Disable guest accounts

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Works with any MacWorks with any Mac running macOS/OS X on Intel or Apple Silicon.

• macOS onlyThis script improves your privacy on macOS
• Multiple actionsThis page belongs to a category, containing some changes with similar goal.
• Impact: Medium

  System Functionality / Data Loss Risk: Moderate

  This action improves privacy with minimal impact when you run the recommended script.

  This action improves privacy with some impact when you run the recommended script.
• Bash (Shell script)These changes use macOS system commands to update your settings.
• 3 scripts
• No subcategories
• Administrative (sudo) access requiredThis script requires privilege access to do the system changes
• Fully reversible

  You can fully restore this action (revert back to the original behavior) using this website.

  The restore/revert methods provided here can help you fix issues.

Overview

These scripts control guest access on macOS to protect your system's security and privacy.

Guest access lets anyone use your Mac without a password or account ¹. This convenience creates security and privacy risks by allowing unauthorized system access ^{2 3 4}.

Guest users have limited privileges:

• Access without authentication ^{1 2}
• Cannot modify system settings ¹
• Cannot access encrypted disks when FileVault is enabled ^{1 2}
• Files are automatically deleted upon logout ^{1 2}
• Can use basic applications like Safari ^{1 2}

Guest access serves specific purposes:

• Providing temporary access on shared devices ^{1 2}
• Enabling lost device location through the Find My app ¹
• Allowing basic internet access without exposing personal data ¹

Leaving guest access enabled creates these risks:

• Unauthorized access to shared resources ³
• System reconnaissance opportunities ³
• Potential security vulnerabilities ³
• Access to network-shared files and folders ³

Restricting or disabling guest access reduces the risk of unauthorized logins and secures system resources from misuse ⁴. Security organizations, including the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), recommend restricting guest access ^{3 4}.

Disabling guest access features may also improve system performance by:

• Reducing network scanning for guest access
• Decreasing authentication overhead
• Minimizing unnecessary network traffic

However, in some environments, a guest account can be beneficial or necessary. For example, providing temporary access on shared devices can help separate casual users from sensitive data. Enabling guests may also assist with the Find My app if your Mac is lost ³.

Caution

Disabling guest access features may impact legitimate use cases like device recovery through Find My app and temporary access for trusted users.

Use with Caution

This script is only recommended if you understand its implications.

Some non-critical or features may no longer function correctly after running this script.

This script can be fully reversed to restore changes if something goes wrong.

Sources

PrivacyLearn.com maintains strict sourcing standards for accuracy, integrity and up-to-date content. Our content relies on authoritative sources including vendor documentation, industry standards, and verified research. Learn more about our verification process and quality standards in our editorial standards page.

• Guest user - Apple Support. support.apple.com. (2025).
  Original: https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/aside/glos8c20ac45/15.0/mac/15.0
  Archived: https://archive.ph/2025.01.12-195712/https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/aside/glos8c20ac45/15.0/mac/15.0
• Script to enable Guest User on Mac. www.hexnode.com. (2024).
  Original: https://www.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/script-to-enable-guest-user-on-mac
  Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20241008165805/https://www.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/script-to-enable-guest-user-on-mac/
• The macOS system must enforce access restrictions.. www.stigviewer.com. (2024).
  Original: https://www.stigviewer.com/stig/apple_macos_11_big_sur/2021-06-16/finding/V-230823
  Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20241125172444/https://www.stigviewer.com/stig/apple_macos_11_big_sur/2021-06-16/finding/V-230823
• The macOS system must not have a guest account.. www.stigviewer.com. (2024).
  Original: https://www.stigviewer.com/stig/apple_os_x_10.13/2018-10-01/finding/V-81615
  Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20241125065056/https://www.stigviewer.com/stig/apple_os_x_10.13/2018-10-01/finding/V-81615

Apply Now

Choose one of two ways to apply:

