How-To

How to Use Dynamic Lock on Windows 11

By Brian Burgess

Published April 25, 2022

Dynamic Lock is a Windows 11 feature that automatically locks your PC when you walk away from it with a connected device. Here’s how to use it.

Want to keep your Windows 11 PC secure while you’re away from your desk? There are a couple of ways you can do it.

The most important is to create a PIN or password to stop any unauthorized access. You can then use a keyboard shortcut (Windows key + L) to lock the screen.

If you want to try an easier solution, however, you can use Dynamic Lock to automatically lock your PC when you walk away from it. If you’ve never used it before, here’s what you’ll need to do to use Dynamic Lock on Windows 11.

What is Dynamic Lock on Windows 11?

Dynamic Lock is a Windows 11 feature that locks your computer when a connected Bluetooth device (your phone or wearable device) is out of range. The Dynamic Lock feature will lock your PC automatically even if you forget to use the Windows key + L shortcut when walking away.

Dynamic Lock uses any connected device with Bluetooth, but it’s probably best to use something with a good amount of battery and range, such as your phone. Once your device is out of reach for 30 seconds, Windows will lock the screen automatically.

Pairing a Bluetooth Device to Windows 11

To get everything working, you’ll need to start with pairing your Windows 11 PC with another Bluetooth device.

To do this:

1. You’ll need to enable Bluetooth on your phone or other mobile device and put it in pairing mode.
2. Now, connect your device to Windows 11 via Bluetooth.
3. Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices and turn on the Bluetooth toggle switch on your PC.
4. Click the Add device button.
5. Click the Bluetooth option at the top when the Add a device screen appears.
6. Choose your phone or another Bluetooth device you want to use. Again, you want to use something you take with you when leaving the computer. A phone is a great option, but maybe you have headphones or another wearable device that will work.
7. Continue with any more pairing instructions. For example, Windows 11 sends a code to our iPhone to finish pairing.
8. After your device and Windows 11 connect via Bluetooth, you’ll see the following success message — click Done to close out the window.

How to Enable Dynamic Lock on Windows 11

Now it’s time to enable the Dynamic Lock feature on your PC.

You can use the following steps to turn on Dynamic Lock on Windows 11:

1. On your PC, open the Settings app via the Start menu.
2. In Settings, head to Accounts > Sign-in options.
3. Expand the Dynamic Lock option under Additional settings.
4. Click the Allow Windows to automatically lock your device when you’re away option.
5. Wait a moment, and the device you choose to add via Bluetooth will show up as your Dynamic Lock device.

When you walk away from your PC, and your Dynamic Lock device is out of range, after 30 seconds, your PC will automatically lock.

Protecting Your Windows 11 PC

Using the steps above, you should be able to enable and use Dynamic Lock on Windows 11.

Dynamic Lock is just one way to add an extra layer of security to your Windows 11 device. For more, check out using Windows Security on Windows 11 for maximum protection. There could also be instances when you need to enable or disable Windows Security.

If you’re not on Windows 11 yet, no worries; you can also use Dynamic Lock on Windows 10.