In this article, we will learn How to Lock Your Windows 11 PC When You’re Away Automatically. This can be achieved by using the new Windows 11 feature: Dynamic lock.

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You’re not the only one who works in a shared environment. To make sure you run more smoothly, you can lock your Windows 11 PC when you step away to ensure no one is using it without your permission.

How to Automatically Lock Your Windows 11 PC When You’re Away: Dynamic lock

Leaving your PC unlocked is risky as whoever has access might copy important data, impersonate you or even completely steal your identity, especially when you are at work or any other such collaborative space where many people are present. There are chances you might need to leave your Windows Computer alone.

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Fortunately, Windows has a built-in solution to this problem. The Windows ‘Dynamic Lock’ function allows you to pair your device with Bluetooth and then track who goes in and out of the building. Windows lock your computer to prevent it from being accessed by people without access permission.

Pair your Phone via Bluetooth to your Windows 11 Computer

Before enabling the dynamic lock feature on Windows 11, you need to pair your phone with your PC. This lets your computer automatically lock once you leave. Your phone needs to be connected via Bluetooth for this feature to work.

Pairing your phone to a device is easy, and most likely, you have done it once before. Here’re some instructions for those who haven’t done it in quite some time or are less familiar with the process.

First, head over to the Settings app, which can be found in the Start Menu of your Windows 11 computer. You can also use the Windows+I keyboard shortcut to go straight there.

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How to Automatically Lock Your Windows 11 PC When You’re Away: Dynamic lock

Next, click on the ‘Bluetooth & other devices’ option from the sidebar present on the ‘Settings’ window.

How to Automatically Lock Your Windows 11 PC When You’re Away: Dynamic lock
Image Credits: Allthings.how

Press the ‘Add a device’ tile in the upper section of your window, and this will open a new ‘Add a device’ window on your machine.

How to Automatically Lock Your Windows 11 PC When You’re Away: Dynamic lock

Next, click on the ‘Bluetooth’ option.

How to Automatically Lock Your Windows 11 PC When You’re Away: Dynamic lock

When you first connect your device to your Windows machine, it might take seconds to find it. Once you see your device name on the window, click on it to pair it with Windows.

How to Automatically Lock Your Windows 11 PC When You’re Away: Dynamic lock

Hint: To pair your device via Bluetooth, you will receive a request on your phone. Accept this request to make the connection.

Once paired, you will receive a message on the window stating the same. You can now close the window.

How to Automatically Lock Your Windows 11 PC When You’re Away: Dynamic lock

Enable Dynamic Lock on your Windows 11 PC

With Windows 11, we’ve introduced features that help you when your computer is both new and old. One of these features is the Dynamic Lock System, which is disabled by default on a brand new computer but can be enabled in the settings.

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First, click on the ‘Settings’ option present on the Start Menu of your Windows 11 computer. Alternatively, you can also press the Windows+I shortcut to access it.

How to Automatically Lock Your Windows 11 PC When You’re Away: Dynamic lock

Go to Settings > Accounts.

How to Automatically Lock Your Windows 11 PC When You’re Away: Dynamic lock

After that, select the ‘Sign-in options’ tile from the left panel.

How to Automatically Lock Your Windows 11 PC When You’re Away: Dynamic lock

This is just the start. Scroll down to locate and click on the Dynamic lock option under the Additional settings; section on the Sign-in options window.

How to Automatically Lock Your Windows 11 PC When You’re Away: Dynamic lock

Click the checkbox near the ‘Allow Windows to lock your device when you’re away automatically’ option to enable the Dynamic Lock feature.

How to Automatically Lock Your Windows 11 PC When You’re Away: Dynamic lock

The Dynamic Lock automatically scans and selects the most reliable device.

How to Automatically Lock Your Windows 11 PC When You’re Away: Dynamic lock

And that’s it. You have enabled the Dynamic Lock feature on your Windows 11 computer.

Loophole in the Dynamic Lock Feature

While Dynamic Lock does a great job of preventing unauthorized access, it’s not without its flaws. The app takes about 30-40s for your computer to lock after the Bluetooth signal fades out.

If you are looking for more Windows 11 related guides, you can browse to this section.

Author

Ruby has been a writer and author for a while, and her content appears all across the tech world, from within ReadWrite, BusinessMagazine, ThriveGlobal, etc.

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