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In this Itechguide, Victor teaches you how to lock Windows 10. The guide covers steps for 4 methods to lock Windows 10.
Option 1: Lock with Ctrl + Alt + Delete
To lock your PC with this method…
- Press the Ctrl, Alt and Delete keys simultaneously.
- When you press Ctrl + Alt + Delete keys, a Window like the one shown in the image below will open.
- When this screen is displayed, the fasted way to lock the screen is to press the enter key on your keyboard.
- Another way to lock the screen to click Lock.
- Once you press Enter key or click Lock, the screen will lock immediately!
There is another quick method to lock your PC. If your keyboard has a Windows logo, pressing the Windows logo and the L keys simultaneously will lock your computer immediately.
Option 2: Lock from the Account Picture Menu
You can also lock your PC from the Start menu -> Account Picture Menu. Here are the steps…
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- Left-click the Windows 10 Start menu. Then, click your account picture.
If you have not added an account picture, your account will display the default account icon – see the second image below.
- When you click your account picture icon, a small sub-menu will be displayed.
- Then, from the displayed sub-menu, click Lock. Your PC will lock immediately.
If Lock is not on your start menu, follow the steps beneath this picture to add it.
How to Add “Lock” to Account Picture Menu
By default “Lock” is included in the Start menu but, in the rare instance that it is not on the menu, you can include it with these steps…
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- Type control panel in the search box. Then, from the search results, click Control Panel.
- On Control Panel, click View by drop-down and select Large icons or Small icons.
- Then, click Power Options.
- On the left pane of Power Options, click Choose what the power button does.
- Then,on the Define power buttons and turn on password protection window, click Change settings that are currently unavailable.
- Finally, confirm that Lock Show in account picture menu is checked. If it is NOT checked, check it and click Save changes.
Option 3: Lock Automatically
Sometimes, you may forget to lock your PC. If you forget to lock your PC before you step away, an unauthorized person may gain access to your PC and steal your files or other important information.
To ensure your PC locks automatically when you step away, use the steps below…
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- Right-click the Windows 10 Start menu. Then, from the displayed options, click Settings.
- On the Windows Settings screen, click Accounts.
- Then, on the left pane of Your info screen, click Sign-in options.
- Finally, to lock Windows 10 automatically, on the Sign-in options screen, scroll down to Dynamic lock and check the Allow Windows to automatically lock your device when you’re away checkbox.
If your Bluetooth device is Off, you will receive a warning message like the message shown in the image below. Follow the steps in this Itechguide to turn on your Bluetooth – How to Turn on Bluetooth on Windows 10.
For your PC to lock automatically when you step away, you MUST pair your PC with your phone. When you are stepping away from your PC, leave with your phone. When your PC loses connection with your smartphone, your PC will lock automatically within about a minuite.
- Once you have enabled Bluetooth and paired your PC with your smartphone, the warning message will no longer be displayed.
Now, when you step away from your PC (with your phone), your PC will lock within about a minute.
As you can see, it is very easy to lock Windows 10!
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Finally, for more Windows 10 Itechguides, visit our Windows 10 How-To page.
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