Windows 11 will warn you if someone's snooping

Ever felt someone’s eyes on your screen while working in a café or on the train?

That uneasy feeling—like someone’s peeking at your emails or documents—isn’t just paranoia. It’s a genuine privacy concern. Whether you're handling sensitive information or simply prefer to keep your screen to yourself, it matters.

Now, Microsoft might have a clever solution on the way.

A new feature called Onlooker Detection is reportedly in development for Windows 11. As the name suggests, it’s designed to spot when someone’s trying to sneak a glance at your screen—and alert you.

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

But Onlooker Detection takes things further. If someone is detected nearby, your laptop could automatically dim the screen to make it harder to read—or send you a warning. Or both.

The aim? Smarter privacy, without any effort on your part.

Of course, this feature relies on specific hardware—namely a Human Presence Detection (HPD) sensor. These are typically found in newer laptops powered by Qualcomm, AMD, or Intel chips. Not sure if your device has one? You can check under Settings > System > Power & battery.

While Microsoft hasn’t officially confirmed the rollout just yet, Onlooker Detection has appeared in recent Windows 11 preview builds. So, while we don’t have a release date, the signs are promising.

Frankly, it’s overdue. With data privacy more important than ever, subtle protections like this could make a real difference—especially for those of us who work on the move.

Would a feature like this give you more peace of mind when working in public spaces? Let us know if you’d like help checking your device compatibility or exploring other privacy tools.