Install & set up
Install ClassLock Student. It's free, needs no account, and lets you join classes or study on your own.
Download the right installer
- Mac with Apple silicon (M1 or later): the
arm64.dmg. - Intel Mac: the
x64.dmg. - Windows 10/11: the
.exeinstaller.
On a Mac, open the .dmg and drag ClassLock Student into Applications. On Windows, run the installer and follow the prompts.
macOS: allow focus protection (once per computer)
To block Cmd+Tab, Spotlight, Mission Control and Force Quit, ClassLock needs Accessibility permission. macOS won't let an app grant this to itself, so the first time you start a session ClassLock walks you through it:
- Click Open System Settingsin the ClassLock dialog. It opens Privacy & Security → Accessibility.
- Add the ClassLock helperClick +, press Cmd+Shift+G and paste the path shown in the dialog (usually
/Applications/ClassLock Student.app/Contents/Resources/helpers/classlock-helper). - Switch it onMake sure the toggle next to
classlock-helperis on. - Return and click "I've enabled it — retry"The session starts. You won't be asked again on this computer.
Windows needs no extra permission.
Join a class
Your teacher sends a .classlock file or a link. That's all you need.
- Open the file or click the linkOr open ClassLock Student, go to Join Class and click Open .classlock file…
- Check which apps will closeClassLock lists the apps that will be asked to quit. Save your work in them first, then click Close apps and start. Click Cancel if you need more time.
- You're inA short splash shows the class, teacher and end time, then the meeting opens full screen.
No file from your teacher?
Paste the meeting link into Meeting link or ID on the Join Class tab and click Start Class. Without a teacher file, the session ends automatically after 2 hours and can't be unlocked early.
During a class
Full screen, always on top
The class window covers the screen. Extra monitors are covered too.
Only allowed sites load
Other links show a "blocked" page. Pop-ups and downloads are blocked.
Other apps stay closed
Any app opened during class is closed after a few seconds, unless your teacher allowed it.
Shortcuts are blocked
Cmd/Alt+Tab, Spotlight, Mission Control, Force Quit and similar shortcuts do nothing.
Your camera, microphone and screen sharing work normally inside the meeting.
Taking notes
Click Notes at the right edge, or press Ctrl+/, to open the notes panel. Notes save automatically, with one file per day on your computer. Click Export to save them as a .txt file.
Zoom & Teams desktop
Some teachers have Zoom or Teams classes open in the desktop app. In that case, ClassLock shrinks to a bar that stays on top:
- Rejoin reopens the meeting if you dropped out or closed it.
- Unlock asks for the teacher's password to end early.
- Every app except ClassLock, the meeting app and any teacher-allowed apps is still closed.
- If Zoom or Teams isn't installed, the class opens inside ClassLock instead.
How a class ends
A class session unlocks on its own when any of these happens:
- The end time is reached.
- The meeting ends early. ClassLock detects the "meeting has ended" screen on each platform.
- The unlock password is entered. Press Esc three times, anywhere, to open the password prompt (or click Unlock on the Zoom/Teams bar).
For a full-day schedule, you'll see a Class break screen with a countdown between classes. Stay put: the next class opens by itself.
Quiet study
Lock yourself in for a set time. There's no meeting and no browsing, only a countdown, optional background sound and your notes.
- Open ClassLock Student → Quiet Study
- Enter a topicFor example, "Algebra revision". Recent topics appear as quick picks.
- Choose a durationTap 25, 45, 60 or 90 minutes, or type your own.
- Pick a background sound (optional)Silence, brown, white or pink noise, rain, thunderstorm, ocean waves, wind or fireplace. Sounds are generated in the app, so they work offline. You can change the sound and volume during the session.
- Set a commitment password (optional)Without a password, the session can only end when the timer runs out. With one, you can quit early by entering it. Have a friend or parent set it for extra commitment.
- Click Start Quiet Study
Streaks & progress
The top of the Quiet Study tab shows your day streak, total focused hours and session count. Open Activity (last 12 weeks) to see a heatmap of the days you studied. Reset stats clears all of it. The old log is kept on disk in case you change your mind.
When a session finishes, you'll see a Session complete screen with your streak. Click Save share image to save a picture for your story, or Open report folder to see the session report.
Daily focus reminders
Under Daily focus reminders, click + Add reminder to get a notification at the same time every day. ClassLock has to be running for reminders to fire, so switch on Open ClassLock at login to keep it in the background.
Your session report
Every class and study session ends with an HTML report saved on your computer:
- macOS:
~/Documents/ClassLock Reports/ - Windows:
Documents\ClassLock Reports\
It lists when the session started and ended, how many times focus was lost, blocked sites, pop-ups and downloads, apps that were closed, and a full timestamped event log.
During a class, the password prompt also has Save HTML, Save PDF and Email… buttons. Email… opens your own mail app with a draft. Nothing is sent unless you send it. Your teacher only sees a report if you share it.
Privacy
ClassLock has no telemetry, no analytics and no accounts. Your notes, study stats, session logs and reports stay on your computer.
Troubleshooting
On my Mac, Cmd+Tab still works and other apps stay open.
Accessibility permission isn't on, or the session was started with "Start without blocking". Open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility, make sure classlock-helper is switched on, then start the session again.
An app I was using closed when class started.
That's expected. ClassLock closes every app the teacher didn't allow. It shows the list before starting, so save your work and click Cancel if you need more time. If you need an app for class, ask your teacher to allow it.
A website I need for class says it's blocked.
