[Tip] How to Disable Lock Screen in Windows 8 and Later

UPDATE: This tutorial will also work in Windows 8.1, Windows 10 and Windows 11.

In previous article we told you how to change the background image of new lock screen present in Windows 8:

How to Change Lock Screen Background Image in Windows 8?

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There are many people who don’t like this new lock screen. Its useless for them as it doesn’t do anything special. Lock screen might look good on smartphones and tablets but its of no use in Desktops and laptops. Also it requires an extra step to unlock the locked PC. If you also one of those Windows 8 users who don’t like the lock screen and want to disable it, this tutorial will help you.

Windows_8_Lock_Screen.png

Today in this tutorial, we are going to tell you how to turn off the lock screen in Windows 8? By following this guide, you’ll no longer see the lock screen in Windows 8.

By default, Windows 8 doesn’t provide any option to disable lock screen but you can use following 2 methods to disable it:

  • METHOD 1: Using Group Policy Editor
  • METHOD 2: Using Registry Editor

So without wasting time, lets start the tutorial:

METHOD 1: Using Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc)

1. Press “WIN+R” key combination to launch RUN dialog box then type gpedit.msc and press Enter. It’ll open Group Policy Editor.

2. Now go to:

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Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Control Panel -> Personalization

3. In right-side pane, double-click on “Do not display the lock screen” option and set its value to “Enabled“.

Turn_Off_Windows_8_Lock_Screen.png

That’s it. It’ll immediately disable lock screen in Windows 8. If you want to enable lock screen again, set the value to Not configured.

METHOD 2: Using Registry Editor (regedit)

If you are using Home edition of Windows OS, you’ll not be able to run gpedit.msc command because this edition doesn’t come with Group Policy Editor.

If you can’t use or don’t want to use Group Policy Editor, you can take help of Registry Editor for the same task. Just follow these simple steps:

1. Press “WIN+R” key combination to launch RUN dialog box then type regedit and press Enter. It’ll open Registry Editor.

2. Now go to following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Personalization

If “Personalization” key doesn’t exist, you’ll need to create it manually.

3. Select Personalization key and in right-side pane, create a new DWORD NoLockScreen and set its value to 1

Disable_Windows_8_Lock_Screen.png

4. Close Registry Editor and log off or restart Windows to take effect. It’ll completely turn off lock screen.

If you want to restore lock screen in future, just delete the DWORD or set its value to 0.

NOTE: If you don’t want to edit Registry yourself, you can download following ready-made Registry script which will do the task automatically. Just download the ZIP file, extract it and run the extracted REG file:

Download Registry Script to Disable Lock Screen in Windows 8

UPDATE: Windows 10 users can visit following tutorials to disable Lock Screen:

[Tip] Disable or Remove Windows 10 Lock Screen

[Windows 10 Fun Tip] Disable Login Screen and Lock Screen and Enable Console Mode

PS: If you still see Lock Screen at constant intervals, check out following guide:

[Fix] Lock Screen Appears Automatically at Constant Intervals in Windows 8 and Later

Published in: Troubleshooting Guides, Windows 10, Windows 11, Windows 8

About the author: Vishal Gupta (also known as VG) has been awarded with Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award. He holds Masters degree in Computer Applications (MCA). He has written several tech articles for popular newspapers and magazines and has also appeared in tech shows on various TV channels.

Comments

NOTE: Older comments have been removed to reduce database overhead.

  1. used Rebecca’s solution she posted, and that stopped my lock out screen from constantly coming on and having to relogging back in, what releif it is

  2. My laptop had gone for repair (soft ware and hardware) now when ever I start it, the screen is black and only shows a screen icon and a lock icon with a cursor. what could be the problem and how do I solve it?

  3. Sorry if this is the wrong place to ask but I recently shut down my laptop without realising that there were 2 apps preventing shutdown. I went ahead and closed it and when I tried to log in this morning the 2 app icons are on the login screen with the message this app is preventing shutdown. All the other usual stuff is there too like name and email but I can’t type my password cause it just says locked. Please help

  4. In Windows 8 go to Control Panel -> Personalization -> Screensaver-> uncheck the box that says “On Resume, Display Lock Screen”.

