How to lock the computer screen?

Do you share your computer with family members or coworkers? Or do you work in a common space and would like more privacy? Whatever the reason, knowing how to lock your computer screen is very useful and doing so is easier than it seems. Below, we will see different ways to achieve this, both on Windows and Mac.

Locking your computer screen prevents third parties who do not know your password from accessing your computer. The screen only displays information such as the time, date and, in the case of Windows computers, an image. There are several ways to lock your computer screen.: the traditional one, through keyboard commands, with previously configured functions, etc.

Why is it necessary to lock the computer screen?

The main reason why it is necessary to lock the computer screen is because user safety. When we leave our PC open, anyone can snoop around and obtain valuable information that we would like to keep just for ourselves. In addition, by locking it we prevent anyone else from executing actions in our name for malicious purposes.

And of course, lock the computer screen too Reduce the risk of your data being altered, deleted or misusedAnd best of all, the procedure is very simple, so you won't have to waste much of your time blocking your PC.

We can say that When we lock the computer screen we get:

• Security.
• Privacy.
• Data Protection.

Ways to lock your computer screen

Fortunately, there is no single way to lock your computer screen. So In case you don't feel comfortable with one, you can always try another one.We will start with the easiest and most intuitive ways and then we will see other very interesting options for Windows and Mac computers. Next, let's see how to lock the screen of a PC with:

• The traditional method.
• Keyboard shortcuts.
• The dynamic lock screen.
• The power button.
• The movement of the pointer.

The traditional method

The traditional or best known way to lock the computer screen is through the Home. In Windows: Open the Start menu by clicking on the Windows logo, tap on the shutdown icon (in some cases on the user icon) and select Lock. Done! This will lock your Windows PC screen.

In the case of computers with macOS operating system, you need to select the Apple icon in the top left corner of the screen and select Lock Screen from the menu that opens. As you can see, on both types of computers, locking the screen is very easy.

Keyboard shortcuts

Now, there is an even simpler method with which you can lock the computer screen. This is achieved through the combination of some keys or, in other words, keyboard shortcuts. For example, you can press the keys Ctrl + Alt + Del (or Delete) and click on Block. And to make it even easier, you can use the following combination:

• In Windows 10 or 11, press the keys at the same time Windows + L.
• On macOS, the combination is Control + Command + Q.

Using the dynamic lock screen

La dynamic lock screen allows the computer to detect the mobile's Bluetooth and, when it moves far enough away to disconnect, the computer's lock screen is automatically activated. Now, how to activate this option on your Windows PC? To do so, follow the steps below:

1. Open Start – Settings.
2. Now select the Accounts section.
3. On the right side of the screen, locate the Login Options entry and click on it.
4. Then, under Additional Settings, tap the little arrow for the Dynamic Lock option.
5. Turn on the “Allow Windows to automatically lock this device when you’re away” option.
6. Activate Bluetooth on your PC and your mobile phone so that the option works and that's it.

On the other hand, although it is true that this function is not integrated into Mac computers by default, you can achieve it by downloading an app. For macOS, you can use Close Lock, which allows you to do the same thing as in Windows. In fact, it is not only possible to connect the computer to your mobile phone, but also to the Apple Watch, which you probably always wear.

Use the power button

Another way to lock your computer screen is Setting up the power buttonWhat will you achieve with this? When you press it, the screen will be locked and you will have to enter the password to be able to log in. You can do this by following these steps:

1. Opens Home - Configuration.
2. Choose System.
3. Click on Power and battery.
4. Now choose Lid and Power Button Controls.
5. In the options Pressing the power button will make my PC… select “Hibernate”.
6. Done. This way, when you tap the button, not only will your computer go to sleep, but you will also have to tap it again and enter your PIN to log in.

In the case of Mac computers, locking your screen with the power button is easier than in Windows. In fact, on newer models, touch or place your finger on the Touch ID sensor, the screen locks automatically. And, for those who don't have Touch ID, Mac keyboards have a special key with the Lock function.

Moving the pointer

Finally, Mac computers have a very interesting option to lock the screen. With just move the mouse pointer to one of the four corners of the screen a default action is performed, such as locking the PC. To enable this feature, follow these steps:

1. On your Mac, select Menu – System Preferences.
2. Tap on the “Desktop & Dock” option in the sidebar.
3. Now, click on “Active Corners”.
4. Select the “Lock screen” option.
5. Finally, select OK and that's it, you can move the pointer to the selected corner and the screen will be locked.