Windows 11 will warn you if someone's snooping

Have you ever felt uneasy while working in a coffee shop or on a train?

Like someone is peeking at your screen?

This is a genuine privacy issue, particularly when handling sensitive emails or confidential documents, or even when you just want to keep your screen private.

Microsoft might soon offer a solution for this.

A new privacy feature called Onlooker Detection is reportedly being developed for Windows 11. It aims to identify when someone is trying to view your screen and alert you.

This innovative technology builds on an existing Windows feature, Presence Sensing, which currently dims or locks your screen when you step away and wakes it up when you return, working with Windows Hello for seamless sign-ins.

This new advancement goes a step further. If someone is detected looking at your screen, your laptop can automatically dim the display to make it difficult for them to read, or it can send you a notification, or both.

The objective is straightforward: Enhanced privacy without any effort on your part.

Your laptop must have the appropriate hardware for this feature, specifically a presence sensor, technically known as Human Presence Detection (HPD).

This sensor is found in newer laptops, often those with chips from Qualcomm, AMD, or Intel. To check if your device has it, you can look in the Settings app under System > Power & battery.

Although Microsoft hasn’t officially confirmed this feature yet, it has appeared in recent Windows 11 preview builds. While the exact release date is uncertain, the indications are promising.

Frankly, it's overdue. Data privacy is increasingly important. This kind of intelligent, subtle protection could make a significant impact. It’s another way Microsoft is aiming to make Windows 11 not only more powerful but also more personal and private.

Would a feature like this give you more peace of mind when working in public?