This post shows students and new users steps to automatically lock their Windows 11 PCs when they’re away with their Bluetooth enabled mobile phones or devices. Windows comes with a feature called “Dynamic lock” that uses a Bluetooth connected device to automatically lock your Windows 11 computer when it’s out of range.
There are multiple ways Windows determines how and why to lock a PC. Some are based on user interactions, like pressing the WINDOWS key + L to lock the computer or clicking on Start and selecting Lock. Others are time based that will automatically lock a PC when it’s idled and no user interactions for a period of time.
One way to also lock a Windows 11 PC is to connect your Bluetooth enabled device and setup Dynamic lock. Whenever you leave your computer with your device, and the device goes out of Bluetooth range, Windows will automatically lock itself to prevent any unauthorized access to your system.
We’ll show you how to set that up below in Windows 11.
The new Windows 11 comes with many new features with new user desktop, including centered Start menu and taskbar, rounded corners windows, themes and colors that will make any Windows look and feel modern.
If you’re exited about Windows 11, keep reading our posts on it.
To get started with configuring Dynamic Lock in Windows 11, follow the steps below.
How to setup dynamic lock in Windows 11 to automatically lock Windows 11
As mentioned above, you can setup Dynamic lock in Windows 11 with your Bluetooth enabled mobile device and have Windows automatically lock itself when you’re away to prevent unauthorized access to your system.
However, before you can setup Dynamic lock, you must first pair your device to Windows via Bluetooth.
How to pair a mobile phone to Windows 11 via Bluetooth
Pairing your mobile devices to Windows 11 is easy. Simply go to Windows Settings, under Bluetooth & devices to do it.
Windows 11 has a centralized location for majority of its settings. From system configurations to creating new users and updating Windows, all can be done from its System Settings pane.
To get to System Settings, you can use the Windows key + i shortcut or click on Start ==> Settings as shown in the image below:
Alternatively, you can use the search box on the taskbar and search for Settings. Then select to open it.
Windows Settings pane should look similar to the image below. In Windows Settings, click Bluetooth & devices, and turn on Bluetooth on the right pane of your screen shown in the image below.
Then click the Add device button to begin pairing your Bluetooth enabled devices.
Next, select Bluetooth as the kind of device you want to add or pair.
Then select the device on the list that your computer finds.
Next, complete the pairing. Now your mobile device and Windows 11 are paired.
How to enable Dynamic Lock in Windows 11
Now that your device and Windows are paired, go and enable Dynamic Lock. You can do that from the Accounts settings. From the Settings pane, click on Accounts and select Sign-in options as highlighted below.
On the Sign-in options, under Additional settings, click Dynamic lock, then select your mobile paired mobile device shown.
That should do it!
The next time your device is out of range, Windows will automatically lock itself.
Conclusion:
This post showed you how to setup Dynamic lock in Windows 11 to automatically lock itself when you’re away. If you find any error above, please use the comment form below to report.
