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To make a Windows 11 PC lock automatically, choose the trigger that fits: use Dynamic Lock to lock after your paired Bluetooth phone moves out of range, or require sign-in after inactivity by combining a screen-off timeout with sign-in on wake. PCs with supported presence-sensing hardware may also turn off the screen when you leave.
Choose the automatic-lock method that fits
| Method | Trigger | What it does | What it depends on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dynamic Lock | Your paired phone leaves Bluetooth range | Locks the PC after Windows detects the Bluetooth signal has dropped; it may take about a minute. | A paired Bluetooth phone that you take with you. [Microsoft Support] |
| Screen-off timeout with sign-in on wake | The selected period of inactivity | Turns off the screen and requires sign-in when you return; the PC does not have to enter sleep for the screen-lock behavior. | Windows sign-in and power settings. [Microsoft security guidance] [Microsoft power guidance] |
| Presence sensing | A supported PC detects that you have left | Can turn off the screen; some settings can lock the device when an external display is connected. | Supported hardware, manufacturer configuration and, on managed PCs, organizational policy. [Microsoft presence-sensing guidance] |
| Screen saver | The selected period of inactivity | Can show the sign-in screen when the screen saver resumes. | Screen-saver settings. [Microsoft screen-saver guidance] |
Set up Dynamic Lock to lock when you leave
- Open Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
- Expand Dynamic Lock and turn on Allow Windows to lock your device automatically when you’re away.
- If your phone is not paired, open Windows Bluetooth settings and pair the Bluetooth-capable phone with the PC.
- Take the paired phone with you when you leave the PC.
Dynamic Lock uses the paired phone’s Bluetooth proximity as a signal that you have walked away; it is not an exact distance measurement or an instant lock. Microsoft says the PC locks within about a minute after the phone is out of Bluetooth range. [Microsoft Support]
This option is useful if you usually carry your phone. If you leave the phone beside the PC, Dynamic Lock has no signal that you have gone.
Set an inactivity-based lock with screen-off and sign-in settings
- Go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
- Under additional settings, set Windows to require sign-in when you return. The control may read If you’ve been away, when should Windows require you to sign in again?
- Go to Settings > System > Power & battery > Screen, sleep, & hibernate timeouts.
- Choose a value for Turn my screen off after for both battery and plugged-in use.
- Set Make my device sleep after separately if you want the PC to sleep as well. Screen-off and sleep are separate timers.
When Windows is set to require sign-in on return, the screen-off timeout can activate the lock without waiting for the PC to sleep. Microsoft’s security guidance suggests 10 or 15 minutes as a usual idle interval for sleep, but recommends choosing an interval appropriate to your circumstances. [Microsoft security guidance]
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Microsoft’s current power guidance, accessed in 2026, lists these adjusted defaults for the device classes it covers. They are published defaults, not a guarantee that every PC uses them. [Microsoft power guidance]
| Device class | Screen-off timeout | Sleep timeout |
|---|---|---|
| Modern standby devices | 3 minutes on battery; 5 minutes plugged in | 3 minutes on battery; 5 minutes plugged in |
| S3 devices | 3 minutes on battery; 5 minutes plugged in | 10 minutes on battery; 15 minutes plugged in |
Check for presence sensing on supported PCs
Some Windows 11 PCs expose presence-sensing controls. Open Settings > System > Power & battery > Screen and sleep and look for Automatically turn off my screen when I leave. If available, enable it and review the departure-distance and delay options. Some systems also offer a setting to lock the device when you leave while an external display is connected.
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Presence-sensing choices depend on the PC’s hardware and manufacturer configuration, and organizational policy can limit them on managed devices. Microsoft’s documentation describes the main behavior as turning off the screen when you leave; do not assume every PC’s sensor setup locks the device in the same way. [Microsoft presence-sensing guidance]
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Use the screen saver as an inactivity fallback
- Open Settings > Personalization > Lock screen > Screen saver.
- Select a screen saver and set its wait time.
- Enable On resume, display logon screen, then apply the change.
Windows can then show the logon screen when the screen saver resumes. The route and available options can vary with Windows configuration. [Microsoft screen-saver guidance]
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Troubleshoot settings that are missing or unavailable
- Dynamic Lock does not activate: Confirm the phone is paired over Bluetooth and that you take it with you. Windows relies on the phone’s signal leaving range, so it may not lock immediately. [Microsoft Support]
- The sign-in-on-return control is disabled: A security policy may control the setting on a work- or school-managed device. [Microsoft sign-in options guidance]
- Presence sensing is absent: The PC may not expose compatible hardware or the feature may be limited by its configuration or organizational policy. [Microsoft presence-sensing guidance]
- The labels do not match: Settings wording and navigation may change with Windows updates. Look for the corresponding screen-off, sleep, sign-in and presence controls on your current Windows 11 build. [Microsoft power guidance]
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