Secure Input on macOS: Why TextExpander Stops Expanding Snippets
If TextExpander reports that Secure Input is enabled, shows loginwindow, or your Snippets stop expanding on macOS, follow the steps below to get expansion working again. Secure Input is a macOS security feature that protects sensitive information such as passwords, and stops TextExpander from expanding your Snippets while it’s active.
Symptoms
You’re likely experiencing a Secure Input issue if:
- TextExpander suddenly stops expanding snippets in every application.
- The TextExpander menu bar icon changes to indicate expansion is disabled.
- The TextExpander app displays a message such as “Terminal has disabled TextExpander expansion.”
- TextExpander reports “Secure Input enabled by loginwindow.”
This is usually temporary and can be resolved by following the steps below.
How to restore Snippet expansion
Work through these steps in order.
1. Check for password prompts
Look for any app waiting for you to enter:
- A password
- A passkey
- A verification code
- Your password manager’s master password
Common examples include 1Password, LastPass, Proton Pass, a browser waiting for a website login, or an app asking you to authenticate. Completing or dismissing the prompt releases Secure Input right away in most cases.
2. Lock and unlock your Mac
Lock your Mac, then unlock it with your password rather than Touch ID. This refreshes Secure Input and brings back Snippet expansion.
3. If you see “loginwindow”
Sign out of your Mac completely, then sign back in with your password. This clears many cases where Secure Input is tied to loginwindow.
4. Check Terminal
If you have Terminal open:
- Open Terminal.
- From the menu bar, choose Terminal > Secure Keyboard Entry.
- If Secure Keyboard Entry is on, click it to turn it off.
Secure Keyboard Entry blocks TextExpander from expanding Snippets while Terminal is open. If you keep Terminal running in the background, this setting is worth checking.
5. Restart your Mac
If Secure Input is still active, restart your Mac. Before you sign back in, clear the Reopen windows when logging back in checkbox. This keeps apps from reopening in the same state that triggered Secure Input.
Why it happens
TextExpander expands Snippets by detecting the abbreviations you type. When Secure Input is active, macOS stops other apps, including TextExpander, from seeing your keystrokes. That’s the same protection that keeps malicious software from capturing your passwords, so it blocks expansion in every app, not only the one that turned it on.
Secure Input is built to turn off once you finish entering sensitive information, but on occasion it stays active longer than expected. Common causes include:
- A password manager, such as 1Password, LastPass, or Proton Pass, waiting for your master password
- Terminal with Secure Keyboard Entry turned on
- A browser tab or app waiting for a password or verification code
- macOS holding onto Secure Input after you sign in or unlock your Mac
Because Secure Input is built into macOS, TextExpander can’t disable or override it. We’ve seen it occur more often after some macOS updates, and other apps that rely on the same functionality report the same behavior.
What “loginwindow” means
When TextExpander names loginwindow, nothing is wrong with the loginwindow process. loginwindow is a core macOS process that handles user sign-in, screen locking, and user sessions. When TextExpander can’t determine which app is holding Secure Input, it names loginwindow instead. You’ll typically see this:
- After you sign in to your Mac
- After your Mac wakes from sleep
- After you unlock your Mac with Touch ID
- When macOS holds onto Secure Input after authentication
Whether you see a specific app name or loginwindow, the troubleshooting steps above are the same.
Still having trouble?
If these steps don’t resolve the issue, contact our Support team at support@textexpander.com. Sending the following helps us investigate faster:
- A screenshot of the Secure Input message shown by TextExpander
- Whether TextExpander names a specific app or
loginwindow - The version of macOS you’re running
- The version of TextExpander you’re running