Windows 11 will warn you if someone’s snooping

Using your laptop in a coffee shop, on a train or in an airport lounge can leave your screen open to prying eyes, and that’s a real privacy risk when you’re handling sensitive work. This short video looks at Onlooker Detection, a Windows 11 feature spotted in preview builds that notices when someone nearby is looking at your screen.

If it detects an onlooker, Windows can dim your display, give you a discreet warning, or both. It builds on Presence Sensing, which already dims or locks your screen when you step away. You’ll need a laptop with Human Presence Detection hardware, usually found in newer models, and you can check whether yours has it under Settings → System → Power and battery.