The Lock screen in Windows is a great security feature, helping protect your data and privacy if you need to step away from your computer. The default settings automatically select an image to display on the lock screen, but you can change that image or choose to display a slideshow of images. If desired, you can also disable the lock screen feature, preventing Windows from locking your computer altogether. When you leave your computer, it’s best to start a screensaver that can only be turned off with a password.
In Windows 10:
- Click the Start menu, then Control Panel (gear icon).
- Click Personalization, then Lock Screen.
- Optionally, choose a Background option from the dropdown list
- Optionally, choose apps that will display status information while the screen is locked (for example, Alarms and Clock or Weather).
- Click a square with a plus in the middle and then click one of the Windows apps from the pop-up list to add it.
- To stop showing an app on the computer’s lock screen, click its icon, then choose None from the pop-up list.
- Optionally, click Show lock screen background picture on the sign-in screen.
- Click Screen timeout settings, then selecting values from the Screen and Sleep dropdown lists to set how long it takes for your screen to lock or go to sleep.
- When your computer has been inactive for the set amount of time, the screen saver starts. Your password is required to start using the computer again.
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How to Lock Your Screen Manually
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- Use this procedure to lock your screen without waiting for the screen saver to start. It is recommended to do this whenever leaving your computer unattended.
- Press the Windows logo key + L.
- Click the mouse or touch any key to show the sign-in screen.
- Sign back in using your password (on managed computers, this will be your Cornell password).
Also, read: How to Change Wallpaper on Unactivated Windows
Change Windows 11 lock screen timeout via Settings
One of the easiest ways to change the lock screen timeout on Windows 11 is by using the Windows Settings app. Changing your lock screen timeout can also help you save power while you protect your privacy by changing the amount of battery your laptop or PC consumes. Here’s how to change Windows 11 lock screen timeout via Settings.
- Open Windows Settings (Windows key + I keyboard shortcut).
- Go to System > Power (& Battery) > Screen and sleep. If you are using a PC that needs to be plugged in at all times, your Power screen may look like this, with only 2 options; When plugged in, turn off my screen after and When plugged in, put my device to sleep after.
How to Change Windows 10 Lock Screen Timeout Using Command Prompt
- You can press Windows + R key to open Windows Run. Type cmd and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter keys at the same time to run Windows Command Prompt as administrator.
- Next type this command: powercfg.exe /SETACVALUEINDEX SCHEME_CURRENT SUB_VIDEO VIDEOCONLOCK 60. Replace “60” with the time (in seconds) you want to set the timeout. Hit Enter to execute the command.
- Next input this command: powercfg.exe /SETACTIVE SCHEME_CURRENT, and hit Enter.
- After that, you can press Windows + L keys on the keyboard to lock your Windows 10 PC and check if the new setting of Windows 10 lock screen timeout works.
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Disable Lock Screen Windows 10 Pro
If you’re running the Pro version of Windows 10, you can use Group Policy Editor to turn it off. To do that, hit the keyboard shortcut Windows Key+R to bring up the Run dialog and type: gpedit.msc and then Enter.
- Now head to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel > Personalization and select Do not display the lock screen.
- group policy editor Windows 10
- Now change Not Configured to Enabled and click OK and close out of group policy editor.
- That’s it! The next time you restart your system, you’ll no longer need to deal with the lock screen.
