- A brand new Onlooker Detection function is seemingly coming to Home windows 11
- This works with a presence sensor on a laptop computer to warn you if somebody is sneaking a peek at your display – plus it will probably additionally dim the show
- We don’t have concrete proof of the function but, so don’t get too excited
Windows 11 is seemingly going to be graced with a brand new functionality as a part of its Presence Sensing feature, with the system warning you if somebody is sneaking a take a look at your display.
PhantomOfEarth, a daily leaker of Home windows data on X, flagged up the potential new function, which known as ‘Onlooker Detection’. As they clarify, it affords you a few choices for actions you may take.
New Presence Sensing function coming quickly to Home windows 11: Onlooker Detection. When your machine notices that another person is your display, it will probably dim the display, notify you that somebody’s wanting, or each.May 2, 2025
When a nosy onlooker is detected, Home windows 11 can both dim your display to make it troublesome for the one who’s wanting over your shoulder to make out the content material, or it will probably warn you of what’s happening. Or the OS can do each, and flag the onlooker in addition to dimming the display.
Nevertheless, you’ll want the required {hardware} on board your laptop computer to make use of Presence Sensing, particularly the requisite presence sensor (unsurprisingly – or a number of modules as there could also be a couple of). The technical title for that is HPD or Human Presence Detection {hardware}, and it’s a function facilitated by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X chips – together with stated sensor – in addition to AMD and Intel chips.
Should you’re not sure whether or not your pocket book has a presence sensor or not, you have to look within the Settings app, beneath System > Energy & battery, and see if the related choices are there as detailed on this Microsoft support document.
Elsewhere on the earth of Home windows 11 growth, new Dev and Beta channel builds have arrived. In these preview variations – which have basically the identical options – Microsoft is attempting some fine-tuning of the interface for Recall which consists of repositioning some banks of icons. (That is the AI-supercharged search function that’s only for Copilot+ PCs).
These builds have additionally seen the addition of a bolder method to spotlight apps on the taskbar which are requesting your consideration (or are in a ‘needy state’), with a wider, extra seen line beneath the app icon to make it clearer.
Some tweaks have been made to HDR choices inside Home windows 11, as properly, which features a alternative to permit for HDR for use when streaming a video even when the system-wide change for HDR is turned off. That’s a neat contact, too.
Evaluation: A top-notch function for whenever you’re out and about – if it occurs
Presently the presence sensor is used to supply the flexibility to mechanically flip off your display whenever you go away the PC, and wake your machine whenever you return (utilizing Home windows Hiya sign-in to make every little thing seamless and safe).
A brand new operate to detect anybody sneakily stealing a look, or certainly an extended, extra invasive look, on the contents of your display could be a wonderful addition on the privateness entrance. Everytime you’re working in your laptop on public transport or in a restaurant, there’s all the time a sense somebody could be peeking over your shoulder.
The catch right here is that we don’t have any concrete proof of this function but. Presumably, PhantomOfEarth dug up references to Onlooker Detection in current preview builds of Home windows 11, however the leaker doesn’t explicitly say so. The choice is that they heard from a supply at Microsoft that this function is within the pipeline, however regardless of the case, that is removed from sure.
We’ll must see the function formally in testing earlier than we begin to get enthusiastic about its arrival. Hopefully, it gained’t be lengthy earlier than that occurs, so hold these digits firmly crossed.
