Windows 10: What is Dynamic Lock and How To Enable and Use it

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Dynamic Lock is another new feature introduced in Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 15002 designed to lock your PC automatically while you are away. Some improvements have been added since then as well.

You already have the options to lock your computer either manually by pressing Win+L keyboard shortcut or automatically through Screen Saver Settings right now. But Dynamic Lock is designed to make this process more fluid and easier for the end users.

The setting is disabled by default. To enable it, go to Settings app, Accounts, and Sign-in options. Then check the option “Allow Windows to automatically lock your device when you are away” in the Dynamic Lock section.

Settings Dynamic Lock - Windows 10: What is Dynamic Lock and How To Enable and Use it

The system will scan and check to see if any paired devices that can be used to determine your presence. Once enabled, Dynamic Lock locks your PC automatically when it detects that you are not around. To me, it works the best when you pair your smartphone with your Windows 10 computer.

Click the Bluetooth & other devices link to go to the Bluetooth pairing page, and click the “Add Bluetooth or other devices” button to start the pairing process.

Settings Add Bluetooth device - Windows 10: What is Dynamic Lock and How To Enable and Use it

According to WindowsCentral, it could be called Microsoft Goodbye internally. If you look at the registry key that reflects this setting, it’s indeed called EnableGoodbye under the following location.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

Registry Editor EnableGoodbye 600x328 - Windows 10: What is Dynamic Lock and How To Enable and Use it

Also, the WalkingCat on Twitter hinted that Dynamic Lock could just be the same as Windows Hello’s Proximity Look.

But whatever happens behind the scene, Dynamic Lock is a good piece that strengths up the security of the device, especially in a business environment. You may already have a Group Policy setting pushed down to force all workstation to lock itself up after a period of time of inactivity regardless of the user’s presence but have Dynamic Lock would make it even better. Personally, I have been using this feature for a while and quite like it. The computer automatically locks up itself as soon as my phone is out of the range.

There is also a Group Policy setting designated to Dynamic Lock available for sys admins to control over their workstations across the domain network. It’s called Configure dynamic lock factors located at the following location.

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Hello for Business
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