Set up Lock-In Bridge
Lock-In Bridge is a free app for Mac and Windows. It streams your DAW into a session with studio-quality sound, and it lets people you approve use your mouse and keyboard. It includes the DAW plug-in. You install it once, and it takes about 5 minutes.
You don't need it to join a session. Camera, microphone, chat and screen sharing all work in the browser.
1. Install Lock-In Bridge
We pick the right version for your computer automatically. Not sure which Mac you have? Open : "Chip: Apple M…" means Apple Silicon, and "Processor: Intel" means Intel.
- Open your Downloads folder and double-click the zip file. It unzips to Lock-In Bridge.
- Drag Lock-In Bridge into Applications. This matters: if it stays in Downloads, macOS may keep blocking it.
- Double-click it in Applications. The first time you'll see a security warning (step 2).
- Open Lock-In-Bridge-Setup-windows.exe from your Downloads.
- You may see a security warning first (step 2).
- It installs in a few seconds, adds a desktop shortcut and opens by itself.
When it's running, the Lock-In logo appears in your menu bar (Mac) or system tray (Windows), and a Get started checklist opens.
2. The security warning
Apple and Microsoft charge developers every year to have their apps "verified". Lock-In Bridge is free and doesn't have that paid certificate, so the first time you open it your computer warns you. This is normal for free and independent apps, and you only approve it once.
- Click Done (not "Move to Trash").
- Open .
- Scroll to Security: "Lock-In Bridge" was blocked…
- Click Open Anyway, enter your Mac password, then Open Anyway again.
- In Applications, right-click (or Control-click) Lock-In Bridge.
- Choose Open.
- Click Open in the box that appears.
- Click More info.
- Click Run anyway.
- If your browser flags the download, choose Keep.
To check your macOS version, open . After you approve it once, it opens normally every time.
3. Stream your DAW
The Lock-In Bridge plug-in goes on a track in your DAW. Whatever plays through that track goes straight into the session, uncompressed until it leaves your computer, with no virtual audio cable.
Install the plug-in (one click)
In the Lock-In Bridge app's Get started list, click Install DAW plug-in. It adds the plug-in (AU and VST3 on Mac) to your plug-in folders. No password or installer needed.
Restart your DAW
Quit and reopen your DAW so it finds the plug-in. Logic Pro checks it the first time, which takes a few seconds.
Add it to a track
Logic Pro: open the Mixer (X). On Stereo Out (everything) or one track, click an empty Audio FX slot → Audio Units → Lock-In Session → Lock-In Bridge.
Ableton Live: in the Browser, open Plug-ins → VST3 → Lock-In Session and drag Lock-In Bridge onto the Main track.
FL Studio: Options → Manage plugins → Find installed plugins, then in the Mixer select Master → empty slot → Lock-In Bridge.
Others (Reaper, Studio One, Cubase, Bitwig…): add Lock-In Bridge as an effect on your master bus.Go live
In your session, open Music Devices and choose your DAW. The first time, the app asks:
Let lockinsession.com use your DAW audio?Click Allow. Everyone now hears your DAW in full quality.
Windows: the DAW plug-in for Windows is coming soon. Until then, Windows users can stream their DAW by choosing their audio interface under Music Devices. Remote control already works on Windows.
4. Connect it to a session
Streaming your DAW works as soon as the app is running. For remote control, connect the app to your account once:
Open Remote control in a session
Join any session in Chrome or Edge. Under Share Screen ▾, choose Let others control my screen and click Connect.
Let the browser open the app
Your browser asks:
Open Lock-In Bridge?Click Open. You can tick "Always allow" so it doesn't ask again.
Approve in the app
Connect Lock-In Bridge to lockinsession.com?Click Connect. The session shows Lock-In Bridge connected. From now on it reconnects by itself every time.
5. Remote control (like AnyDesk)
Let a teacher, student or collaborator use your mouse and keyboard, for example to fix a setting in your DAW. Nobody can control your computer unless you approve them, and you can stop at any time.
Mac only: allow Accessibility (once)
The app's Get started list (or the first control request) opens . Turn on Lock-In Bridge there. Without this, other people can only point, not click or type. Windows needs no extra permission.
Approve each person
When someone asks for control, you see Allow / Deny in the session. You decide every time, unless you tick "Don't ask again for them this session".
Stop any time
A red bar shows while someone is in control. To stop immediately, press ⌘ ⇧ Esc on Mac or Ctrl Alt Shift S on Windows, click Stop on the bar, or switch off Remote control enabled in the app.
Questions
Is it safe if my computer says it "couldn't verify" it?
The warning only means the app wasn't submitted to Apple's or Microsoft's paid verification. Lock-In Bridge only talks to the Lock-In Session sites you approve, only lets in people you approve, and you can turn it off or uninstall it whenever you like.
I don't see "Open Anyway" on my Mac
It only appears for about an hour after you try to open the app. Double-click Lock-In Bridge again, click Done, then go straight back to . Also check the app is in Applications, not Downloads.
I used to have "Lock-In Helper"
Lock-In Helper is now called Lock-In Bridge. Install the new app, then drag the old Lock-In Helper from Applications to the Bin. Your connected sites carry over automatically.
"Connect" doesn't do anything
Make sure Lock-In Bridge is installed and has been opened at least once (step 2), then click Connect again. If your browser blocked the pop-up, look for a notice near the address bar and allow it.
My DAW doesn't show the Lock-In Bridge plug-in
Check the app says Installed under "Install the DAW plug-in", then quit the DAW completely and reopen it. In Logic Pro, open , find Lock-In Bridge and click Reset & Rescan Selection. In Ableton, open , make sure Audio Units or VST3 is turned on, and click Rescan.
How do I uninstall it?
Mac: quit it from the menu-bar icon, drag Lock-In Bridge from Applications to the Bin, and delete Lock-In Bridge.component and Lock-In Bridge.vst3 from . Windows: .