Only the meeting and the sites your teacher allowed can load. Ask your teacher to add the site and send you a new file.
I closed the Zoom or Teams window by mistake.
Click Rejoin on the ClassLock bar at the top of the screen.
The unlock prompt won't accept any password.
If you joined by pasting a link instead of opening a teacher's file, or started Quiet Study without a commitment password, the session has no password. It can only end at its end time, or when the meeting ends.
ClassLock says the class file is invalid.
Class files are signed, so a file that was edited or damaged won't open. Ask your teacher to send it again.
My daily reminder didn't show up.
Reminders only fire while ClassLock is running. Turn on "Open ClassLock at login" under Daily focus reminders so it runs in the background.
Where are my notes saved?
In ClassLock's data folder on your computer, with one text file per day. Use Export in the notes panel to save a copy anywhere you like.
Still stuck? Email hello@classlock.app.
Install
Install ClassLock Teacher to create class files. Your students install the free ClassLock Student app.
- Mac with Apple silicon (M1 or later): the
arm64.dmg. - Intel Mac: the
x64.dmg. - Windows 10/11: the
.exeinstaller.
The Teacher app only creates files, so it doesn't need any special permissions. Both apps can be installed on the same computer if you want to test what students see.
Create a class
A class is saved as a small .classlock file. It's signed, so students can't edit it to change the end time or the unlock password.
Open ClassLock Teacher, choose Single class and fill in:
| Field | What it does |
|---|---|
| Class name | Shown on the student's splash screen and in their report, e.g. "Monday Math". |
| Teacher name | Shown alongside the class name. |
| Meeting link or ID | Paste any Google Meet, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Cisco Webex or Jitsi link. ClassLock detects the platform and allows the sites that platform needs. |
| Class ends at | The lockdown lifts automatically at this time, or earlier if the meeting ends. |
| Unlock password | At least 4 characters. Lets a student leave early only if you give them the password. |
Options
| Allow screenshots and screen recording | Off by default, so screenshots and recordings of the class window come out black. Turn it on only if students need to capture the lesson. |
| Open Zoom and Teams links in the desktop app | Students join in the real Zoom or Teams app instead of inside ClassLock. ClassLock still closes every other app and shows a small control bar with Rejoin and Unlock. Screenshots can't be blocked inside the desktop app. Meet, Webex and Jitsi always open inside ClassLock. |
Advanced: allow extra sites & apps
Extra allowed domains. By default, only the meeting loads. Everything else is blocked. Add one domain per line (khanacademy.org, *.wikipedia.org), or click a preset:
Apps students may keep open. During class, ClassLock closes every app except itself and essential system processes. If students need a desktop app, such as GeoGebra or Calculator, list it here, one per line.
Daily schedule
For a full day of back-to-back classes, use one file instead of several.
- Choose Daily scheduleGive it a name (e.g. "Monday Schedule") and your teacher name.
- Add each class in orderClick + Add class for each period, with its own meeting link and times.
- Set one unlock passwordIt covers the whole day.
- Pick optionsScreenshots, desktop Zoom/Teams, extra sites and allowed apps apply to every class in the schedule.
- Click Export Schedule
Between classes, students see a Class break screen with a countdown to the next class. The lockdown stays on during breaks. ClassLock moves to the next meeting by itself, switching between full screen and the compact bar if the next class uses the Zoom or Teams desktop app.
What students see
- A list of apps that will closeStudents can save their work or cancel before anything closes.
- A splash screenwith your class name, your name and the end time.
- The locked classThe meeting fills the screen, or the Zoom/Teams app opens with ClassLock's control bar on top. Only your allowed sites and apps work. Camera, mic and screen sharing work normally.
- Unlockat the end time, when the meeting ends, or early if you give them the password (they press Esc three times to enter it).
Students also have a built-in notes panel during class. To try it yourself, install ClassLock Student and open your own file. See the student guide.
Session reports
When a session ends, ClassLock saves a report on the student's own computer. It includes:
- Start and end time, and how long the session lasted
- How many times focus was lost (attempts to leave the window)
- Blocked sites, pop-ups and downloads
- Apps that were closed during the session
- Class changes, for daily schedules
- A full timestamped event log
Privacy
ClassLock has no telemetry, no analytics and no student accounts. Nothing about your students leaves their computers. A .classlock file holds only the class details and a hashed unlock password, which keeps ClassLock simple to approve for school use.
Troubleshooting
A student says a site they need is blocked.
Add it under "Extra allowed domains" (or click its preset), export again and send the new file.
Students need a desktop app during class.
List it under "Apps students may keep open", one name per line, then export and resend. Every other app is still closed.
I need to change the time or password after sending the file.
Files are signed and can't be edited. Export a new file with the changes and send it. Students should open the new one.
A Mac student's shortcuts and apps aren't being blocked.
They skipped the one-time Accessibility permission. Send them to the student setup steps.
A Zoom or Teams class opened inside ClassLock, not in the desktop app.
The student doesn't have the desktop app installed, or the link is a custom (vanity) Zoom link. ClassLock opens the meeting in its own window instead, and the class works the same way.
Can students take screenshots in the Zoom or Teams desktop app?
Yes. ClassLock can only block screenshots of its own window. If capturing content matters, leave "Open Zoom and Teams links in the desktop app" off so the class runs inside ClassLock.
Will I be told if a student leaves the class?
No. ClassLock doesn't send anything to you. Each attempt is logged in the student's session report, which they can share with you.
Still stuck? Email hello@classlock.app.