  5. WHEN I ENTRE TO USER SETTINGS I CAN’T CHANGE LOCK SCREEN , START SCREEN AND ACCOUNT PICTURE

  6. I disabled the lock screen by going to the charms, selecting settings then Change PC settings. If the lock is enabled it says “Any user who has a password must enter it when waking this PC.” Under that is a Change button. Click it. Since I did that I haven’t had the lock screen when my PC is idle.

  7. None of the methods work for me, my laptop does not recognize “gpedit.msc” and there is no personalization on my registry, I don’t want to download anything therefore that does not work for me either…

  8. thanx rebecca, i had the same prob and would not have gone and fiddled with things. YOU COMPUTER GEEKS GOT SCHOOLED BY REBECCA!!

  9. I think there are several critical points missed:

    1. This “when my PC is inactive… … …” switch is activated only when you switch on Slide Show in the Lock Screen options. If you don’t have the Slide Show ON, you will never see that option.

    2. “Local Security Policy” is only an option for PCs with Windows 8.1 Pro. Typically Home computers don’t have Windows 8.x Professional and that means, you will NEVER see the “Local Security Policy” in Administrative Tools in the Control Panel to set the Inactivity Limit.

    3. Changing the Registry. Too complex and not necessary in my humble opinion.

    PROBLEM: We know the PC and devices has a option for Power and Sleep. You can set the Screen timeout and the Sleep time limit here. What happens is that EVEN IF you set the Screen to turn off after say… 20 min of inactivity, the Lock Screen shows up after 1 min. Very irritating, yes?

    SOLUTION: Under Personalization (Windows+C to start the Charms pane and then click on Options), you will see a link for Screen Saver. Click that, and you will see that old bugger… “On resume, display Logon Screen” set at 1 min. Just uncheck that.

    Hope this helps…

  10. Nothing suggested in this post works for me.

    I have A Surface Pro 1st gen running Windows 8.1 Pro. I have set the group policy to Enable “Do not display the lock screen” I have also checked my registry, and the NoLockScreen value is 1. I still see the lock screen whenever I turn on my tablet, and when I resume it from the screen being turned off. I checked and the lock screen option is also unchecked in my screensaver options. So none of this worked at all. Is there any way to remove the lock screen from my tablet?

  11. THANK YOU!! I am setting up a new laptop (HP Win 8.1) and I can’t get either of them to remember a pin nor a password. It doesn’t leave their house so I’m not worried about protecting any info. Next step is teaching them how to Skype and use fb. They wanted an easier way to see their grandchildren! I did have to use version 2 and then still type in the command because no properties exisited. But the true trial will be when I start it up. Will update if it does not work for me.

  12. I’d say someone at Microsoft read this and took a folder out of the new registry.
    As carefully as I’ve tried this, the Personalization Folder is missing.
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\

    Just bought a new Asus computer, with Windows 8.1. Ready to throw it out because of the Lock Screen.
    3/4/15

  13. Thanks. New to Windows 8 and that useless screen was becoming a sore. Whoever came up with it should be flogged.

  14. A simple alternative is:

    Win + R
    control userpasswords2
    OK
    untick “users must enter a username and password to use this computer”
    Apply
    Fill in username and password on following screen
    OK

  15. Thanks for the info. Added the new registry key and it worked like a charm.

  16. (Weirdly) I was not able to use the Group Policy Editor or the Regedit, however, the downloaded file worked beautifully. The lock screen was super annoying and I’d like to thank you for this!

  17. Anyone found a solution for disableing lock screen in win 10?!
    I tryed all reg tweaks i could find but none of them works (build 10130)
    yours truly
    Peter

  18. none of this worked for me. what did however was very easy. you go to screen saver. then there is a box that you must uncheck right next to where you adjust the time in which it takes for the screen saver to come on.

  19. Method 1 does not work in Windows 10. gpedit.msc does not exist there.

    Method 2 does not work on my ASUS laptop either.

  20. i had a lock screen and the user icon without password.i done what you said with the lock screen and it was ok..BUT i have a huge problem, i disabled also the user account because i thought the icon will dissapear also… but now i am locked! user is disabled and i cant log on to win.i cant got to system restore or other things,only from a flash and have a cmd but i have no success.Please if you know suggest me something

  21. Thanks. The GPEdit changes doesn’t work for me in Win 8.1 Pro, but the reg script works.

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