Simple workaround to set up Dynamic Lock on Windows 10 ''Creator's Update' build 15031

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Do you want to try Dynamic Lock on Windows 10, but the Settings app won't let you connect your phone? Try this workaround to connect your Bluetooth device and complete the setup.

Microsoft recently rolled out Windows 10 build 15031 to the Fast ring as a minor update part of the Creators Update. Among the new changes, the company officially introduced Dynamic Lock, which is a security feature that allows Windows 10 to automatically lock your device based on the proximity of your phone paired using Bluetooth.

The idea is simple if your phone is no longer near your computer, Windows 10 waits 30 seconds, and then turn off the display and locks your PC.

Although Dynamic Lock is available now for testing, a bug in the Settings app is not letting users access the Devices page to pair their phones and complete the setup. Microsoft is aware of the issue, and it's planning to have this problem fixed probably in the next flight. However, you can still test the security feature on Windows 10 build 15031. You just need to connect your phone using Control Panel.

In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through the steps to connect your phone using Bluetooth in Control Panel, and then use the Settings app to enable Dynamic Lock.

How to try Dynamic Lock on Windows 10 build 15031

Before you begin, make sure your phone has Bluetooth turned on. Depending on your phone, there are a lot of ways to do this, as such be sure to check your phone manufacturer's support website for assistance.

Note: With Windows 10 Mobile build 15031 it too has the same bug meaning you won't be able to add/remove or manage Bluetooth devices once on it. You'll have to wait for another build to fix the feature and it advised to paid any devices to your PC before you update if possible.

Using Control Panel to pair your phone

To pair your phone using Control Panel, do the following:

  1. Open Control Panel.
  2. Click on Devices and Printers.
  3. Click the Add a device button.

  1. Select your phone from the list, and click Next.

  1. Follow the on-screen directions to complete the pairing process.

Reinstalling Bluetooth drivers

If you tried a number of times and you can't pair your phone, I have found that reinstalling the Bluetooth driver can fix this issue.

To reinstall the Bluetooth driver, do the following:

  1. Use the Windows key + X keyboard shortcut to open the Power User menu and select Device manager.
  2. Expand Bluetooth.
  3. Right-click the Bluetooth radio adapter and select Uninstall device.

  1. Click the Uninstall button to confirm.
  2. Restart your computer.

Once your PC reboots, Windows 10 should reinstall the Bluetooth driver automatically, and you can try to pair your phone one more time using Control Panel.

If the driver doesn't reinstall automatically, you'll need to download the correct driver from your PC manufacturer's support website and reinstall it manually.

Enabling Dynamic Lock

Once you connect your phone via Bluetooth to Windows 10 build 15031, you need to use the steps below to enable Dynamic Lock:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Click on Accounts.
  3. Click on Sign-in options.
  4. Under Dynamic Lock, check the Allow Windows to detect when you're away and automatically lock the device option.

After completing the steps, you should be able to walk with your phone away from your computer, and after 30 seconds your computer should lock automatically. However, remember that this security feature is meant to lock your PC when coming back, you'll need to enter your password to unlock it.

Dynamic Lock still under development and may or may not work for everyone. If it's not working after connecting your phone, you can try restarting your computer and testing again.

As a last resort, if you still can't connect your phone using Bluetooth, you can alternatively go to Settings > Update & security > Recovery, and use the option available to go back to the previous version of Windows 10.

Once you're back in the previous version, you can connect your phone using the Bluetooth & Other devices page in the Settings app, and then simply reinstall Windows 10 build 15031 on your computer. The upgrade process will preserve the Bluetooth connection, which means that you'll only need to enable Dynamic Lock to try the feature.

More Windows 10 resources

For more help articles, coverage, and answers on Windows 10, you can visit the following resources:

Mauro Huculak
Mauro Huculak

Mauro Huculak has been a Windows How-To Expert contributor for WindowsCentral.com for nearly a decade and has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides. He also has an IT background and has achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, VMware, and CompTIA. He has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years.