Ever get a creepy feeling while you’re working in a coffee shop or on the train?
Like someone’s looking over your shoulder at what’s on your screen?
It’s a real privacy concern – especially when you’re dealing with sensitive emails, confidential documents, or even when you simply prefer to keep your screen to yourself.
Well, Microsoft may soon have your solution.
A new Windows 11 privacy feature called Onlooker Detection is reportedly in the works. It’s designed to do exactly what it says: Spot when someone is glancing at your screen and warn you about it.
This clever bit of tech builds on something already in Windows, called Presence Sensing. Right now, that’s used to dim or lock your screen when you walk away and wake it up when you return (it works with Windows Hello for seamless sign-ins).
But this new development takes things a step further. If an onlooker is detected, your laptop can:
- Automatically dim the screen to make it harder to read
- Send you a warning notification
- Or do both
The goal here is simple: Better digital privacy, without you having to lift a finger.
Of course, your laptop needs the right hardware to make this work. That’s a presence sensor, known technically as Human Presence Detection (HPD).
It’s something found in newer laptops, often those powered by Qualcomm, AMD, or Intel chips. If you’re not sure whether your device has it, you can check in the Settings app under System > Power & battery.
While Microsoft hasn’t officially confirmed this feature just yet, it has appeared in recent Windows 11 preview builds. So while we can’t say for sure when it’s rolling out, the signs are very promising.
Frankly, it’s about time. Data privacy matters more than ever. This kind of smart, subtle protection could make a real difference. It’s one more way Microsoft is working to make Windows 11 privacy features not just more powerful, but more personal and secure too.
Would a feature like this give you more peace of mind when working in public? Let us know!
