How to Disable Guest Mode on macOS

Guest Mode on macOS lets someone use your Mac without a password and without access to your files. While convenient, it can be a security risk and allows anyone to erase changes made during their session. This guide shows you how to turn off Guest User login on your Mac, step by step.

What You’ll Need

• An administrator account on the Mac (you’ll need to enter its password).
• Access to System Settings (macOS Ventura and later) or System Preferences (macOS Monterey and earlier).

Step-by-Step

1. Open System Settings (or System Preferences). Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen, then select System Settings (macOS Ventura or later) or System Preferences (macOS Monterey or earlier).
2. Go to Users & Groups. In System Settings, click Users & Groups in the sidebar. In System Preferences, click Users & Groups in the main window.
3. Unlock the settings. If the padlock icon at the bottom left is locked, click it and enter your administrator password (or use Touch ID if prompted).
4. Select the Guest User. In the list of users on the left, click Guest User. It usually appears at the bottom, below your own account.
5. Disable Guest login. In the right pane, you’ll see an option that says Allow guests to log in to this computer. Uncheck this box. If you also see Allow guests to connect to shared folders, you can leave it unchecked or uncheck it as well, depending on your preference.
6. Confirm the change. The Guest User account will now be disabled. You can close System Settings/Preferences. The next time you restart or log out, the Guest User option will no longer appear on the login screen.

Common Mistakes

• Forgetting to unlock the settings. If you don’t click the padlock and enter your password, the checkbox will be grayed out and you won’t be able to change it.
• Turning off the wrong option. Make sure you uncheck “Allow guests to log in to this computer,” not just “Allow guests to connect to shared folders.” The latter only affects file sharing, not login access.
• Not checking the login screen. After disabling, some users think it didn’t work because the Guest User icon still appears on the login screen. It may take a restart or a logout to refresh the list.

Tips

• Use Find My Mac. If you disable Guest Mode, you lose the ability for someone to use your Mac to find its owner if it’s lost. Consider whether you need that feature before turning it off.
• Create a separate standard account instead. If you want to let someone use your Mac but still protect your files, create a new standard user account with a password. That way, their files are separate, and they can’t access your data.
• Check for macOS updates. Occasionally, a macOS update may reset some settings. If you notice Guest Mode is back, repeat the steps to disable it again.

Troubleshooting

If the Guest User option is grayed out or missing:

• Make sure you have unlocked the settings with an administrator password. If you’re not an administrator, you won’t be able to change this setting.
• If you’re using a managed Mac (from a school or company), the settings may be controlled by a configuration profile. Contact your IT administrator.

If the Guest User still appears on the login screen after disabling:

• Log out (Apple menu > Log Out) and then log back in. The login screen should now show only your user account(s).
• Restart your Mac. This will refresh the login window.

If you can’t log in to your own account after disabling Guest Mode:

• This is unlikely, but if you accidentally disabled your own account, restart the Mac and hold down Command+R to enter Recovery Mode. From there, you can use Terminal to re-enable your account, or use the “Reset Password” utility to regain access.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will disabling Guest Mode delete any files?

No. Disabling Guest Mode only prevents the Guest User from logging in. Any files that were created in a previous Guest session are deleted automatically when that session ends, but disabling the feature doesn’t delete anything else.

Can I still use Find My Mac if Guest Mode is off?

Yes, you can still use Find My Mac to locate your Mac. However, the “Send Last Location” feature and the ability for a Good Samaritan to use Guest Mode to see your contact info on the login screen will not work.

Does disabling Guest Mode affect my ability to share files with other computers on my network?

No. File sharing is separate from Guest login. If you want to share files with other computers, you can still do so by enabling file sharing in System Settings > General > Sharing, and you can choose which users have access.

Why is there no Guest User option in my Users & Groups?

If you don’t see Guest User, your Mac may be managed by an organization (e.g., school or company) that has hidden it, or you may be looking at the wrong section. Make sure you’re in Users & Groups and that you’ve unlocked the settings.

Can I disable Guest Mode from the Terminal?

Yes, you can use the command sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.loginwindow GuestEnabled -bool NO in Terminal, but the graphical method is safer for most users. If you use Terminal, be careful to type the command correctly.

Will this stop someone from using my Mac without a password?

Yes, after disabling Guest Mode, the only way to log in is with a user account and password. However, if you have a firmware password set, that also helps prevent unauthorized access at startup.

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