Locking phone via internet doesn't halt apps running under lock screen

rhapdog

Retired Senior Ambassador
Aug 26, 2014
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Okay, was testing the "Lock my Phone" feature from the website this evening, and was playing music from my phone to see if the phone will stop all activity when it gets Locked. Since this feature is meant to be used when you "lose" your phone, it would make sense that you would want all currently active programs to be stopped, since something nefarious may be happening.

Well, as it turns out, it keeps programs running on Windows Phone 8.1. Music continues to play, and cannot be stopped until you enter the unlock code.

I have not been able to test this yet using Windows 10 for phones (W10p). I had to roll back, since I don't have a backup phone and my 635 is my daily driver. There were issues preventing me from doing things I needed to do, so waiting for those kinks to be worked out before I rejoin the program.

Could someone who is using W10p please test and see if it will stop programs? If not, we need to start a UserVoice requesting that feature.
 
Okay, was testing the "Lock my Phone" feature from the website this evening, and was playing music from my phone to see if the phone will stop all activity when it gets Locked. Since this feature is meant to be used when you "lose" your phone, it would make sense that you would want all currently active programs to be stopped, since something nefarious may be happening.

Well, as it turns out, it keeps programs running on Windows Phone 8.1. Music continues to play, and cannot be stopped until you enter the unlock code.

I have not been able to test this yet using Windows 10 for phones (W10p). I had to roll back, since I don't have a backup phone and my 635 is my daily driver. There were issues preventing me from doing things I needed to do, so waiting for those kinks to be worked out before I rejoin the program.

Could someone who is using W10p please test and see if it will stop programs? If not, we need to start a UserVoice requesting that feature.

Well, maybe not all active programs should be terminated. For example, the background location tracking may be left on in that scenario. You may also want to try calling your phone while the phone is locked - which may not be possible if all active programs are terminated.

Besides, in case one really lost his or her phone, there's the Erase feature, which should definitely terminate all program activity in the phone. Perhaps the Lock feature is only a preventive measure in case, for example, one left his or her phone at home or at work (where it will not be stolen... or at least before it gets stolen).
 
Actually my security options go beyond locking and erasing the phone when it comes to loosing your phone.

I would like to see a new feature with WP10, do you see how we logon to the PC?? yes lets be prompted to set up our email addresses before using phone for the first time, but let MS save these credentials inside the OS when you connect to the net for the first time so that the other times you require to switch off and on the phone, you wont require internet to log on.
These credentials should be required for all other safety actions e.g deleting apps, resetting the phone, formatting and even flashing it. That way any thief stealing your phone will be at loss too. That phone or tablet/laptop will be useless forever unless they input the right credentials.

Anyone sees where am heading??? If so tell MS to act ASAP.
 

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