PanicLock, a macOS menu‑bar app, lets users disable Touch ID and lock the screen with a single click or hotkey. Designed for privacy‑conscious users, the tool fills a gap left by macOS, which offers no instant method to turn off biometric authentication. The utility works on macOS 14 Sonoma and newer Macs equipped with Touch ID.

When the screen locks—whether by closing the lid, a screensaver, or a manual action—PanicLock sets the Touch ID timeout to one second via the bioutil helper, then forces a quick system sleep with pmset. The change is temporary; the original timeout restores automatically after about two seconds, leaving user credentials in place.

The app installs a privileged helper through SMJobBless to execute only two hardened commands—bioutil and pmset—verifying the caller’s bundle ID and certificate. It remains fully offline, collects no telemetry, and is distributed as a notarized DMG signed with Apple’s Developer ID. The source code is MIT‑licensed, enabling community audits.

Developers can build PanicLock from source, set a global hotkey (e.g., ⌃⌥⌘L), and enable a 'Lock on Close' option that triggers the same routine when the laptop lid shuts. The tool’s simplicity and open‑source nature make it a practical solution for users who need instant biometric deactivation without compromising session continuity.