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Security

Lock the PC Automatically With Dynamic Lock

The machine locks itself when your phone leaves the desk. It is a convenience feature with real limits, and knowing them avoids a false sense of security.

by@guidox updated:10/31/26 time:15 min level:Intermediate tested on:Windows 11 24H2 works on:Windows 10, Windows 11 tools:Bluetooth phone
TL;DR

Pair the phone over **Bluetooth**, then enable **Dynamic Lock** in Sign-in options. The machine locks about **30 seconds** after the phone is out of range, and Bluetooth range is generous.

Before you start

Requirements

  • Windows 11
  • A Bluetooth phone
  • Fifteen minutes
Step by step

Instructions

01

Pair the phone first

Dynamic Lock uses the Bluetooth link and nothing else. Pairing over Wi-Fi or a cable does not count, and an unpaired phone never triggers the lock.

Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Add device
02

Keep Bluetooth on for both devices

The feature depends on the radio. Adapting a laptop to a Bluetooth-off power plan silently disables it, and the machine then never locks.

⚠ warningA USB Bluetooth dongle that powers down on idle is the most common cause of a lock that works sometimes.
03

Enable the setting

The toggle lives in Sign-in options under Additional settings. It applies to the current user only, so each account on a shared machine needs it.

Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Dynamic lock
04

Test the range honestly

Walk away with the phone and watch the clock. The lock happens after roughly thirty seconds out of range, and a wall between the rooms can be too little separation.

05

Keep a normal timeout as the real lock

Dynamic Lock is a convenience, not a security control. A short screen timeout and a lock on wake still do the actual work.

Settings > System > Power > Screen and sleep
tipA phone with a dead battery cannot trigger the lock, which is exactly when the feature fails without warning.
06

Review it after a month

If the machine locked while you were sitting at the desk, the range is too tight for the room. Turn the feature off rather than fighting it.

Troubleshooting

Common issues

It never locks

Bluetooth off, phone not paired, or a dongle that sleeps. Check all three in that order.

It locks while you are at the desk

Bluetooth interference or a low phone battery. Move the phone closer or disable the feature.

The setting is missing

No Bluetooth adapter, or a policy. A desktop without Bluetooth cannot offer it.

It stopped after a Windows update

Re-pair the phone. Pairings occasionally break across feature updates.

FAQ

Frequently asked

Does it lock when the phone is off?

Yes, loss of the link is what triggers it. A dead phone looks the same as a phone walking away.

Can I use a watch instead?

Any paired Bluetooth device that stays connected works in principle. A phone is the reliable option.

How to undo this

Turn off **Dynamic lock** in Sign-in options. The pairing itself can stay, and the machine stops locking on its own.

Changelog · 1 entry
  1. 2026-10-31
    First version
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