How To Limit Application Use on a Mac

Apple's MacOS X operating system has a simple system for a parent or someone sharing a computer with others to limit application use. Limiting application use comes in handy when there are younger kids playing with the house computer.

You can choose to let your kids play with Adobe Photoshop but not with your Web sites on Adobe Dreamweaver, for example. You can even limit access to certain parts of an application, such as Mail or Safari.

These instructions are based on MacOS X. Limiting application use on other Apple operating systems should be similar to the following steps:

1. You will need to be logged on as the administrator. This can be done by clicking on the Apple button on the left-top corner of your screen, then following the "Log out" link and re-logging in as the administrator.
2. Go back to the Apple button on the top-left corner of your Mac's screen and click on "System Preferences." Click on the "Accounts" button under the "System" category. If you don't see several different icons with each setting area, click on "Show All" on top of the window and they should show up.
3. Click on the lock icon on the lower left portion of the Accounts screen to "unlock" the icon. That will allow you to change the settings in this menu. This step may require you to enter your computer's administrative password.
4. If you already have the user account you want to limit application use set up, advance to step 5. If not, click on the plus sign and add a user.
5. Select the user you want to edit and click on the "Parental Controls" tab.
6. That window will allow you to limit how much access the created user will have to in each application. If you choose to limit access to Mail, for example, you will be able to specify whom that account user can communicate with via e-mail.
7. To limit application use, mark the check box next to "Finder & System." Click on "Configure."
8. Check the box "This user can only use these applications." Go through the list and select the applications you want the user to have access to. The Utilities category will be unchecked because those applications deal with your Mac's system functions, and chances are your child does not need to play with those.
9. Once you are done selecting the applications to limit access to, click the button "OK."
10. "Re-lock" the icon on the lower left corner of the Accounts window.
11. Click on "System Preferences" on top of the screen and follow the "Quit System Preferences" link to close the settings window (Hint: Hold down the Apple Key and press "Q" to quit any application).