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I could lock my Windows XP workstation using CTRL+ALT+DEL, K. That keystroke combination does not work on Windows 7. Is there a method of locking Windows 7 using just keystrokes?
zundarz
Posted 2013-03-19T19:36:20.643
Reputation: 1 075
How to lock Windows 7 session with just key strokes?
Answers
127
Windows key+L should do what you need.
Trey
Posted 2013-03-19T19:36:20.643
Reputation: 1 229
@AnuragKalia Windows key can be replaced by Ctrl+Esc. Unfortunately I haven't find a way to replace Windows in a compound key, except remapping the keys – phuclv – 2017-03-15T16:39:27.693
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It's worth mentioning that this isn't a new shortcut to Windows 7... it has been around since at least the XP days. Check out the "Windows key" Wikipedia page for other useful shortucts that use this key: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_key
– Jesse Webb – 2013-03-19T22:43:58.7639My habit: try every Windows key + letter combination and see what they do whenever a new Windows version is released. – Alvin Wong – 2013-03-20T06:03:06.450
5@Alvin and not only letter: the win+arrowkey have nice features too. – Konerak – 2013-03-20T07:01:26.240
2Win+M (or Win+D), Win+L, and Win+R are the big three for me (Also Win-P, when I used to have a laptop) – BlueRaja - Danny Pflughoeft – 2013-03-20T07:16:43.140
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@AlvinWong , you can also check here or here for Win8 for a complete list, or in the Windows manual (printed or online). Should be easier than trying.
– Jcl – 2013-03-20T07:38:37.343@AlvinWong yeah, I only said it was easier ;-) – Jcl – 2013-03-20T12:23:24.627
Uh-oh. My windows key is not working. This post is rubbing salt in my long-forgotten wounds. – Anurag Kalia – 2013-03-20T22:52:29.770
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Use Windows+L. If you use AutoHotKey you can reprogram Windows+L to do other things too, like lock your session, and also wait 10 seconds and put monitors to sleep. Powerful little hotkey program.
Pat
Posted 2013-03-19T19:36:20.643
Reputation: 769
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Also, Ctrl+Alt+Del, Enter and Ctrl+Alt+Del, Alt+K seem to work for me.
Scott
Posted 2013-03-19T19:36:20.643
Reputation: 17 653
1Ctrl-Alt-Del Enter is the way. This has worked across various versions of Windows for a long time, since the default button on the Ctrl-Alt-Del screen is "Lock this computer". – Kaz – 2013-03-20T01:35:15.663
2Also Space instead of Enter works as well, since it's the default highlighted item. – Viper_Sb – 2013-03-20T05:22:52.993
5Wouldn't Ctrl+Alt+Del Alt+K depend on one's installed/selected language variant, though? – a CVn – 2013-03-20T12:03:42.657
@MichaelKjörling: (1) Good point. I hadn’t consciously considered that. You are probably right. (2) I’ll fall back on @Kaz and @Viper’s suggestions that (Enter) and (Space) are the universal answers. (3) Since the OP said that K worked for him on Windows XP, I believe that it’s quite likely that *he* is an English user. – Scott – 2013-03-21T00:42:53.913
@Kaz: and Windows+L hasn't worked for a long time across Windows versions? Don't remember about Windows 2000, but at least since XP this worked fine. – 0xC0000022L – 2013-03-21T02:43:05.830
-1 for unnecessarily involved way to do it. Surprised you didn't know Windows + L. – Austin ''Danger'' Powers – 2013-06-28T23:56:51.153
@Austin''Danger''Powers: Gosh. (1) The OP seemed to be interested in (Ctrl+Alt+Del) + K solutions. (2) Trey had already answered (Windows+L) by the time I answered. And (3) I *did* know about (Win+L) before I read Trey’s answer; but see (1). – Scott – 2013-06-29T00:05:26.300
4 keystrokes vs 2 keystrokes. These are SHORTcuts we're talking about here. Key combinations that make doing routine tasks quick, easy, and effortless. Windows + L is also much easier to remember for non techie types. – Austin ''Danger'' Powers – 2013-06-29T00:14:06.553
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You can even use a simple batch file. Just double click on it & your PC will get locked. Just copy & paste the below code in to Notepad & save it as (for example) "lock.bat". That's it - you're done, just double click on it.
The code is:
@echo off
rundll32.exe user32.dll, LockWorkStation
cls
Sunil
Posted 2013-03-19T19:36:20.643
Reputation: 87
This code is great when you are trying to plug this into a macro key on your keyboard. Thanks Sunil. – Josh Simar – 2016-04-19T17:29:05.910
create a link/shortcut with the command, no need to turn echo off or clear screen, and assign a shortcut key to that shortcut. Now you have a shortcut to do whatever you want – phuclv – 2017-03-15T16:42:12.697
11This is over-involved and doesn't answer the question. – Dane – 2013-03-20T13:05:45.357
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Also, you really shouldn't use rundll32 on things that weren't made for rundll32 (and those are deprecated since Vista) See also: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/oldnewthing/archive/2004/01/15/58973.aspx (Sadly down at the moment)
– 3Doubloons – 2013-03-20T13:41:08.613@AlexBrault Working fine for me now. – a CVn – 2013-03-20T14:56:02.417
If you put this file on your Desktop and assign a Shortcut key (combination) to it, then that keystroke combination will lock the workstation. It must be Ctrl+Alt+(something) or Ctrl+Shift+Alt+(something). You might need to logout and login again before it becomes effective. – Scott – 2013-03-21T00:50:41.690
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Related: What's the fastest way to trigger your screensaver?
– G-Man Says 'Reinstate Monica' – 2015-08-03T00:51:10.617it's strange finding people using ctrl+alt+del to lock or open task manager nowadays even in Windows 10 – phuclv – 2017-03-15T16:38:21.773