To lock a Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC after a set idle time, use a screen saver with “On resume, display logon screen” enabled. You can also require sign-in after sleep or use Dynamic Lock with a paired phone. Turning off the display alone is not the same as checking that Windows requires you to sign in again.
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Lock the PC after a few minutes of inactivity
- Open Start, search for Change screen saver and open the matching Windows settings window.
- Choose a screen saver. Blank is a simple option if you do not want an animation.
- Set the Wait time to the number of idle minutes you want.
- Tick On resume, display logon screen.
- Select Apply and OK.
- Leave the keyboard and mouse alone for longer than the chosen time. Then check that returning to the desktop requires your normal sign-in.
You can also reach these options through Settings > Personalization > Lock screen > Screen saver, with slightly different wording between Windows versions. Microsoft‘s screen-saver guide explains the idle timer and sign-in checkbox.
Choose the setting that matches your goal
| Goal | Setting to check | Main limit |
|---|---|---|
| Lock after no keyboard or mouse activity | Screen saver, Wait time and logon-screen checkbox | Apps or input activity can affect the idle timer. |
| Require sign-in after sleep | Accounts > Sign-in options | Available choices depend on the device and its policies. |
| Lock when you walk away with your phone | Dynamic Lock | It depends on Bluetooth range and is not instant. |
| Lock immediately before leaving | Press Windows + L | You need to do it yourself. |
Require sign-in when the PC wakes
Open Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options. Look for the setting that controls when Windows should require you to sign in again after being away. Choose the appropriate wake or timing option offered on your device.
Microsoft’s sign-in guide notes that the available settings vary. If you use a work PC, an administrator may control them. Test the result by letting the computer sleep and waking it again.
Use Dynamic Lock with your phone
- Pair your phone with the PC over Bluetooth.
- Open Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
- Find Dynamic Lock and enable the option to let Windows lock when you are away.
- Take the phone with you and test what happens after you leave Bluetooth range.
Windows uses the phone’s Bluetooth signal for this feature. It can take about a minute after the signal is out of range, so do not expect it to lock the instant you stand up. If the phone stays beside the PC, Dynamic Lock cannot use it as evidence that you left.
For help with the pairing step, see our Windows Bluetooth settings guide.
What if automatic locking does not work?
- Recheck the logon-screen checkbox, not just the screen-saver preview.
- Use a short wait time for a test, then choose the delay you actually want.
- Check whether a video, presentation, remote session or input device is keeping the PC active.
- For Dynamic Lock, confirm that the phone remains paired and travels with you.
- Check organization policies if settings are greyed out or keep changing back.
Do I need a password, PIN or Windows Pro?
A lock screen is useful only if someone else cannot simply return to your session. Set up your normal Windows password or Windows Hello sign-in and test it. The screen-saver method does not require a special third-party app or a Pro-only policy editor.
Changing a wallpaper or desktop theme does not set an idle-lock timer. If you only want a different look, our Windows themes guide covers that separate setting.