Clean Mode: lock the keyboard and trackpad to wipe your Mac

Wiping a keyboard or trackpad while the Mac is on usually means a mess of keystrokes and clicks. Clean Mode locks all input for a set time and darkens the screen, so you can clean freely.

Start it

1. Open Browse all › Power and find Clean Mode — “Lock the keyboard & trackpad so you can wipe your Mac.”
2. Click 30s, 1 min or 3 min.
3. Every display goes almost black and shows Clean Mode, “Keyboard and trackpad are locked. Wipe away.” and a countdown.
4. Clean. Typing, clicks, pointer movement and scrolling are all blocked.

From the menu bar, Clean keyboard starts a one-minute session.

The first time: allow Accessibility

Blocking the keyboard and trackpad needs macOS's Accessibility permission. Without it, the card says “Mainspring needs Accessibility access to lock input. Grant it, then try again.”

1. Click Open Accessibility Settings. macOS shows its permission prompt and opens Privacy & Security › Accessibility.
2. Turn on Mainspring.
3. Come back and pick a duration again.

If you start it from the menu bar without permission, Mainspring opens its main window so you can grant it.

End it

• Wait. When the countdown reaches zero, the screen clears and input comes back.
• Hold Esc for 3 seconds. The ring around “esc” fills as you hold. Let go early and it starts again from zero; once it's full, Clean Mode ends.

Good to know

• The brightness, volume and media keys on the top row aren't blocked, so try not to press them while you wipe.
• The display won't go to sleep during a session, so the countdown stays visible.
• It covers every connected display, and adjusts if you plug one in or out mid-session.
• The dark screen is deliberate: dust and smudges are easier to spot against black.
• If input can't be locked, a banner says “Couldn't lock input for Clean Mode. Please try again.”