Windows 10 Tip: Put Cortana On the Lock Screen

Cortana is Microsoft’s digital assistant included in Windows 10. There are a lot of things you can do with Cortana, or rather, things it can do for you. One of the new abilities coming to the next major update for Windows 10 is the ability to put the digital assistant on your lock screen. That will make it much easier to access certain Cortana abilities without having to log into your PC first.

At the time of this writing, this feature only available to Windows Insiders running the preview version of Windows 10, currently on Build 14342. However, when the Anniversary Update is released to everyone this summer, you’ll have access to it. Here’s a look at how to enable it and what you can expect.

Enable Cortana on Windows 10 Lock Screen

Launch Cortana and click on the Settings logo on the left panel. Then on the right, scroll down a bit and flip the switch on to enable it on the lock screen.

That’s all there is to it!

This new feature makes it much easier to set reminders, check the temperature and more without having to log into your PC first. However, if you want to do things like launch an app or perform search queries, you’ll need to unlock you PC by entering your password first. The cool thing is that once you are logged in, the app or search results will be displayed on the screen.

Keep in mind that you’ll need to have the “Hey Cortana” featured enabled to use your voice for a hands-free experience. Or, you can also tap the icon on the lock screen on a touch-enabled device to bring it up.

For more on using Microsoft’s digital assistant in Windows 10, check out our archive of Cortana Tips and Tricks.