Tech Tip : Use Your Phone To Automatically Lock Your PC

Would you like to lock your PC every time you leave it but often forget to do it?

Wouldn't it be good if you could automate your computer locking each time you left it?

There is a feature in Windows 11 called Dynamic Lock that uses the proximity of your Bluetooth smart phone to determine if you are near or have moved away.  If the computer detects that you (and your phone) have moved away, it will dynamically lock the computer for you.

Dynamic locks by monitoring the strength of Bluetooth connection between the computer and your smart phone.  If the signal drops below a certain level, or goes completely, it will assume you have moved away from your computer and will lock the computer.

Here is how to enable dynamic lock:

• In Microsoft Windows open settings (click Start and select the settings cog icon)
• Click on Bluetooth and Devices, and click add device and from the menu choice, select Bluetooth
• At the same time, open you smart phone settings and go to Bluetooth
• In Windows, select "communications device"  or the name of your phone and then either check the pairing code is correct or enter the pairing code on the smart phone to join the phone and PC, make sure they are paired and connected
• Then, in settings, go to Accounts and Sign in Options
• Scroll down to the Additional Settings section and select Dynamic Lock
• Tick the box that says "Allow Windows to lock your device automatically when you're away"  - note, if your phone is not connected to the computer by Bluetooth, it will look for it and pair it
• Your computer will now monitor the signal strength from the Bluetooth connection between your phone and your computer.  If the strength of the phone drops, it thinks you have moved away and will lock the computer.

Give this a go, it is a great security feature, but remember, it only ever works if you take your phone with you!!