Locking your computer screen when you step away is an essential computer security practice. Leaving your device unattended with an unlocked screen makes it easy for anyone nearby to access your personal information, files, and accounts – or even install malware. By taking a few moments to lock your screen when you need to leave your computer, you can prevent unauthorized access and maintain your privacy and security. According to Cornell University IT experts, automatically locking your screen when you’re inactive is one of the most effective ways to keep your device and data safe. Whether you’re using a desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone, locking your screen ensures you remain in control of your device.
Windows Lock Screen
The quickest and easiest way to lock your Windows computer screen is by using the Windows key + L keyboard shortcut. Simply press the Windows logo key and L key at the same time to immediately lock your screen and switch to the lock screen view (1). This keyboard shortcut works on Windows 10 and Windows 11 to quickly secure your computer if you need to step away or prevent unauthorized access.
You can also lock your Windows screen using the Ctrl + Alt + Delete keyboard shortcut. Press these three keys at the same time to open the Windows Security screen. Then select “Lock” to lock the computer and go to the lock screen (2). This is another quick way to lock a Windows computer if you don’t want to use the Windows + L shortcut.
Locking your Windows computer prevents access to your files, applications, and accounts without re-authenticating. It’s a good security practice to lock your screen whenever leaving your computer unattended. The Windows lock screen shortcuts make this quick and easy to do.
(1) https://www.pdnob.com/windows-shortcuts/shortcut-to-lock-computer.html
(2) https://it.tufts.edu/book/export/html/1125
Mac Lock Screen
There are a couple quick and easy keyboard shortcuts to lock your Mac screen:
Use Control + Shift + Power or Control + Shift + Eject to immediately lock your Mac screen and require your password upon waking (Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/how-to-lock-mac-computer). This will turn off your display and lock your Mac right away.
You can also use Control + Command + Q to immediately lock your screen (Source: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/254360749).
These handy keyboard shortcuts provide a quick way to secure your Mac when needed. Just remember the key combinations Control + Shift + Power/Eject or Control + Command + Q whenever you want to instantly lock the screen.
Chromebook Lock Screen
Chrome OS, the operating system that runs on Chromebooks, has a lock screen feature to secure the device when not in use. The lock screen displays on startup and when resuming from sleep mode. It requires users to enter a password before accessing the Chromebook.
To manually lock the Chromebook screen, press the Search + L keys or Launcher + L keys on the keyboard. You can also click the time in the bottom right corner, then select “Lock.” In Chromebook settings, you can require a password immediately after waking from sleep under “Screen lock.”
The Chromebook lock screen displays the current time and date. Users can customize the background image and add owner information that will be shown if the device is lost. Third-party apps are available to enable additional lock screen customization.
To unlock the Chromebook, simply enter the Google account password or PIN. If using a registered smartphone, the Chromebook can also be unlocked through Smart Lock.
Sources:
https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/2587994?hl=en
Smartphone/Tablet Lock Screens
On iOS devices such as iPhones and iPads, you can lock your screen by pressing the side or top button once. The default lock screen will show the time, date, notifications, and ability to open the camera.
There are several lock screen customization options on iOS. You can add custom wallpapers and widgets to the lock screen through the Settings app under “Wallpaper” and “Widgets” (Source). You can also control notification privacy and Quick Access options like showing notifications and wallet cards on the lock screen via Settings > Face ID & Passcode (Source).
On Android devices, you can lock your screen by pressing the power or side button. The lock screen displays notifications, quick settings, and the fingerprint scanner. To customize, edit wallpaper and shortcuts through the Settings app under Display, Security, and Extensions. Some options may vary across Android versions and devices.
Customize Lock Screen
Both iOS and Android provide options to customize your lock screen with different wallpapers, widgets, and other elements. On iOS, you can create a custom lock screen by touching and holding the lock screen until the “Customize” button appears (iOS 16 or later). Tap on this to access wallpaper options like photos, emoji, and color backgrounds to set as your lock screen (source).
