Your Mac allows you to mute sound with a single keystroke, but there's no such keystroke to turn off the screen. Blackout app lets you assign a keystroke that instantly turns the screen black, hiding its contents. Only those who know the blackout hotkey can turn the screen back on.

«Blackout»

If you're working with documents or personal messages, and someone enters the room, perhaps your boss. Hides everything on the screen with a single keystroke. It's faster than minimizing windows and more convenient than locking your Mac.

Alternative to Lock Screen

Lock Screen ends your session, requires a password, and sometimes interrupts audio. Blackout simply hides the image—Spotify, Zoom, Slack, and push notifications continue to work. It's a break for your eyes, not your processes.

A rest for your eyes without interrupting your processes.

Sometimes your eyes just need a minute's rest. Unlike putting your Mac to sleep, Blackout keeps all background processes running.

Podcasts and audiobooks — without visual noise

Listen to podcasts and audiobooks. Double-tap — the screen goes black, the playlist and headphones continue playing. Nothing illuminates the ceiling or distracts your eyes.

Instant privacy in cafes, trains, or planes

Did your neighbor glance at your MacBook? Double-tap the desired key — your messages, bank account, or code review are hidden in a millisecond.

Fall asleep to music without illuminating the ceiling

Fall asleep to jazz, sleep stories, or a tech podcast — your Mac keeps playing, and the screen doesn't illuminate the ceiling. No more "close lid, stop audio, open, or enter password" messages.

Long battery life

On a MacBook Pro with mini-LED, the black pixels are actually the backlighting turned off by zones. Listening to an hour-long playlist drains the battery noticeably slower than with the screen on.

Essentially, Blackout is the digital equivalent of closing the laptop lid, but without stopping the system itself.

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