Windows 11 is set to be superpowered by Onlooker Detection

We’ve all had that moment when you’re sitting in a cafe, working on something confidential (or, you know, just watching cat videos), and you can feel someone peering over your shoulder. It’s a vibe. An unwelcome one. But now, Windows 11 wants to do something about it.

Enter Onlooker Detection, the latest feature quietly emerging from the depths of Microsoft’s test builds. First spotted by Windows sleuth PhantomOfEarth over on X (You may remember it as Twitter), this fresh addition to the Presence Sensing toolkit is here to be your digital sixth sense. And honestly, it’s kind of brilliant.

So, what does it do? Simple: it watches for people watching you.

When an uninvited eyeball enters the chat, aka someone tries to sneak a peek at your screen, Windows 11 can take action. You’ve got options several options to choose from. It can dim your screen to make your content harder to read, throw up a warning to alert you, or go full Mission Impossible and do both. Either way, you’ll know someone’s creeping before they get a chance to read that email subject line.

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But before you imagine every laptop out there suddenly getting psychic, do note that this this isn’t just software magic. You’ll need the right hardware under the hood. Specifically, Human Presence Detection (HPD) sensors. These little wonders work in tandem with chips from Qualcomm, which is the Snapdragon X series, AMD, or Intel to make the screen-spy-sniffing possible. No sensor, no sneak defense.

If you’re wondering whether your laptop’s up for the task, the answer lives in Settings. Head to System, then Power & battery and look for any mention of Presence Sensing. If it’s there, congrats, your PC is watching your back. If not, well… time to be a little more discreet with your screen angles.