Android also lets you customize the lock screen wallpaper and add widgets for at-a-glance information. To change the wallpaper, go to Settings > Display > Wallpaper on your Android device. To add widgets, touch and hold the lock screen, then tap “Widgets” to select available widgets like a clock, weather, or music player (source). Customizing your lock screen allows you to personalize your device and see useful information without unlocking.
Lock Screen Timeout
The lock screen timeout controls how long your device waits before automatically locking the screen after a period of inactivity. Setting an appropriate auto-lock duration helps prevent unauthorized access if you walk away and forget to manually lock your screen.
On Windows 10 and 11, you can configure the lock screen timeout by going to Settings > Personalization > Lock Screen, and adjusting the “Screen timeout settings” option. The default is set to 1 minute, but you can increase this up to 1 hour for your preference. See this Microsoft article for full instructions.
For Android devices, open the Settings app, go to Display > Screen timeout, and select your desired timeout length. Many Android phones default to 30 seconds or 1 minute, but you may increase this to up to 30 minutes if desired. See this Android Central thread for more details.
Adjusting the lock screen timeout allows you to balance convenience and security based on your personal needs and preferences.
Additional Security Options
In addition to locking your computer screen, you can enable extra security measures like password protection or biometric authentication to prevent unauthorized access. This provides an added layer of security beyond just locking the screen.
One option is to set a password, PIN, or passphrase that must be entered to unlock the computer. This ensures that only someone who knows the password can gain access, even if they physically have the device. On Windows 10, you can require a password on wake under Sign-in Options in Settings [1]. On Macs, you can also require a password immediately after sleep or screen saver under Security & Privacy in System Preferences [2].
Another option is biometric authentication using fingerprint scans or facial recognition. Windows 10 has Windows Hello, which allows signing in with a fingerprint, iris scan, or facial recognition. Macs have Touch ID fingerprint sensors and Face ID facial recognition available on many models [3]. This makes it even more convenient to securely unlock your computer.
Enabling extra authentication beyond just a lock screen provides much stronger protection for your device. Consider adding password, PIN, or biometric logins if security is a priority.
Guest Account Lockouts
Preventing guest access to your computer is an important security measure. Guest accounts allow anyone to access your computer without a password, putting your data and privacy at risk. Here are some ways to disable or restrict the guest account on Windows and other operating systems:
On Windows 10 and 11, you can disable the built-in guest account entirely. To do this, open the Command Prompt as administrator and run the command “net user guest /active:no”. This will deactivate the account so no one can log in as guest.
For more control, you can also set up a Group Policy Object (GPO) to manage the guest account. GPOs allow you to configure guest account settings for an entire network. As explained on ManageEngine, you can use a GPO to disable the guest account, rename it, or set an expiration date.
On Mac computers, the guest account is disabled by default. You can enable it in System Preferences if needed, but should disable it again when not in use. iPhones and iPads also have a guest account option in Settings that should remain off until required.
Take some time to review the guest account settings on all your devices. Disabling guest access is a simple way to add an extra layer of security.
Conclusion
In summary, locking your computer screen is an important security measure that should not be overlooked. By locking your screen when you walk away from your device, you prevent unauthorized access to your data and applications. Screen locking is quick and easy to set up, whether you’re using Windows, Mac, Chromebook, smartphone or tablet. The peace of mind of knowing your device is secure is well worth taking the extra second to lock your screen.
Automatically enabling a screen lock timeout is a cybersecurity best practice recommended by experts. Typical timeouts range from 1-5 minutes of inactivity before the screen locks. You can also further customize your lock screen with passwords, PIN codes, images and more. While no security measure is impenetrable, having basic screen lock protection enabled makes it far more difficult for thieves to access your device and sensitive information.
By taking measures to lock your computer, laptop, phone or tablet, you are taking an important step to prioritize security and protect your data. Be sure to utilize available lock screen features, set screen timeouts, and develop consistent locking habits.
