How to lock Windows 10

How to lock Windows 10

Knowing how to lock Windows 10 is useful to protect your personal data. Just like your smartphone, you can lock your Windows 10 computer too.

This means that while you are away from your laptop or desktop computer, you can simply lock your Windows screen instead of sleeping or shutting it down.

By locking Windows, you can be away from your device without worrying about your running applications or unsaved work.

Then, you can begin again by entering the password and unlocking your Windows PC.

Sounds interesting? Let’s learn together six super-easy methods to lock the screen on your Windows 10 PC.

Table of Contents

  1. How to lock Windows 10
    1. Lock screen in Windows 10 through the Start Menu
    2. Lock screen in Windows 10 through Windows key
    3. Lock screen in Windows 10 computer through a keyboard shortcut
    4. Lock screen in Windows 10 through screen saver settings
    5. Lock screen in Windows 10 through the Command Line or Run Prompt
    6. Lock screen in Windows 10 through the dynamic lock
  2. Wrap Up

How to lock Windows 10

Lock screen in Windows 10 through the Start Menu

  • Press the Start button or the Windows key;
  • Click on your user account icon from the left side of the menu;
How to lock Windows 10

  • Click on the “Lock” option.

Lock screen in Windows 10 through Windows key

  • Press “Windows key + L” on your keyboard. This will lock your Windows computer and you can unlock it by entering your password.

Lock screen in Windows 10 computer through a keyboard shortcut

  • Press “Ctrl + Alt + Del” key combination;
  • A set of options will appear on your screen. Click on “Lock”.

Lock screen in Windows 10 through screen saver settings

  • Click on the Start Menu;
  • Type “Control Panel” and press Enter;

  • Control Panel window opens. On the top right corner, Type “Change screen saver” in the search bar and click on it;

  • “Screen Saver Settings” dialogue box opens. Select a screen saver;
  • Now next to the “Wait option, set the time you want for a screen saver to start and lock the screen;
  • Check “On resume, display logon screen”;
  • Click “Apply”.

Note: Do not set a longer time interval before the screen saver can lock your computer display. A longer time interval means more extended access to your computer and can cause you security issues. On the other hand, a shorter interval may cause you hindrance and lock display while working.

Lock screen in Windows 10 through the Command Line or Run Prompt

  • Search “Command Prompt” in Start Menu;
  • Right-click on the Command Prompt and click “Run as administrator”;
  • Command Prompt window opens. Type “Rundll32.exe user32.dll,LockWorkStation“;
  • Press Enter.

Or

  • Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialogue box;
  • Type “Rundll32.exe user32.dll,LockWorkStation” in the Open bar;
  • Click “Ok” or press Enter.

Lock screen in Windows 10 through the dynamic lock

The dynamic lock is a feature in Windows 10 that detects your absence on your computer through your phone’s Bluetooth. In case of a lost Bluetooth range, the dynamic lock feature will auto-lock your computer screen.

To enable dynamic lock, you must connect your phone to your computer via Bluetooth.

  • Navigate to Settings? Bluetooth on your phone;
  • Toggle on the Bluetooth slider and check/turn on the “visible to all devices” option;
  • Now navigate to Settings? Devices ? Bluetooth & other devices on your computer;

  • First, toggle the slider to the right under “Bluetooth”. It will turn blue;
  • Now click on “Add Bluetooth & other devices”;

  • A new dialogue box opens. Click on “Bluetooth”;

  • Locate your phone name, add a pin and pair your phone to the computer;
  • After pairing both devices, navigate to “Settings”. Next, press the “Windows key + I”;
  • Click on the “Accounts” tile and click “Sign-in options”;

  • In the right window pane, locate the “Dynamic lock” option. Check the box under to turn on Dynamic lock.

Wrap Up

If you are afraid of any disturbance in your unfinished or unsaved work, Windows 10 lock screen feature is a shortcut for you.

Without shutting or sleeping your device, you can lock your Windows 10 PC while away from your device.

And to resume from where you left, enter your device password, and you are good to go.

Check out some of our other awesome articles: