Lock Computer - Add or Remove from User Tile Menu

How to Add or Remove "Lock" from User Tile Menu in Windows 8 and 8.1

information   Information
This tutorial will show you how to add or remove the Lock computer option from the user tile menu on the Start screen for all users in Windows 8.

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


EXAMPLE: User Tile Menu
NOTE: This is on the Start screen. You can press the Windows key to see the Start screen if you are not already on it.

User_Tile_Menu_Lock.jpg





OPTION ONE

Add or Remove Lock in User Tile Menu using System Settings


1. Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click on the Power Options icon.​
2. In the left pane of Power Options, click on the Choose what the power buttons do link. (see screenshot below)​
Power-1.jpg
3. Click on the Change settings that are currently unavailable link at the top. (see screenshot below)​
WARNING: If you completely disable UAC notification settings, then you might not have the Change settings that are currently unavailable link available, and the "Shutdown settings" would remain greyed out with no way of changing them until UAC is enabled to at least the default setting.
Power-2.jpg
4. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes.​
5. To Add "Lock" to User Tile Menu
NOTE: This is the default setting.​
A) Under Shutdown settings, check the Lock box, and click on Save Changes. (see screenshot below step 6A)​
NOTE: If the Shutdown settings are not listed, then you will need to close the System Settings window, enable hibernate, then start back at step 1 again.​
B) Go to step 7 below.​
6. To Remove "Lock" from User Tile Menu
A) Under Shutdown settings, uncheck the Lock box, and click on Save Changes. (see screenshot below)​
NOTE: If the Shutdown settings are not listed, then you will need to close the System Settings window, enable hibernate, then start back at step 1 again.​
Power-3.jpg
B) Go to step 7 below.​
7. When finished, you can close the Power Options window.​





OPTION TWO

Add or Remove Lock in User Tile Menu using Group Policy


NOTE: This option for using group policy is only available in the Windows 8 Pro and Windows 8 Enterprise editions.
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.​
2. If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on Yes.​
3. In the left pane, click on to expand Computer Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, and open File Explorer. (see screenshot below)​
GPEDIT-1.jpg
4. In the right pane of File Explorer, double click/tap on Show lock in the user tile menu. (see screenshot above)​
5. Do step 6 or 7 below for what you would like to do.​
6. To Add "Lock" to User Tile Menu
A) Select (dot) Disabled or Not Configured, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below step 7A)​
NOTE: Not Configured is the default setting.​
7. To Remove "Lock" from User Tile Menu
A) Select (dot) Enabled, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)​
GPEDIT-2.jpg
8. You can now close the Local Group Policy Editor window if you like.​


That's it,
Shawn


 

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Great guide :)

Anybody knows if it somehow is possible to add "shut down" and "sleep" to the user tile menu?

/Kim
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Hi Shawn

Thanks for your suggestions. Actually I have tried these options among others, but I would really prefer to have the sleep and shutdown in the user tile menu. IMO it makes a cleaner UI and at the same time it will be simpler for my kids and wife to figure out since we also do a lot of user switching.

/Kim
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
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