How To Enable Automatic Device Locking Feature In Windows 11

Pairing Your Mobile Device via Bluetooth

Pairing your mobile device via Bluetooth 🔷 is the required first step to set up automatic locking in Windows 11. Windows uses the active Bluetooth connection between your computer and your phone to track your physical distance. If the pairing drops or you turn off Bluetooth, the locking feature stops working.

1. Open Settings ⚙️ by pressing the Win and the I key together.

   

2. Click on Bluetooth 🔷 & devices in the left-hand menu.

   

3. Ensure the main Bluetooth 🔷 toggle switch is turned on at the top of the window.
4. Click the Add device button near the top.
5. Select Bluetooth 🔷 from the Add a device window list.

   

6. Choose your smartphone from the list of discovered hardware.
7. Confirm that the PIN numbers match on both your computer screen and your phone display, then click Connect on your PC and accept the pairing prompt on your mobile device.
8. Click Done once the pairing notification confirms both devices are connected.

Enabling Dynamic Lock in 🪟 Windows 11 Settings

Enabling Dynamic Lock in Windows 11 Settings lets your computer lock itself automatically when you walk away. Once your phone is successfully paired via Bluetooth 🔷, you can turn on this automatic locking feature inside the Accounts menu under Sign-in options.

1. Open Settings ⚙️ using the shortcut keys Win plus I.
2. Click on Accounts in the left-hand navigation pane.

   

3. Select Sign-in options from the main accounts page choices.

   

4. Scroll down the page until you locate the Additional settings section.
5. Click on the Dynamic lock heading to expand the hidden menu options.

   

6. Check the box next to “Allow Windows to automatically lock your device when you’re away” to activate the feature.

Windows will now attempt to communicate with your paired phone. If a checkmark appears and the feature stays active, your system recognizes the wireless link. Walk away from your computer carrying your phone to test the mechanism. The screen should turn off and lock itself after a brief period of signal loss.

Alternative Auto-Lock Methods Using Screen Savers

Alternative auto-lock methods using screen savers secure your computer after a set time of keyboard and mouse inactivity instead of monitoring your phone’s location. This works well if your phone does not support reliable Bluetooth 🔷 connections or you prefer not to use wireless tracking.

1. Open the Start menu search bar, type screen saver, and press Enter to open the classic screen saver settings window.
2. Locate the Screen saver drop-down menu and select any available option, or leave it set to (None).
3. Check the box next to "On resume, display logon screen".
4. Click the up or down arrows in the Wait box to set your preferred idle time in minutes.
5. Click Apply, then click OK to save your new inactivity timeout settings.

Configuring Dynamic Lock via Group Policy

Configuring Dynamic Lock via Group Policy lets administrators enforce automatic device locking across multiple computers in a workplace. This method requires administrator privileges and allows you to manage system policies rather than setting up each computer by hand.

1. Press the Windows key plus R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type gpedit.msc and press Enter to launch the Local Group Policy Editor.
3. Navigate through the left directory tree to Computer Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, and then Windows Hello for Business.
4. Locate and double-click the policy setting governing automatic device locking based on presence.
5. Select the Enabled radio button.
6. Click Apply, then click OK to enforce the policy across the local machine.

If this didn't work

If Dynamic Lock still fails to work after you verify your Bluetooth settings and try alternative inactivity timers, your Bluetooth adapter might lack low-energy peripheral tracking support. You can fix this by updating your Bluetooth drivers through Device Manager or plugging in a modern USB Bluetooth dongle.