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Windows 11 can lock automatically after inactivity, when a paired phone moves out of Bluetooth range, or after a screen-saver timeout. For a predictable idle-time lock, set the device to sleep and require sign-in when it wakes. For walk-away protection, enable Dynamic Lock. These settings have different triggers, so choose the one that matches how you use your PC.
Choose the automatic locking method that fits
| Method | Trigger | What Windows does | What it depends on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep and sign-in on wake | A set period of inactivity | Requires sign-in when the PC wakes; the screen can sleep without the whole PC sleeping. | Windows power and sign-in settings. Microsoft Support |
| Dynamic Lock | The Bluetooth signal from a paired phone drops as you walk away | Locks the PC; Microsoft says this happens within a minute after the phone is out of Bluetooth range. | A phone paired with the PC over Bluetooth and Dynamic Lock enabled. Microsoft Support |
| Screen saver with sign-in on resume | A chosen screen-saver wait period | Shows the sign-in screen when the screen saver ends. | Screen-saver and resume settings. Microsoft Support |
| Presence sensing | A supported PC detects that you have left | Turns off the screen; this setting alone does not establish that sign-in is required on resume. | A compatible Windows 11 device and its presence-sensing configuration. Microsoft Support |
Lock after a period of inactivity
Use sleep as the inactivity trigger and require sign-in when the PC wakes. If only the display sleeps, the PC can remain running; it is the sign-in-on-wake requirement that protects access.
- Open Start > Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
- Under Require sign-in, set Windows to require sign-in when the PC wakes from sleep. The wording or availability of this control can vary with device configuration and security policy.
- Set the idle timing: press the Windows key, search for Sleep, and open the power and sleep settings. Choose when the screen and PC go to sleep.
- Choose an interval appropriate for your work and security needs. Microsoft Support describes 10 or 15 minutes as usually a good sleep interval; it is guidance, not a universal requirement.
Lock when you walk away with Dynamic Lock
Dynamic Lock uses the Bluetooth signal from a paired phone to estimate when you have left. It is a proximity safeguard rather than an instant or precise distance detector. Microsoft says Windows locks within a minute after the phone is out of Bluetooth range.
- Pair your phone with the PC over Bluetooth.
- Open Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
- Find Dynamic Lock and enable the option that allows Windows to lock your device when you are away.
- Carry the paired phone with you when you leave the PC. If you leave without it, the signal will not indicate that you have walked away.
Require sign-in after a screen-saver timeout
A screen saver can display the sign-in screen after a chosen idle period. Microsoft recommends letting the display sleep to save energy; using a screen saver is an alternative configuration, not a prerequisite for automatic locking.
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- Open Settings > Personalization > Lock screen.
- Under Related settings, select Screen saver.
- Choose a screen saver and set the Wait time.
- Select On resume, display logon screen, then apply the setting.
Use presence sensing on a supported PC
Some Windows 11 PCs can turn off the screen when they detect that you have left. This is a screen-off behavior, not by itself proof that Windows will require authentication when you return. For access protection, also configure sign-in when the PC wakes.
- Open Settings > System > Power & battery > Screen and sleep.
- Enable Automatically turn off my screen when I leave, if the setting is available.
- Open More options to adjust available choices, such as how far away counts as gone, how long to wait before turning off the screen, and whether the setting applies when an external display is connected.
If the presence-sensing control is absent, your PC may not have a compatible hardware configuration or may not expose the feature. Availability depends on the device.
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Fix common setup problems
“Require sign-in” is missing or unavailable
Microsoft notes that sign-in options vary by device configuration and that security policy can disable controls. If the PC is managed by work or school, ask its administrator which policy applies; there is no universal user-side override established for these settings.
Dynamic Lock does not lock the PC
- Confirm the phone is paired with the PC over Bluetooth.
- Check that Dynamic Lock is enabled in Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
- Take the paired phone away from the PC. Windows relies on the Bluetooth signal and may take up to a minute to lock.
You need to lock immediately
Press Windows key + L. To regain access, use the account password, PIN, or configured biometric sign-in.
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