A Windows-native application locker designed to monitor and secure specific applications on your computer.
Get the latest release of LockGate for Windows 10 & 11 (64-bit):
| Package | Format | Description | Download |
|---|---|---|---|
| LockGate Windows Setup (Recommended) | .exe |
Windows Installer with Start Menu shortcut & auto-start option | Download Installer |
| LockGate Portable | .zip |
Standalone portable executable (no install required, extract & run) | Download Portable .zip |
Note
Windows SmartScreen Prompt: Since LockGate is an independent open-source binary without an expensive commercial code-signing certificate, Windows SmartScreen may show "Windows protected your PC" on first launch. Simply click More info ➔ Run anyway.
- Run
LockGate-Setup-v1.0.0.exe(or extractLockGate-v1.0.0-windows-x64.zipand runLockGate.exe). - LockGate will launch and sit comfortably in your System Tray (near the clock).
- Open the dashboard by double-clicking the tray icon or selecting 🛡️ Open Dashboard.
- Set up your Master PIN or Face Profile under the Authentication tab.
- In Locked Applications, select the apps you want to protect. That's it! Whenever a protected app starts, LockGate prompts for verification.
Built with C# and .NET 8 (WPF), LockGate acts as a user-mode locker by utilizing PIN verification, session timers, and a background watcher to protect designated apps. It runs quietly in the system tray, stepping in only when a protected application is launched.
- 🔒 Application Locking: Actively monitor specific Windows processes and require authentication before use.
- 🔑 PIN Authentication: Secure PIN verifier backed by PBKDF2 hashing and throttling to mitigate brute-force attacks.
- ⏱️ Session Timers: Configurable locking engine to handle authenticated sessions without repeatedly asking for a PIN.
- 🛡️ Background Protection: Seamlessly runs in the system tray with minimal resource footprint.
- ⚙️ JSON Configuration: Simple and manageable JSON-based settings to easily add or remove protected applications.
The solution is divided into clean, modular components:
- LockGate.Core: Platform-neutral core logic (session timers, lock engine, PIN verification, config).
- LockGate.Infrastructure: Infrastructure logic for interacting with Windows services and process monitoring.
- LockGate.App: The WPF-based Windows application, including the authentication window and system tray integration.
- .NET 8.0 SDK or higher.
- Windows 10/11 (target OS version 10.0.22621.0+).
To build the solution and run the application locally:
`powershell
dotnet build
dotnet run --project src/LockGate.App `
The project includes a suite of unit tests to verify the core business logic. Run them using:
powershell dotnet test tests/LockGate.Core.Tests
LockGate is an application locker and not a replacement for Windows sign-in, BitLocker, or Windows Hello.
- A local administrator or sophisticated malware can bypass user-mode lockers.
- The PIN verifier provides basic application-level access control but is only as private as its storage medium.
This project is open-source. Please add your own LICENSE file before distributing.
- Inspired by FaceGate-Mac by dweep-desai — big credit for the concept and bringing the seamless app-locking experience to Windows!
If you enjoy using LockGate and want to support continued development, you can buy us a coffee:
