Install CommandLatch

CommandLatch is a small menu-bar app for macOS. Installing it is the same drag-to-Applications flow as any other Mac app, plus an optional one-click step if you want the commandlatch command in your terminal.

Note

Once it’s installed and launched, pair your Mac to your account so you can send it actions.

Requirements

• A Mac running a current version of macOS — Apple Silicon (M-series) or Intel. Both are supported.
• An internet connection.

Windows and Linux are not currently supported — only the Mac runs the CommandLatch app. You can still trigger actions from any device (phone, another laptop) through the dashboard; the machine that gets locked or slept just has to be a Mac.

1. Download

Open the download page and download the macOS disk image (.dmg):

• https://commandlatch.app/#download

Download the Apple Silicon build for any M1/M2/M3/M4 Mac, or the Intel build for older Intel Macs. Not sure which your Mac has? Check Apple menu → About This Mac.

2. Move it to Applications

1. Double-click the DMG to open it.
2. In the window that appears, drag the CommandLatch icon onto the Applications folder.
3. Eject the DMG (drag it to the Trash / click the eject arrow in Finder).

3. Launch it

Open CommandLatch from your Applications folder (or Spotlight).

If macOS shows a security warning

CommandLatch is a signed and notarized application. If you see a security warning, re-download directly from commandlatch.app — this typically resolves the issue.

A CommandLatch icon appears in your menu bar (top-right of the screen), and a setup window opens automatically. There is no Dock icon and no main window — CommandLatch lives entirely in the menu bar. See Use the menu-bar app for the full menu.

4. Allow notifications (recommended)

On first launch macOS asks whether to allow notifications for CommandLatch. Click Allow. Banners deliver the send_notification action’s messages — including the “Locking in 5m” warning posted before a delayed lock, such as the one the Claude Code hook schedules.

If you skipped this or want to check later, open Settings… → Security checks from the menu bar — the Notifications row shows the current state with a Turn on notifications button.

Note

CommandLatch does not need Accessibility, Screen Recording, or any other sensitive permission for lock, sleep, or keep-awake. If you see Accessibility listed in Settings, it’s shown for transparency only and is safe to leave off.

5. Finish setup

The window that opened is a short, three-step wizard:

1. Welcome — a reminder of what CommandLatch does and doesn’t do.
2. Pair this Mac — shows a 6-digit pairing code. Follow Pair your Mac to enter it in the dashboard. The wizard advances on its own the moment pairing succeeds.
3. You’re set — flip on Start CommandLatch on login (recommended, so the menu-bar app is always running) and Accept remote commands, then click Done.

6. Install the command-line tool (optional)

If you want to drive CommandLatch from the terminal or use the Claude Code hook, install the commandlatch command:

1. Open Settings… from the menu bar.
2. Go to the Command-line tool section.
3. Click Install commandlatch on PATH and approve the one-time admin prompt.

This installs the commandlatch command and makes it available in any terminal window. Verify it:

commandlatch status

It should print the paired device’s name and ID. Full command reference: the commandlatch CLI.

Keeping it up to date

CommandLatch does not update automatically. To check for a newer version, open Settings… → Updates — if one is available, a Download button takes you to the download page. Install the new version the same way: drag it over the old one in Applications.

Next steps

• Pair your Mac — link this Mac to your account.
• Use the dashboard — send your first action.
• Use the menu-bar app — what every menu item does.
• Something off? Troubleshooting.