ProximityLock

Monitor your iPhone or Apple Watch (or any other compatible device) via Bluetooth Low Energy. ProximityShortcuts uses Kalman filter for reliable proximity detection.

No companion app needed on your iPhone or Watch. Works entirely on your Mac.

WHAT YOU CAN AUTOMATE

• Lock your screen when you walk away • Pause music and media playback • Control HomeKit devices automatically • Trigger BetterTouchTool or Keyboard Maestro actions • Start screensaver or adjust brightness • Send notifications when you leave or return • Run any custom workflow from Shortcuts app

HOW IT WORKS

Configure sensitivity, action delay, and shortcuts to run. ProximityShortcuts uses signal processing to track your proximity reliably via Bluetooth Low Energy. When you leave or return, your shortcuts trigger automatically.

SIGNAL PROCESSING

ProximityShortcuts uses a Kalman filter to track your proximity reliably. This prediction model weighs each signal measurement against expected trends: measurements that align are trusted more, while unexpected spikes are dampened. The result is smooth tracking that follows genuine movement while filtering out interference.

It is the same mathematics that helped Apollo missions reach the moon. Developed by Rudolf E. Kálmán in 1960, this filtering technique now powers smartphone GPS, autonomous vehicles, and financial forecasting.

The algorithm's computational efficiency made it practical for Apollo despite 1960s computing limitations. ProximityShortcuts performs these calculations continuously in the background using negligible CPU and energy resources.

A Kalman filter can be configured using presets that control how aggressively it balances detection speed against reliability.

Optionally, threshold auto-adjust can be configured to automatically optimize the proximity threshold based on your device’s typical signal strength.

FEATURES

• Menu bar app that works in the background • Very low CPU and energy usage • No additional battery drain on iPhone or Apple Watch • Monitors iPhone or Apple Watch (same Apple ID required) • Integrates with macOS Shortcuts app • Adjustable sensitivity and action delay • Launch at login option • No companion app needed • Works completely offline • macOS 14 (Sonoma) or later • Kalman filter preset selection (default - Balanced) • Threshold Auto-adjust automatically optimizes the proximity threshold based on your device's typical signal strength. (optional)

PRIVACY

• No data collection • All processing happens locally on your Mac • No network connections required

PERFECT FOR

• Automatically locking your Mac when you step away • Triggering smart home scenes based on presence • Pausing media when you leave your desk • Running custom workflows based on proximity • Settings Profiles allow you to save and quickly switch between different monitoring configurations.