Windows 11: Automatically Lock Your PC with Dynamic Lock
Dynamic lock automatically locks your PC when you are away. Pair your smartphone with Bluetooth in [Settings] > [Bluetooth & devices] > [Add device]. Move your smartphone out of range and check in a safe place that Windows will change to the lock screen after a certain period of time.
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Who this guide is for and what to prepare
- Users who want to streamline daily operations with Windows 11
- Users who want to try out the feature in a way that allows them to restore the settings.
What you need
- Save the file you are working on and try it with test data that does not include personal information.
- It's not an immediate lock, so use Win+L when you leave your seat. It may not work as expected due to Bluetooth disconnection or battery exhaustion.
Purpose and prerequisites
Dynamic lock automatically locks your PC when you are away. Pair your smartphone with Bluetooth in [Settings] > [Bluetooth & devices] > [Add device]. Move your smartphone out of range and check in a safe place that Windows will change to the lock screen after a certain period of time.
It's not an immediate lock, so use Win+L when you leave your seat. It may not work as expected due to Bluetooth disconnection or battery exhaustion.
Configure the feature
Pair your smartphone with Bluetooth in [Settings] > [Bluetooth & devices] > [Add device].
- Pair your smartphone via Bluetooth in Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Add Device
Try it out and see the results
Open [Settings] > [Accounts] > [Sign-in options] > [Dynamic lock] and turn on [Let Windows automatically lock my device when I'm away]. Move your smartphone out of range and check in a safe place that Windows will change to the lock screen after a certain period of time.
Save your work, pick up your phone, move it out of Bluetooth range, and see if you get to the sign-in screen within about a minute. It is not an automatic sign-in function when returning, and it cannot be determined if the phone's battery is dead or Bluetooth is stopped, so Win+L is used when normally away.
After registering your smartphone via Bluetooth, physically hold the device, walk away from your PC, and then come back and check if the lock screen is displayed. The response changes depending on distance and radio wave conditions, and it is not a mechanism that will always lock the moment you leave. When you leave your seat in a hurry, press Win+L to lock it immediately, and use dynamic lock to make up for forgetting to lock.
- Open Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Dynamic lock and turn on "Let Windows automatically lock my device when I'm away"
- Move away from the communication range with your smartphone and check in a safe place that Windows will change to the lock screen after a certain period of time.
Turn it off and restore the previous setup
Uncheck Dynamic Lock, and if you don't need it, click [Delete Device] on the paired phone from [Bluetooth & Devices].
- Uncheck Dynamic Lock, and if you don't need it, select [Remove Device] from the paired phone from [Bluetooth & Devices].
Limitations and requirements
- It's not an immediate lock, so use Win+L when you leave your seat. It may not work as expected due to Bluetooth disconnection or battery exhaustion.
- If the settings are fixed on an organization-managed PC, check with the administrator instead of using unofficial methods to circumvent the policy.
Frequently asked questions
Will it be automatically unlocked when I return?
Dynamic locking is a feature that locks when you leave. To cancel after returning, use normal sign-in methods such as Windows Hello or PIN.
Do you want it to lock as soon as you leave your seat?
It takes some time after it is determined that you are out of Bluetooth range. If you want to lock it immediately, use Win+L.
Official sources and verification date
Sources checked: . Check the official sources below for changes to supported systems, plans and menus.