If you regularly leave your computer, it is recommended to lock your PC. If you lock the PC, people who do not have permission will not have access to your PC.
It is actually always recommended to lock your PC when you leave. Not just to prevent unauthorized access, but as a habit.
In Windows 11 and Windows 10 you can lock the computer in different ways. There are key combinations, shortcuts, and even local policies that can lock the computer.
This article provides multiple ways to lock your computer, such as after you step away from the computer or when inactive.
Lock Windows 11 or Windows 10
Key combination to lock Windows
The fastest and easiest way to lock Windows is with a key combination. It shouldn't take too much time to lock your computer immediately.
If you press the key combination Windows key + L at the same time, you immediately lock the computer. The login screen will be displayed next.
Lock Windows via the Start Menu
In both Windows 11 and Windows 10, when you click on the Start button, you will see the user account that is logged in to the computer on the left. Click on it and choose “lock” from the menu. The computer is immediately locked.
Lock Windows via CTRL + ALT + DELETE
The key combination CTRL + ALT + DELETE opens the security options in Windows. This menu contains the shortcut “Lock”. Click on it and the PC will be locked immediately.
Lock Windows via Screen Saver
If you have set a password for your user account in the login screen then you can use screen saver to automatically lock the computer.
By setting a specific time in minutes, Windows will activate the screen saver. By then enabling an option, Windows will ask for the login password when turning off the screen saver. This way you can use screen saver to lock the computer automatically.
Click the magnifying glass in the taskbar or click the search box in the taskbar. In the search box type: change screen saver and click on the result.
Set a screen saver, for example “3D text” and enable the option “Show login screen on resume”. You can optionally adjust the “Wait” time before the screen saver becomes active. Click OK.
When the screen saver becomes active and the computer is used again, the login screen will be displayed, resulting in the computer being automatically locked.
Lock Windows automatically
In both Windows 10 and Windows 11 you can use the to automatically lock your computer when you leave. You can do this by connecting your phone via Bluetooth with your Windows PC. When you leave, Windows detects that your Bluetooth connection has been lost to the PC and automatically locks the PC.
Read here how Enable dynamic lock in Windows 10.
Below are the steps for Windows 11. Right-click on the Start button. Click on Settings in the menu. Then click on Accounts on the left and then on Login Options.
Enable the option: “Allow Windows to automatically lock your device when you are away.” Then click on the left Bluetooth and devices and pair your phone via Bluetooth.
I hope this helped you. Thank you for reading!
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