macOS · Personalization
Customize the pre-login screen background and text
Login window settings control what appears before anyone signs in, including whether user accounts are listed by name or require typing a username, and an optional custom message.
How to open Login Window Appearance & Message
- Open System Settings → Users & Groups
- Click Login Options at the bottom of the user list
- Choose between displaying a user list or requiring name and password
- Set an optional login message if desired
What you should know
- Choose to display a list of users or require typing both name and password
- Show or hide the password hint after failed attempts
- Set a custom login message, often used for lost-device contact information
- Show or hide the Restart, Sleep, and Shut Down buttons at the login screen
Some of these options, like login window text, are managed through Sharing preferences or profiles on managed Macs rather than a single unified page.
Why it matters
The login window is the very first thing anyone sees when turning on a Mac, so its configuration matters both for security and for practical scenarios like a lost laptop. Requiring name and password entry instead of showing a user list adds a layer of obscurity against casual access attempts. A custom login message with contact information is a small but genuinely useful step for recovering a lost or found device, since a good Samaritan can see how to reach the owner before ever unlocking it.
Best practices
- Set a custom login message with a backup contact method if the Mac travels frequently, like a work laptop.
- Switch to 'Name and password' entry instead of a user list on Macs used in public or semi-public settings.
- Hide the Restart/Sleep/Shut Down buttons on shared or kiosk-style Macs to reduce accidental interruptions.
Common problems and fixes
- Can't find where to set a login message.
- Login message options are typically set via Sharing preferences' computer name/message settings or through a configuration profile on managed devices.
- The user list still shows even after switching to name/password entry.
- Confirm the change was applied under Login Options in Users & Groups, and restart the Mac to ensure it takes effect.
Tips and tricks
- Keep the login message brief since long text can be hard to read against certain wallpaper backgrounds.
Frequently asked questions
Can I set a custom background image for the login screen?
The login screen generally uses the current desktop wallpaper on modern macOS versions rather than a separately configurable image.
Is a login message visible before or after entering a password?
It's visible before login, making it useful for reaching the owner of a lost device.
Related settings
- Lock ScreenLock Screen settings control when your Mac requires a password after sleep or screen saver, how long it waits before locking, and what's shown at the login window — all central to protecting your Mac from casual tampering or unauthorized access.
- Users & GroupsUsers & Groups lets you create additional accounts for other people who use this Mac, decide whether each one is an administrator or a standard user, and organize accounts into groups for permission purposes. It's the foundation for keeping multiple people's files and settings separate on a shared Mac.
- Password & Sign-inThis settings area covers your Mac account password, Touch ID fingerprint enrollment, and AutoFill for passwords and passkeys saved in your keychain. It's where you change your login password and decide how quickly Touch ID or a password is required to unlock the Mac.
More Personalization guides for macOS
- Desktop & DockDesktop & Dock settings control the size, position, and behavior of the Dock, along with desktop options like Stage Manager, widgets, and how windows and Mission Control behave. It's the main place to make the Dock and desktop work the way you want.
- Menu Bar & Control CenterControl Center gives you quick access to frequently used settings like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Focus, and display brightness from a single menu bar icon. You can customize which controls appear in Control Center and which ones show directly in the menu bar for one-click access.
- Wallpaper & Screen SaverWallpaper settings let you set the desktop picture — from Apple's built-in dynamic and aerial images to your own photos — and configure the screen saver that appears after your Mac sits idle. Recent macOS versions combine both into a single Wallpaper settings pane.
- Appearance (Light, Dark & Auto)Choose whether macOS displays a light, dark, or automatically switching interface theme across the Dock, menu bar, Finder, and supported apps.
- Accent Color & Highlight ColorSet the accent color used for buttons, checkboxes, and links, and a separate highlight color used for selected text and list items.
- Focus & Do Not DisturbCreate and schedule Focus modes such as Do Not Disturb, Work, or Personal that filter which notifications and apps can interrupt you.