Privacy Screens

Shield Every Screen from Wandering Eyes

Privacy screens are one of the simplest security controls an organization can deploy, yet an unprotected display leaks confidential data to every passerby in an open office, airport lounge, or hospital corridor. Micro-louver privacy filters darken the screen at side angles so only the person seated directly in front can read what is on the display. The catalog covers laptop, monitor, and tablet sizes from 11.6 to 43 inches across 3M, Kensington, and Targus product lines in adhesive, slide-on, and magnetic-attach formats.

Privacy Screens for Every Environment

• Open-plan offices and coworking spaces — prevent shoulder-surfing on HR documents, financial spreadsheets, and internal communications at shared desks and hot-desk stations
• Healthcare facilities under HIPAA — protect electronic health records, patient charts, and prescription data on nurse-station monitors, clinician laptops, and check-in kiosks
• Financial institutions and advisory firms — shield client portfolios, trading terminals, and account data from visitors and adjacent workstations in branch offices and trading floors
• Remote workers and frequent travelers — keep laptop screens private on flights, in coffee shops, hotel lobbies, and coworking desks where strangers sit within viewing distance
• Education and testing centers — block adjacent screen viewing during standardized exams, credentialing tests, and secure online assessments in proctored lab environments
• Government and defense contractors — meet NIST and DFARS visual-security requirements for workstations handling controlled unclassified information and export-controlled data
• Legal and accounting offices — safeguard client case files, tax documents, and privileged communications from inadvertent viewing in open-plan professional service firms

How to Choose the Right Privacy Screen

Start by measuring the diagonal of the viewable display area or matching the filter to the exact device make and model. Privacy screens are sized precisely, so a 23.8-inch filter will not fit a 24-inch panel from a different manufacturer. Confirm the aspect ratio as well: 16:9 is the most common for desktop monitors, 16:10 appears on many business laptops, and 3:2 is standard on Microsoft Surface devices. 3M produces the widest range of exact-fit sizes in its Black Privacy, Gold Privacy, and High Clarity series, while Kensington MagPro filters use magnets for tool-free attachment on MacBooks and popular Windows laptops.

Attachment method determines everyday usability. Adhesive-strip filters are best for permanent installations on stationary monitors that always require privacy. Slide-on tab mounts let users add or remove the filter throughout the day on shared devices. Kensington MagPro magnetic filters snap on and off in seconds, making them the most convenient option for workers who alternate between private and collaborative tasks. For touchscreen laptops and tablets, choose a filter rated for touch input so the screen maintains full responsiveness and the surface feels smooth under a fingertip.

Viewing angle and finish round out the decision. Standard privacy filters narrow visibility to a 60-degree cone (30 degrees each side of center). Some models tighten that to 45 degrees for crowded environments where neighbors sit closer than arm's length. Most 3M privacy filters are reversible with a matte anti-glare side for bright offices near windows and a glossy high-clarity side for controlled lighting, giving each user the flexibility to match their workspace conditions without purchasing a separate filter.

Privacy Screens by Brand

• 3M Privacy Screens — the original micro-louver technology in Black, Gold, and High Clarity series for laptops and monitors from 11.6 to 43 inches with reversible matte and glossy finishes
• Kensington Privacy Screens — MagPro magnetic-attach filters for MacBooks, Surface devices, and standard laptops with instant snap-on, snap-off convenience

Privacy Screens by Attachment Type

• Adhesive-strip filters — semi-permanent mount using clear adhesive tabs along the bezel, best for dedicated workstations and nurse stations that always require visual privacy
• Slide-on and hang-on filters — removable tabs or hooks let users add or remove privacy throughout the day on shared or hot-desked equipment without leaving residue
• Magnetic-mount filters — embedded magnets align the filter instantly without adhesive, ideal for laptop users who move between private and collaborative work modes
• Touchscreen-compatible filters — thinner, low-friction film designed for 2-in-1 laptops, tablets, and interactive displays that need full touch responsiveness during annotation
• Reversible matte and glossy filters — dual-surface designs that offer anti-glare matte on one side for bright environments and high-clarity glossy on the other for controlled lighting conditions

Complete Your Privacy Screen Setup

• Monitors — desktop displays in every size to pair with an exact-fit privacy filter for workstation privacy
• Laptops — business and mobile laptops that benefit from on-the-go visual privacy during travel and remote work
• Docking Stations — single-cable laptop docking for desk setups where a privacy-filtered external monitor replaces the smaller laptop screen
• Monitor Arms — VESA mounts that position displays at the optimal angle for both ergonomics and privacy-filter viewing-cone effectiveness