How to locate and lock your PC remotely in Windows 10?

Have you lost your PC and want to know where it is? Do you also want no one to be able to access your data? If you have activated remote location on your computer running Windows 10 operating system, then it will be possible. If you are unfamiliar with this handy feature, Futura explains how to use it.

With its latest Windows 10 operating system, Microsoft allows its users to locate their PC remotely and lock it if necessary. This will be the first thing you should think about if your computer is misplaced or even stolen. If you have forgotten it somewhere, there is still hope of seeing it again, but to be honest, your chances of finding it are quite low if you are dealing with someone with bad intentions, for two reasons.

The first is that your computer must be connected to the Internet in order to be located. And even if a fairly precise location is possible, like a GPS, it can be very complicated to define the exact location of the device, especially in very dense urban areas.

The second is quite logical: if your computer's hard drive is formatted, it means that all your data and settings have been erased, so the remote location and lock function is no longer active. Anyway, it costs nothing to activate this function: if there is an Internet connection after the PC disappears, at least you will be able to block it and prevent access to your personal information.

Since the remote location and locking function is not activated by default, Futura explains how to do it.

Activate the feature to locate and lock your PC

First, click on the "Start" button in the lower left corner of your screen or press the "Windows" key on your keyboard. Then click on the gear-shaped settings icon.

Go to Windows 10 settings. © Microsoft

In the Windows settings menu, locate and click on “Update and Security”.

Click on "Update and Security" in Windows settings. © Microsoft

Now look at the menu on the left side of the window and click on "Find my device".

Click on “Find my device”. © Microsoft

On the page that appears, see if the "Find my device" option is enabled or disabled. If it is deactivated, click on the "Modify" button.

Click on the "Edit" button if the location option is disabled. © Microsoft

A small window will appear above the "Edit" button, simply move the slider to the right to the "Enabled" position so that your PC's position is recorded regularly.

Set the slider to the “Enabled” position. © Microsoft

The function is now active and can be used if you misplace your PC.

Locate and lock your computer

Now go to the following page: https://account.microsoft.com/devices Then log in by successively entering the username and password of your Microsoft account.

Sign in to your Microsoft account. © Microsoft

On the main page, you can see all the devices you've added to your Microsoft account. In the box corresponding to your computer, click on "Show details" to reveal information about it.

Locate the box corresponding to your PC, then click on “Show details”. © Microsoft

On the next page, click on "Find my device" in the box of the same name.

Click on “Find my device”. © Microsoft

On the new page that appears, you now see a map showing the location of your computer. Use the "+" and "-" buttons to zoom in and zoom out. Then click on the name of your machine in the left part of the window to reveal additional information.

The location of your device is shown on the map. © Microsoft

You now have the option to see the street address near which your PC's last location was recorded. If you wish to prevent access to your personal data, click on “Lock”.

Click on “Lock” to start the procedure for locking your PC. © Microsoft

Click "Lock" again to go to the next step. Microsoft informs you that the lockout results in logging out active users and disabling local users.

Click "Lock" again. © Microsoft

The last step before your computer is actually locked is the ability to add a message that appears on your device's lock screen. Click "Lock" to complete the lock procedure.

Click “Lock” one last time to complete the locking procedure. © Microsoft

After locking your device, Microsoft sends you an email confirming the success of the operation and advises you to reset the password of your Microsoft account.

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