You walk away from your computer, and it locks without touching anything. No, it’s not your Jedi powers, but it would be great if it were, right? This is Dynamic Lock on Windows 11. It’s a feature integrated into your computer, so you can use it without installing a third-party app. The last thing you may need is to install something else when your computer is already slow. Keep reading to find out more about this helpful feature and how you can start using it on your Windows 11 computer.
What is Dynamic Lock on Windows 11
Dynamic Lock on Windows 11 is a valuable feature that locks your computer when you walk away. It does this because you pair your device with your computer’s Bluetooth, and your computer locks when it is out of range. It’ll lock if your computer can’t connect to your Bluetooth device. This feature is excellent for keeping your computer secure if you have the tendency to forget to lock your computer when you walk away.
This can quickly happen when someone’s at the door, and you rush to open the door and forget to lock your computer. It takes about 30 seconds for your computer to lock, but hopefully, Windows will speed things up and shorten the lock time. Hopefully, an option to choose the lock will be included.
If you don’t want to wait 30 seconds to lock your computer, you can press the Windows + L keys to lock your computer instantly. The only challenge here is remembering to do this when you leave your area.
How to Use Dynamic Lock on Windows 11
Now that you know what Dynamic Lock is and why it’s helpful, here is how you can start using it and add that extra layer of security to your Windows 11 computer. Enable Bluetooth on the device you want to pair. If you’re going to use your phone, you can usually enable Bluetooth by swiping down from the top of your display and tapping on the Bluetooth icon. If not, you can also turn it on by going into the device’s or wearables’ settings. Once it’s on, go to your computer’s settings by pressing the Windows + I keys. In Settings, go to:
- Bluetooth and devices
- Toggle on Bluetooth
Click on the Add Device option, followed by the Bluetooth option; that’ll be the first option on the list. Choose your device from the listed devices. You may even get a code to compare to finish the pairing process. Tap on the Pair option if you see this option. If everything goes well, you’ll see a message letting you know that your device is ready to go.
Now it’s time to turn on Dynamic Lock, and you can do so by going to:
- Settings
- Accounts
- Sign-in options
- Dynamic Lock in the Additional Settings section
The device you paired should show up as mine does in the image above. If you don’t see it, you might see an option to have Windows search for the device, and then it should appear.
What Happens When Your Computer Doesn’t Detect Your Device?
What happens when your Windows 11 computer doesn’t detect the device you paired for 30 seconds is that your computer will show the sign-in screen. Your laptop won’t go into sleep mode or anything but will take you back to the sign-in screen. Sign in as usual so you can continue with what you were doing. This happened when I put my Android phone out of Bluetooth range.
Further Reading
Now that you’ve enabled Dynamic Lock, there will come a time when the Dynamic Lock might not work correctly. But we’ve got you covered with these tips you can follow to fix the issue and return to enjoying that extra layer of security.
Conclusion
Dynamic Lock is as easy as pairing your Bluetooth device with your Windows 11 computer. If you forget to press the Windows + L keys to lock your computer, in 30 seconds, instantly, your computer will lock for you. If you forget and turn off Bluetooth on your device, Windows will show you a message that Dynamic Lock is not working, reminding you to check if Bluetooth is on. How useful do you find Dynamic Lock on Windows 11? Let me know in the comments below, and don’t forget to share the article with others on social media.
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