- A new onlooker detection feature apparently arrives at Windows 11
- It works with a presence sensor on a laptop to warn you if someone takes a look at your screen – in addition it can also decrease the display
- We have no concrete evidence of functionality yet, so don’t be too excited
Windows 11 will apparently be honored with a new capacity as part of its presence detection function, the system warns you if someone throws an overview of your screen.
Phantomofearth, a regular Windows information leak on X, reported the new potential feature, which is called “Onlookeer detection”. As they explain, it offers you some options for the actions you can take.
New presence detection function that soon arrives at Windows 11: Onlookeer detection. When your device notices that someone else looks at your screen, it can decrease the screen, inform you that someone is looking for, or both.May 2, 2025
When a vicinity spectator is detected, Windows 11 can either decrease your screen to make it difficult for the person who looks over your shoulder to distinguish the content, or this can warn you of what’s going on. Or the operating system can do both and report the spectator as well as the screen fat.
However, you will need the necessary equipment on board your laptop to use the presence detection, namely the required presence sensor (not surprising – or several modules because there may be several). The technical name of this is the HPD or human presence detection equipment, and it is a functionality facilitated by the Snapdragon X chips of Qualcomm – in conjunction with said sensor – as well as the AMD and Intel fleas.
If you do not know if your notebook has a presence sensor or not, you must look in the Settings application, under System> Power & BatteryAnd see if the relevant options are there as detailed in this Microsoft support document.
Elsewhere in the world of Windows 11 development, new constructions of development channels and beta have arrived. In these preview versions – which essentially have the same features – Microsoft tries an end adjustment of the interface for the recall which consists in repositioning certain icon banks. (This is the AI-Superfacteled research function which is only for Copilot + PCS).
These versions have also seen the addition of a more daring way to highlight the applications on the taskbar which require your attention (or are in a “needy state”), with a wider and more visible line under the application icon to make it clearer.
Some adjustments have also been made to HDR options in Windows 11, which includes a choice to allow HDR to be used during the broadcast of a video even if the HDR system switch is disabled. It is also a neat touch.
Analysis: a first -rate feature for when you are on the move – if this happens
Currently, the presence sensor is used to offer the possibility of automatically deactivate your screen when you leave the PC and wake your device when you return (using the Windows Hello connection to make everything transparent and secure).
A new function to detect anyone flying a glance, or even a longer and more invasive look, the contents of your screen would be an excellent addition on the privacy front. Whenever you work on your laptop on public transport or in a coffee, there is always a feeling that someone could take a look over your shoulder.
The taking here is that we have no concrete evidence of this functionality yet. Presumably, Phantomofearth has unearthed the references to the detection of onlooker in the recent versions of Windows 11 overview, but the flight does not say it explicitly. The alternative is that they have heard a source of Microsoft that this feature is in the pipeline, but whatever the case, it is far from certain.
We will officially be able to see the functionality in the tests before we start to excite us with his arrival. Hopefully it will not take long before it happens, so keep these figures firmly crossed.
