The problem with turning away
You turn to talk to someone, and your messages, email or a client document stay on screen for anyone walking past. Locking your Mac every time is too much. A physical privacy filter only works from the side, and dims the screen for you too.
Just a Pause handles the in-between moments. You're still at your desk, you just looked away, and the screen softly blurs until you look back.
Ways to hide your Mac screen, compared
| Method | Automatic | Camera | Comes back |
|---|---|---|---|
| Just a Pause | Yes, when you look away | No | When you look back |
| Lock screen (⌃⌘Q) | No, press keys | No | Password or Touch ID |
| Hot corner screen saver | No, move pointer | No | Move mouse, maybe password |
| Webcam attention apps | Yes | Yes, always on | When the camera sees you |
| Physical privacy filter | Always on | No | Always dimmer, side angles only |
These work well together: Just a Pause for the quick turns, the lock screen for when you get up and leave.
Why no camera matters
An app that watches you through the webcam to protect your privacy is a strange trade. The camera light is on all day, and you have to trust where the images go. Just a Pause reads only the head angle your AirPods report. No images, no screen captures, nothing sent off your Mac.
- No camera access.
- No Screen Recording permission. The blur is drawn by macOS on top of your screen.
- Motion data is processed on your Mac and never leaves it.
- The only network requests are license activation and update checks.
Tuning the blur
- Strength from 30% to 100%. Low for a soft hint, high to make text unreadable.
- Extra room past the edges up to 20°, if you glance at notes or a second device next to your screen.
- Never blur while typing or using the mouse, so it never gets in the way of work.
- Esc clears the blur until you look back. ⌃⌥⌘R recenters.
It also stays out of the way: no blur while your camera is on for a video call, and you can snooze it from the menu bar for 15 minutes up to 2 hours. See how it works.
Common questions
How do I hide my Mac screen quickly?
You can lock it with Control-Command-Q, set a hot corner to start the screen saver, or use Just a Pause to blur the screen automatically when you look away, with AirPods that have head tracking.
Can my Mac blur the screen when I look away?
Not on its own. With Just a Pause and AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, AirPods Max 2, AirPods 3, AirPods 4 or AirPods 5, the screen blurs when you turn your head away and clears when you look back.
Does a privacy blur app need my camera?
Camera-based apps do. Just a Pause doesn't: it uses the motion sensors in your AirPods, so the camera stays off.
Is the blur a replacement for locking my Mac?
No. The blur hides your screen while you're at your desk and turn away. When you leave your Mac, lock it.