Download script

Download and run the script directly

• No app needed
• Offline usage
• Free
• Open-source

High — Advanced Privacy

• For advanced privacy-conscious users
• May affect some features

Read more about High and other protection levels

Apply protection

Undo protection

Help

How to apply or restore "Disable guest accounts" using script

• ≈ 3 min to complete
• Tools: Web Browser
• Difficulty: Medium
• ≈ 5 instructions

1. 1

   Download

   Download the script file by clicking on the   Apply protection  button above.
   Use   Undo protection button above to restore changes.
2. 2

   Keep the file

   If warned by your browser, keep the file.
3. 3

   Open

   Open the downloaded file.
4. 4

   Exit

   Once it's done, press any key to exit the window.
5. 5

   Restart

   Restart your computer for all changes to take effect.

Apply with privacy.sexy

Guided, automated application with safety checks

• Recommended for most users
• Includes safety checks
• Shows the code
• Free
• Open-source
• Popular
• Offline/Online usage

Open privacy.sexy

Help

How to apply or restore "Disable guest accounts" using privacy.sexy

• ≈ 3 min to complete
• Tools: privacy.sexy
• Difficulty: Simple
• ≈ 4 instructions

privacy.sexy is free and open-source application that lets securely apply this action easily with more advanced options.

1. 1

   Open or download

   Open or download the desktop application
2. 2

   Choose script

   1. Search for the category name: Disable guest accounts
   2. Check the category by clicking on the checkbox of the category.
3. 3

   Run

   Click on ▶️ Run button at the bottom of the page.

   This button only appears on desktop version (recommended). On browser, use 💾 Save button.

Explore This Guide

• 3 Privacy settings

Choose what to protect based on your needs:

Click any option to learn more about what it does.

Each change can be applied and reversed individually.

Some settings and commands may require technical knowledge to apply correctly.

Disable guest account login

This script disables the macOS guest account login to enhance system security by blocking unauthorized access. A guest account lets anyone use your Mac temporarily without a password or account. By default, macOS disables guest login but allows limited guest access to sharing services. When enabled, guest users: Do not need a password to log in • Cannot modify system or user settings • Cannot access encrypted disks if FileVault is enabled • Have their files and activities automatically deleted u...

Disable guest file sharing over SMB

This script prevents anonymous (guest) users from accessing files shared over the SMB protocol. By default, macOS allows guest users to access shared folders without authentication. macOS allows users to share entire systems or specific folders with others on a network. This script impacts only SMB sharing, meaning that it has no impact on other file sharing alternatives. SMB (Server Message Block) is a network system that allows computers to share files. It is commonly used to share files betwe...

Disable guest file sharing over AFP

This script prevents anonymous users from accessing shared files through the Apple Filing Protocol (AFP). AFP (Apple Filing Protocol) is a file-sharing protocol designed for Macs to facilitate network file sharing. By default, macOS enables guest access to sharing services. It allows you to share files and folders with others on your network. This configuration allows anyone to access specific shared folders without requiring permission. This script improves your privacy by preventing unauthoriz...

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About the Creators

These people have authored this documentation and written its scripts:

• 

  undergroundwires

  • Certified security professional
  • 7+ years experience securing banks
  • Open-source developer since 2005
  • EU advisor, Public Speaker, Moderator
• Open-Source Contributors

  • Hundreds across the globe
  • Testers, reviewers, developers
  • Companies, military agencies
  • Community since 2017

About Us

Reviewed By

This guide has undergone comprehensive auditing and peer review:

• Expert review by undergroundwires

  • Verified technical accuracy and editorial standards
  • Assessed system impact and user privacy risks

• Public review by large community

  • Privacy enthusiasts and professionals peer-reviewed
  • Millions of end-users tested across different environments

History

We continually monitor our guides, their impact and all other privacy options. We update our guides when new information becomes available. On every update, we publicly store who made the change, what has been changed, why the change was made and when the change was made.

Review Change History Our Change Process