blocking layer.
To ensure these blocker extensions aren't bypassed, you can reliably enforce them with Device Management on a Mac.
Limit App Store installs and purchases
Similar to Screen Time restrictions for iPhone, you can limit apps from being downloaded to your Mac that might interfere with Content Filtering.
Avoid Common Issues with Managing a Device
Enabling Managed mode on a Mac device can feel overwhelming, but we'll walk you through the process step-by-step. For most people, you can get an effective blocking system without it, however, advanced users will appreciate the value device management unlocks.
That being said, our guides tackle some of the most common issues that you might run into while enabling manage mode:
- Working with Apple to Manage devices: Apple hasn't made getting managed devices easy or transparent. Even worse, it can be complicated if you're trying work with Apple by yourself. We've gone through the process of working with Apple ourselves, and are able to work with you to help achieve this.
- Device Backup and Erase: In order to enable Manage mode, you will need to completely backup your files and erase that device. We address how to properly prepare yourself to keep and restore your files later.
- Recommend settings: There are a many features that are possible on a managed mac, but not all of them will be useful. Our premium guide has a section dedicated to recommended configurations and our suggestions.
Get Started
To get started, sign up for a Tech Lockdown account and start a free trial. Then, navigate to the Guides section of the dashboard and select the Supervised iPhone guide.