Documentation reviewed October 5, 2026. Menu labels can vary with your macOS version.
Hot Corners run an action when you move the pointer into a screen corner. They can open Mission Control, start a Quick Note or lock the screen. If a corner keeps interrupting your work, you can require a keyboard modifier or turn that corner off.
Set up Hot Corners
On recent macOS versions, open Apple menu → System Settings → Desktop & Dock, then choose Hot Corners. Pick an action from the menu for each corner and click Done. Older versions use System Preferences and a different settings layout.
Start with one corner. Mission Control is a useful first choice because it gives you an overview of open windows without changing a document. Leave the other three menus set to the dash until you know what you want them to do.
Prevent accidental activation with a modifier key
While choosing an action from a corner’s menu, hold Command, Shift, Option or Control. The chosen modifier becomes part of the shortcut: the corner responds when you hold that key and move the pointer into it.
For example, assign Control + Lock Screen to a corner if you want a deliberate lock action. This is an example configuration, not a default Mac setting. Check the modifier symbol shown beside the menu item before clicking Done.
Choose actions around your actual work
- Mission Control: find a window among several open apps.
- Quick Note: capture a short thought while working elsewhere.
- Lock Screen: secure the Mac when stepping away.
- Desktop: reach a file on your desktop without moving every window.
Screen saver, display sleep and Lock Screen are different actions. Choose Lock Screen when the aim is to require authentication when you return; do not assume any display action provides the same result.
Turn off a corner or troubleshoot it
Return to Hot Corners and select the dash for the unwanted corner. If an action seems unresponsive, check whether you assigned a modifier key and are holding it. If it activates too often, move it to another corner or add a modifier before changing other settings.
Hot Corners are optional. For a keyboard alternative, Control–Command–Q locks the screen. If your main problem is managing several projects, see our Stage Manager guide.
