Pulsar can "freeze" itself with a 6-digit Operator PIN so a passer-by can't change your setup mid-show. Your streams keep running while locked — only settings, the Orbit Manager, the Add-Row button and per-row config are blocked until you unlock. Secure Storage keeps your SRT passphrases, PIN and API keys encrypted on disk.
Where to find it
Padlock icon in the top header — set, lock and unlock here. It's always visible.
PIN management (Change PIN, Remove lock, Auto-lock) and Secure storage live in Main Settings (the cog at the bottom-left of the main window). You must unlock first to reach it.
The header padlock shows your current state at a glance:
Padlock | Meaning | Click to… |
Grey, open | No PIN set | Start PIN setup |
Amber, open | PIN set, unlocked | Lock now (no PIN needed) |
Red, pulsing | Locked | Open the unlock screen |
While locked you'll also see an amber 🔒 LOCKED pill in the header.
Set a PIN
Click the grey padlock in the header.
Type a 6-digit PIN in Create PIN, then repeat it in Confirm PIN. (Use Show digits to check it.)
Click Save & lock. The app locks straight away.
Write your PIN down somewhere safe. If you forget it, the only way back in is a Factory Reset, which erases everything.
Lock before you step away
Click the amber padlock (tooltip "Lock now"). The app locks instantly and your streams keep running. No PIN is needed to lock — only to unlock.
Unlock to change settings
Click the red padlock (or use the lock screen that's already showing).
Type your 6-digit PIN and click Unlock.
The digit boxes auto-advance and accept a pasted code; use Show digits to reveal what you typed.
Too many wrong tries triggers a short cooldown that grows with repeated failures (a few seconds, then up to a few minutes). A banner shows a live countdown, and the count resets the moment you unlock successfully.
Change the PIN
Unlock, then open Main Settings → Security.
Expand Change PIN and enter your Current PIN, a New PIN, then Confirm new PIN (the new one must differ from the current one).
Click Change PIN.
Auto-lock when idle
In Main Settings → Security, set Auto-lock after idle to Never, 1, 5, 10, 15, 30 minutes or 1 hour. Pulsar then locks itself after that much inactivity — and immediately whenever your computer's screen locks (for any value other than Never). Streams keep running throughout.
Remove the PIN lock
In Main Settings → Security, expand Remove lock, enter your Current PIN, and click Remove lock. This only deletes the PIN — your rows and settings are untouched.
Forgotten PIN (Factory Reset)
If you've lost the PIN, a full Factory Reset is the only way back in, and it erases everything.
On the unlock screen, click Forgot PIN? Factory reset….
Tick "I understand this cannot be undone" and click Continue.
Type WIPE in capitals, then click Factory reset now.
This stops all streams and wipes the PIN, every row, all settings and presets, SRT passphrases, Orbit access codes and firewall decisions. There is no undo.
Secure Storage
Secure Storage encrypts your SRT passphrases, operator PIN and API keys at rest, in Main Settings → Secure storage.
On macOS, Pulsar uses the macOS Keychain and asks for your consent. Click the blue Set up secure storage button, then Allow in the dialog (macOS may ask you to confirm). The card's status badge then reads Enabled.
On macOS, enable Secure Storage before setting a PIN. If you deny Keychain consent, you can't create a PIN or API keys, and SRT passphrases are stored in plain text.
On Windows / Linux, this is handled automatically by the operating system — the card simply shows Managed by OS and needs no setup.
Tips & gotchas
Locking never stops streaming. It only freezes configuration. Starting/stopping streams, status, read-only views like the Pipeline Flow viewer and ML Monitor, and notifications all keep working while locked.
Change PIN, Remove lock and Auto-lock all need the app unlocked first, since they live in Main Settings.
Auto-lock also fires on OS screen-lock — locking your Mac or PC locks Pulsar's settings too.
Importing or clearing config wipes stored secrets but not the PIN. Only Remove lock or Factory Reset removes the PIN. See Settings & Configuration.
Related pages
Outputs: SRT & NDI — where SRT passphrases are set
Orbit Streaming — Orbit access codes are protected by secure storage
Settings & Configuration — Main Settings, import/clear config behaviour
Troubleshooting
Glossary