How to Lock the Find My Device Option in Windows 11

The Find My Device feature in Windows 11 helps track your computer if it’s lost or stolen. But if you’re managing shared or public computers, or you just want tighter privacy, you might want to lock this setting so nobody else can turn it on or off. Here’s how you can lock down Find My Device in Windows 11.

Why Lock Find My Device?

Locking the Find My Device setting is a smart move if you:

• Manage computers in an office, school, or public space.
• Share your PC with others and want to control this security feature.
• Want to avoid unauthorized changes to location-tracking settings.

Method 1: Using Group Policy Editor (Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, Education)

Note: The Group Policy Editor is not available on Windows 11 Home by default.

1. Open the Group Policy Editor
   • Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to the Policy Setting
   • Go to:
     Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Find My Device
3. Configure the Setting
   • Double-click Turn On/Off Find My Device.
   • Set it to Enabled (to force it ON) or Disabled (to force it OFF).
   • Click Apply, then OK.

This locks the setting. Regular users won’t be able to change Find My Device from the Settings menu.

Method 2: Using Registry Editor (All Windows 11 Editions)

Warning: Editing the registry can cause issues if you’re not careful. Always back up your registry first.

1. Open Registry Editor
   • Press Win + R, type regedit, and hit Enter.
2. Navigate to the Find My Device Key
   • Go to:
     HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\FindMyDevice
   • If the key doesn’t exist, right-click Microsoft, select New > Key, and name it FindMyDevice.
3. Create or Edit the Policy Value
   • In the FindMyDevice key, right-click the blank space, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
   • Name it AllowFindMyDevice.
   • Set the value to:
     • 1 to lock it ON
     • 0 to lock it OFF
4. Restart Your PC
   • Changes take effect after you restart.

Now, the Find My Device option is grayed out in the Windows Settings menu.

Undoing the Change

If you ever want to let users change Find My Device again:

• In Group Policy, set the policy to Not Configured.
• In Registry Editor, delete the AllowFindMyDevice value.

Final Tips

• Use an administrator account to change these settings.
• Only lock Find My Device if you understand the security trade-offs.
• For Windows 11 Home users, the registry method is your best bet.

Locking Find My Device in Windows 11 puts you in control. It’s a straightforward tweak that can boost security or privacy on shared computers. If you have any questions or need more guides like this, leave a comment below!

Mark Vincent

Tech enthusiast and content creator passionate about making technology simple for everyone. I share practical tips, guides, and reviews on the latest in computers, software, and gadgets. Let’s explore the digital world together!