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Need help securing stolen laptop data.

Anonymous
2026-02-06T01:18:05.2833333+00:00

Hello. A few months ago my Microsoft surface laptop 5 was stolen and has been used several times. We tried to use the find my device feature to seize it. But as the location was quite inaccurate, and would fluctuate we did not manage to find it (obviously the police cannot search every house within that area). I have since gotten a new laptop and forgot about this, however I checked and it is still being used. There is no app activity, meaning this person has not guessed my password, however as my password is my birthday and this happened at school, there is only a matter of time before they find my birthday and log in. What I was wondering is, does the lock feature prevent them from getting in even if they have the pin? Because if so I would like to activate it in order to secure my files.

Surface | Surface Laptop | Safety and security
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  1. S.Sengupta 29,426 Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2026-02-06T01:28:22.0233333+00:00

    I'm sorry about your stolen Surface. Here's what you need to do right away: Use Find My Device to lock it—this will require your Microsoft account password to unlock (not just a PIN or fingerprint). Then immediately change your Microsoft password to something strong and enable two-factor authentication. This protects both your stolen device and your new laptop. The lock won't help you get the device back, but it will keep your data secure.

    Go to: https://account.microsoft.com/devices

    Select the stolen Surface Laptop 5

    Click Find my device → Lock

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  1. Q&A Assist
    2026-02-06T01:18:43.04+00:00
    AI generated content. This question contains an answer created with AI from Q&A Assist. Learn more

    The lock feature in the Company Portal app for Windows can help secure your stolen laptop's data. When you remotely lock your device, it locks the screen so that no one else can access the work or school data on your device. However, if the person using your laptop has already set a PIN or password, they may still be able to access the device unless you have locked it remotely.

    To activate the lock feature, you would need to sign into the Intune Company Portal app, select your device, and choose the remote lock option. This will prevent unauthorized access to your data, even if they have the device's PIN.

    Since your device is still being used, it's important to act quickly to secure your information. If you haven't done so already, consider locking the device as soon as possible.

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