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Lock on leave, wake on approach with Presence Sensing

Presence sensing is a feature in Windows 11 that can automatically lock your device when you walk away. It can also unlock your device and, with Windows Hello, sign you back in when you return! 1
A man sitting at a table with his hand on his PC

Lock on leave

Your PC will keep your data safe by locking the screen when you're not using it. When you walk away from your PC, the operating system will lock the screen to maximise security and battery savings.

You can also customise how long it takes for your screen to dim and lock after you leave.

Wake on approach

Wake on approach is a feature that makes your device smarter and more convenient. It detects when you are near the device and automatically turns on the screen. This way, you can sign in and start using your device right away.

How do I determine if my PC has Presence Sensing?

To determine if your PC has a presence sensor built in, 1 check to see if it has the Presence Sensing settings. If it does, you can turn it on or off and change settings for it anytime – you’re in control.

  1. Select the Start  button, then enter settings . Select Settings > System > Power & battery.
  2. On the Power & battery screen, select Screen and sleep.
  3. Turn on one or both of the following:
    a. To have your screen turn off when you leave, turn on Automatically turn off my screen when I leave.
    b. To have your device wake when you approach it, turn on Automatically wake up my device when I approach.

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