You leave your desk for two minutes to grab a coffee, and your session remains wide open. Anyone can sit down, read your emails, or copy a file. In a small or medium-sized business, this is one of the easiest security holes to close, yet one of the most frequently overlooked. The good news: Windows 11 has a built-in feature that locks your computer automatically.

It's called dynamic locking. The idea is simple: your PC pairs with your phone via Bluetooth, and when you walk away with your phone in your pocket, the computer locks the session after about 30 seconds. No shortcuts to remember, no effort required. Here's how to activate it, and why it's worthwhile for a business in the Mauricie region.

1. What is dynamic locking?

Dynamic Lock is a security feature in Windows 10 and Windows 11. It uses the Bluetooth signal between your computer and a paired device, usually your phone, to determine if you're still at the computer. When the signal weakens because you move away, Windows waits about 30 seconds, then locks the session.

In practice, you'll find the login screen when you return, exactly as if you had pressed Windows + L. The difference is that it happens automatically. This is useful for absent-minded people, for computers in open areas, and for those who forget to lock their computers half the time before going out for dinner.

• It locks the session, it does not close your programs or files.
• It doesn't replace your password or PIN, it just activates it more often.
• It works with an Android phone or an iPhone paired via Bluetooth.

2. Why this matters for an SME in Quebec

An unlocked computer is an open door. A curious colleague, a visitor, a customer in the waiting room: all can see what's on the screen. For a company that handles customer data, it also becomes a matter of compliance. Quebec law 25 requires organizations to protect the personal information they hold, and an unattended screen violates this obligation.

Dynamic locking won't solve everything, but it's an additional, free layer of protection already built into Windows. It's the kind of small adjustment you deploy to all workstations at once when managing your IT infrastructure. At OKTO Solutions, we integrate this type of basic hardening into our IT management services for businesses in Trois-Rivières and the Mauricie region, in addition to Group Policy locking on shared computers.

The Canadian Centre for Cyber ​​Security even lists automatic device locking among the basic best practices to adopt. It's simple, but it eliminates an entire category of accidental internal leaks.

3. How to enable Dynamic Lock on Windows 11

There are two steps: pair your phone, then tick the box. Allow two minutes in total.

Step 1: Pair your phone via Bluetooth

• Turn on Bluetooth on your phone and keep the screen on.
• On the PC, open Settings, then Bluetooth and devices.
• Click on Add a device, choose Bluetooth, and select your phone from the list.
• Confirm the code displayed on both screens to complete the pairing.

Step 2: Enable dynamic locking

• Open Settings, then Accounts.
• Go to Connection Options.
• Scroll down to the Dynamic Locking section.
• Check the box to allow Windows to automatically lock your device when you are away.

It's done. Keep your phone with you, move a few meters away, and the session will lock automatically. To test it, take a few steps down the hallway with your phone in your pocket and wait a minute.

4. If dynamic locking does not work

Sometimes a few details can cause problems. Before giving up, check these points in order.

• Bluetooth must be enabled on both the PC and the phone, and pairing must be active, not just saved.
• The device requires a Bluetooth module. Most laptops have one, but many desktop computers do not, except with a dongle.
• If the Dynamic Lock box is missing, it is often due to a missing or disabled Bluetooth driver in Device Manager.
• Keep the phone switched on. If it switches off or loses Bluetooth, Windows can no longer measure the distance.
• The delay is approximately 30 seconds, not instantaneous, and the range is measured in meters, not centimeters.

If you manage ten or more workstations, manually configuring this on each machine quickly becomes time-consuming, and an employee could uncheck the box without noticing. This is exactly the kind of thing we automate and monitor remotely. If you'd like assistance standardizing the security of your workstations, you can contact our team.

5. Best practices for going further

Dynamic locking is a good reflex, but it works best when combined with other measures. Here's what to add to truly reduce risk on your workstations.

• Keep the Windows + L shortcut in mind. It's the fastest manual lock, and it's instantaneous, unlike the delay of a dynamic lock.
• Set up an inactivity lock in Settings, Accounts, Sign-in options, so that the screen also locks after a few minutes of inactivity.
• Activate Windows Hello, face unlock or fingerprint unlock, so that resuming the session remains quick even with more frequent locking.
• Require a password or PIN upon waking. A lock without a password is useless.
• On shared workstations, use a group strategy to enforce the lock on everyone, without depending on the goodwill of each individual.

The idea isn't to pile on constraints, but to make the right behavior automatic. A workstation that locks itself is one less thing to worry about for you and your employees in Trois-Rivières and elsewhere in Quebec.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does dynamic locking work with an iPhone?

Yes. As long as the iPhone is paired with the PC via Bluetooth and remains powered on, Windows uses its signal to detect your distance. It works the same way as with an Android phone.

Why doesn't my PC lock immediately when I leave?

That's normal. Windows waits about 30 seconds after losing the Bluetooth signal before locking the device, to avoid accidentally disconnecting the session with the slightest movement. If you want to lock it immediately, use Windows + L.

Does dynamic locking close my programs?

No. It only locks the session, like a password-protected screensaver. Your open files, tabs, and applications remain exactly where they were, and you'll find them again when you log back in.

Securing your jobs in Trois-Rivières and the Mauricie region

Dynamic locking is a small step that secures a large door, but it's rarely enough on its own for a business. If you want a managed IT infrastructure where every workstation applies the same security rules without any effort from employees, take a look at our managed IT services or contact us directly through our contact page. We help SMEs in Trois-Rivières, the Mauricie region, and elsewhere in Quebec have peace of mind when it comes to their IT.