How to Enable or Disable Cortana on your Lock Screen in Windows 10

Cortana is your cloud-based personal assistant that works across your devices and other Microsoft services. Depending on the capabilities of your device and the version of Cortana you’re using, Cortana can provide a range of features, some of which are personalized. Cortana on Windows is available in certain regions and languages. If Cortana isn’t available for your Windows device, you can still search for files on your device in the search box on the taskbar. Cortana is also available on other platforms, such as Android and iOS, in select markets.

Cortana works best when you sign in and let her use data from your device, other Microsoft services, and third-party services you choose to connect. To provide you with personalized experiences, Cortana learns from certain data about you, such as your searches, calendar, contacts, and location. You’re in control of how much data you share. If you choose not to sign into Cortana on Windows, you can still chat with Cortana and use her to help you search the web, documents stored in Microsoft services like OneDrive, and your Windows device. See the section about Windows Search in the Privacy Statement for more information. If you don’t sign in, or you choose to sign out, your experiences will be more limited and they won’t be personalized with your Cortana data. On iOS and Android devices, Cortana only works when you sign in.

Starting with Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 14328, you can now have Cortana on your (Win+L) lock screen where you can ask her questions like “Remind me to take out the trash when I get home” or “When is the next Mariners game?” and get an immersive Cortana experience without having to unlock your device. You can also try asking Cortana “How is the traffic on my way home?” or “What is my schedule for tomorrow like?” For sensitive tasks or those that launch applications, Cortana will prompt you to unlock your device.

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable Cortana on the (Win+L) lock screen for your account in Windows 10.

To Enable Hey Cortana on your Lock Screen
A) Click/tap on the Cortana icon or search box on your taskbar, click/tap on Settings, and turn on Use Cortana even when my device is locked under Lock screen. (see screenshot below)

B) Check or uncheck Let Cortana access my calendar, email, messages, and Power Bi data when my device is locked.

To Disable Hey Cortana on your Lock Screen
NOTE: This is the default setting.

A) Click/tap on the Cortana icon or search box on your taskbar, click/tap on Settings, and turn off Use Cortana even when my device is locked under Lock screen.