Utilities · Clean Keyboard

Lock your Mac keyboard to clean it

Lock the keyboard (and trackpad) so you can wipe it clean. Esc five times unlocks.

Runs on your Mac

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Clean Keyboard in OneMacTools on a Mac, with sample files and its options

Clean Keyboard on a Mac

Clean Keyboard in OneMacTools with sample files loaded and the options panel open — Clean Keyboard with sample files and its options

Screenshots from the app, using sample files.

How to use Clean Keyboard

1
Choose when it unlocks
Pick 1, 2 or 5 minutes. It unlocks by itself after that, even if you never press Esc.
2
Choose the trackpad too
Turn on Lock the trackpad and mouse too if you'll wipe the trackpad as well.
3
Click Lock Keyboard
A full-screen Cleaning screen appears on every display, and keys are held back.
4
Wipe, then press Esc five times
Five dots fill as you press Esc; on the fifth, everything unlocks.

What Clean Keyboard does

Click Lock Keyboard and a full-screen Cleaning screen holds back every key — including media and brightness keys once OneMacTools is allowed under Accessibility — and, if you choose, the trackpad and mouse. Press Esc five times to unlock, or it unlocks by itself after one, two or five minutes.

Great for

Wipe the keyboard without typing gibberish into an app
Clean the trackpad without clicking things
Keep a toddler's hands from typing for a minute

Options explained

Unlock by itself after: 1, 2 or 5 minutes. A countdown shows on the Cleaning screen.
Lock the trackpad and mouse too: Also holds back clicks, scrolling and gestures, so you can wipe the trackpad without opening things.

Best practices

Allow OneMacTools under System Settings › Privacy & Security › Accessibility the first time it asks: that lets it hold back media, brightness and system keys too.
Without Accessibility, ordinary keys are still held back, but volume and brightness keys keep working.
Turn the brightness up first so you can see crumbs and smudges.
Use a barely damp microfibre cloth, never spray liquid onto the keys.
Keep the trackpad unlocked if you only want to wipe the keyboard, so you can still move the pointer.

Works with

In: Nothing: just click Lock Keyboard.
Out: A locked keyboard (and trackpad, if chosen) until you press Esc five times or the time runs out.

Covers every connected display.
Esc always works to unlock, even with everything else locked.

Questions about Clean Keyboard

How do I lock my Mac keyboard to clean it?

Open Clean Keyboard and click Lock Keyboard. Every key is held back until you press Esc five times or the time you chose runs out.

Can I lock the trackpad too?

Yes. Turn on Lock the trackpad and mouse too before you lock, and clicks, scrolling and gestures are held back as well.

Why do the volume and brightness keys still work?

Holding those back needs Accessibility permission. Allow OneMacTools under System Settings › Privacy & Security › Accessibility and they're locked too.

What if I can't unlock it?

Press Esc five times. If that doesn't work, it unlocks by itself after the time you chose, at most five minutes.

Does it lock the screen or log me out?

No. Your apps and work stay exactly as they are; only input is held back while the Cleaning screen shows.

Does it work with an external keyboard?

Yes. Any keyboard, trackpad or mouse connected to the Mac is held back.

Does Clean Keyboard upload my files?

No. Clean Keyboard runs entirely on your Mac, so your files never leave it and it works offline.

Will Clean Keyboard change my original files?

No. Results are saved as new files in a dated folder in Downloads › OneMacTools, and your originals are left exactly as they were unless you turn on an option that says otherwise.

What does Clean Keyboard need?

Just a Mac with macOS 26 or later. There's nothing else to install.