Lock Screen - Enable or Disable in Windows 8

How to Enable or Disable Lock Screen in Windows 8 and 8.1​

   Information

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the lock screen appearing for users that are not required to press Ctrl+Alt+Delete (secure sign-in) before signing in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1.

You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

   Warning

If you have Secure sign-in enabled for users to be required to press Ctrl+Alt+Delete before signing in, then it will override disabling the lock screen below.

EXAMPLE: Lock Screen in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1

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OPTION ONE

Enable or Disable Lock Screen using a REG File Download

   Note

The .reg files below are for the registry key and value below.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Personalization

NoLockScreen DWORD

0 = Enable lock screen
1 = Disable lock screen

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1. Do step 2 or 3 below for what you would like to do.​

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2. To Enable the Lock Screen​

NOTE: This is the default setting.​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.​

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Enable_Lock_Screen.reg​

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3. To Disable the Lock Screen​

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A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.​

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Disable_Lock_Screen.reg​

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4. Save the .reg file to your desktop.​

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5. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to Merge it.​

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6. Click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK when prompted.​

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7. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.​

OPTION TWO

Enable or Disable Lock Screen in Local Group Policy Editor

NOTE: This option for using group policy is only available in the Windows 8 Pro and Windows 8 Enterprise editions.

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1. From the Start screen, start typing gpedit.msc and press Enter when finished.​

NOTE: You could also press Windows+R to open the Run dialog, type gpedit.msc, and click/tap on OK.​

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2. If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on Yes.​

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3. In the left pane, click on to expand Computer Configuration, Administrative Templates, Control Panel, and open Personalization. (see screenshot below)​

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4. In the right pane of Personalization, double click/tap on Do not display the lock screen. (see screenshot above)​

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5. Do step 6 or 7 below for what you would like to do.​

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6. To Enable the Lock Screen​

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A) Select (dot) Disabled or Not Configured, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below step 7A)​

NOTE: Not Configured is the default setting.​

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7. To Disable the Lock Screen​

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A) Select (dot) Enabled, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)​

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8. You can now close the Local Group Policy Editor window if you like.​

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Change Your Lock Screen Background Image in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Change the Default Lock Screen Background Image in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Set a Default Lock Screen Background Image for All Users in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How Enable or Disable Secure Sign-in with Ctrl+Alt+Delete in Windows 8
• How to Turn On or Off Lock Screen Slide Show in Windows 8.1
• How to Enable or Disable Changing Lock Screen Background Image in Windows 8 and 8.1
• Choose Apps to Show Status, Notifications, and Alarms on Lock Screen in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Sign in to Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Always Show "All Users" or "Last User" at Sign in to Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Require Users to Sign in with User Name and Password in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Require Users to Sign in with User Name and Password on Lock Screen in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Change Lock Screen Timeout Period in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Enable or Disable Password Protection on Wakeup in Windows 8 and 8.1
• Set Desktop, Lock, and Start Background to Show Image or Solid Color in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Enable or Disable using Camera on Your Lock Screen in Windows 8.1
• How to Change Lock Screen Clock Time Format in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Change Lock Screen Clock Date Language in Windows 8 and 8.1

 

[joli85]

I have aWindows 8 standard and gpedit was non-existent.
Your solution worked
I am very satisfied French

Thank you again. I very much appreciate your assistance.

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Joli, and welcome to Eight Forums.

 

[lfchisholm]

Password eliminate

Good morning Brink
I downloaded the file disable lock screen and ran it.
I missed something in the directions as after it updated the registry I did a restart and nothing changed.
I only have one user in the accounts and that is Administrator me.
where did I go wrong.

I just purchased a new system with Windows 8 standard.
larry

 

[Brink]

Hello Larry,

Double check to see if you may have Secure sign-in enabled for users to be required to press Ctrl+Alt+Delete before signing in. If you do, then it will override disabling the lock screen.

 

[lfchisholm]

Password eliminate

Hi Brink;
Yes after I sent you the request I kept going back and re reading your instructions. I now have both my new machine and the wife's all running as we want them.
I tried to go back and send you a quick reply that I figured it out.
thank you.
Larry

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Larry. I'm happy to hear that they are running how you two wanted them now.

 

[lfchisholm]

locked screen

Brink I did find your write up about going into the power settings and then the top option on the left for setting some items in there but I must have something wrong.
Power up works fine. no need for the password.
restart same.
however when it is in the screen saver and you want to use the system it comes back to the start screen you hit enter and then the screen is locked. I can do a restart from there and it works OK.
Larry

 

[Brink]

Larry,

Since this is happening when resuming from the screen saver, see if using the tutorial below to disable screen saver password protection will sort it for you.

Screen Saver Password Protection -Enable or Disable - Windows 7 Help Forums

 

[lfchisholm]

Brink Thank you so much for that last fix works very well.
I bought my wife a new All in One and I bought myself a different brand and it might be the same OS but they do not seem to function the same.
Larry.

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Larry. It is amazing how much difference there is between brands.

 

[frenchman96]

Brink

Sorry I am being a bit slow, so if I am being asked for a password only sometimes, and it says locked, does this mean, it is happening because of screen-saver settings?

I have just done search for those settings, but don't have the option to remove tick??

 

[Brink]

Hello frenchman,

It could be from any one of the settings below.

How to Enable or Disable Password Protection on Wakeup in Windows 8

How to Enable or Disable Screen Saver Password Protection in Windows 7 and Windows 8

How to Require a Password after Display is Off for Specified Time in Windows 8.1