How do I prevent the Welcome Screen / Lock Screen from appearing after idling in Windows 8?

I'm running Windows 8 Enterprise x64 (RTM), and I cannot figure out how to disable to the lock screen that appears after the computer has been idle for 10-15 minutes.

I've tried the following, and none of them work:

1) Disabling Screen Saver "display logon screen" option.

screen saver options

2) Disabling the Power Plan "require a password" setting.

power plan settings

3) Changing the lock screen policy:

policy settings

None of these disable the lock screen, it still appears after 10-15 minutes. The only setting that has any affect at all is changing the policy (#3 above), but it merely disables the Welcome Screen image (the one that you click/drag/type on to get to the lock screen). But you still end up at the lock screen and have to re-enter your password.

Short of disabling the user login completely, is there any way to disable the lock-on-idle setting in Windows 8?

Michael

Posted 2012-09-10T23:27:34.977

Reputation: 1 723

Does it happen to be a trial version? Has this happened ever since you installed it? Are you using a local account or an online account? Are you on a domain? – imtheman – 2012-09-12T18:38:37.687

Thanks for your response! It's the RTM version (downloaded through my MSDN account), but RTM is essentially the "final version," so no, it's not a trial version. Yes, it's been happening since I first installed it. I'm using a local account, and I am not on a domain. – Michael – 2012-09-13T22:46:48.993

I wonder if that's some default Win8 Enterprise "feature" because it doesn't happen to me on Win8 Professional. – imtheman – 2012-09-13T23:03:33.800

Yeah, I was beginning to think the same thing. Thanks for the feedback. – Michael – 2012-09-14T17:24:07.013

No prob. If I find anything out about that I'll post it, but for now I think you might be out of luck. – imtheman – 2012-09-14T20:50:16.300

For anyone reading these comments: Yes, apparently the problem is related a Win8 Enterprise "feature", and fortunately there's a way around it. See my answer here: http://superuser.com/a/496647/86764

– Michael – 2012-10-31T00:43:44.017

Answers

After hours of frustration trying to figure this out, I finally discovered the solution. The problem seems to stem from the fact that I'm using Windows 8 Enterprise. (At least I think. I'm not sure why else these obvious solutions weren't working.)

Apparently, by default Windows 8 Enterprise's security settings disable or override all of the solutions mentioned in the other responses (and original question).

Here's the solution:

Go to:

Control Panel > User Accounts and Family Safety > User Accounts

And choose this item in the list on the left:

Reset security settings

Once you reset your security settings (and reboot), you will be able to disable the lock screen.

Disclaimer: I have no idea what other settings are changed by clicking Reset security settings, but this problem was enough of an annoyance for me that I wasn't concerned. Your mileage may vary.

Source: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_cp-security/computer-is-timing-out-to-lock-screen-and-requires/b8bb769d-c714-42a9-9e6a-ef7a1ec80121

Michael

Posted 2012-09-10T23:27:34.977

Reputation: 1 723

1Glad to see you got it fixed! – WindowsEscapist – 2012-10-31T00:56:52.097

1Didn't work for me - still showing the lock screen after idling even if disabled in group policy. Also on Win8 Enterprise – Dennis G – 2013-01-06T16:18:00.677

Once you've reset your security settings (as described above), try disabling the lock screen via the new Metro Start Screen, like this: http://superuser.com/a/496223/86764 If that still doesn't work, then I would go through all of the other settings (e.g., all three described in my original question at the top of this page) and make sure you have the right settings in all of those places too. I'm not sure exactly which setting did the trick, but I know I had to "Reset security settings" first.

– Michael – 2013-01-07T23:18:14.097

For Windows 8 PRO the correct solution is the following : (The above windows 8 pro solution is not working for me)

Control Panel --> System and Security --> Power Options --> Require a password on wake-up

And in the next screen click Change settings that are currently unavailable --> Don't require a password --> Save changes

skiabox

Posted 2012-09-10T23:27:34.977

Reputation: 264

This was the only method that worked for Win 8.1 Pro with Media Center – Ben Wilson – 2014-01-09T02:57:05.187

Hopefully, the following setting will apply both when waking from sleep and from with the idle lock. Maybe not, though; I don't have Enterprise to test it. (That is a big problem though! Microsoft should do something about it.)

Try using Windows 8's new settings menu:

Go to the Settings menu:

Click "Change PC Settings": Click the Change PC Settings button

Click the "Users" button, then the button that says "Any user that has a password must enter it when waking this PC". Waking lock disable?

Accept the confirmation. The setting will be changed. Confirmation/Warning Dialogue

WindowsEscapist

Posted 2012-09-10T23:27:34.977

Reputation: 1 828

3Unfortunately, this option is disabled (greyed out) in Windows 8 Enterprise, with a message saying that the group policy does not allow changing the setting. Thanks for your response, though! This is useful information for other versions of Windows 8. Upvoted. – Michael – 2012-10-31T00:30:37.093

Ah, sorry. (I checked it in Pro and it does work there.) Thank you very much. – WindowsEscapist – 2012-10-31T00:55:37.823

This may help you to keep your Computer awake all the time. So, there will be No Idle time and apparently no Lock Screen!

enter image description here

Mayura

Posted 2012-09-10T23:27:34.977

Reputation: 344

3Thanks for your response. Unfortunately, my computer is already set to never sleep. Apparently it's not sleeping that's causing the lock screen. – Michael – 2012-09-11T02:46:02.527

If the Group Policy Editor did not help, I think the only way out is to completely disable password entry at logon:

Type netplwiz at the Start Screen, and launch the app that comes up
Select your user account and uncheck Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer
You'll be prompted to enter your password twice
Now just restart and you should be both password and lock screen free

Karan

Posted 2012-09-10T23:27:34.977

Reputation: 51 857

Thanks for your response. Unfortunately I already had this setting unchecked. This appears to be a problem with Windows 8 Enterprise only. – Michael – 2012-10-27T00:09:30.297

1Completely disabling password entry is not the most secure way to work on your computer I think :-) – Dennis G – 2013-01-06T14:26:43.757

Windows 8 Pro User

It took me forever to figure this out, but I had to go through the 'Local Group Policy Editor' to prevent the screen lock:

Search for 'Group Policy' under settings.
Once in the Local Group Policy Editor you will find 'Logon' under 'Administrative Templates' > Systems > Logon.
Right-click and select 'enable' on 'Allow users to select when a password is required when resuming from connected standby'

Chris

Posted 2012-09-10T23:27:34.977

Reputation: 19

The Group Policy setting Allow users to select when a password is required when resuming from connected standby only applies to devices that support InstantGo (formerly Connected Standby). Not all Windows 8 devices necessarily support this.

– I say Reinstate Monica – 2015-02-17T19:11:12.547

1It is not working for me. – skiabox – 2013-09-26T20:28:24.413

Disabling it is simple but not particularly straight forward at first:

Go to the Desktop > Control Panel > User Accounts, and click Reset Security Policies on the left hand side.

user256567

Posted 2012-09-10T23:27:34.977

Reputation: 11

I had the same problem. The only way I found to reliably get my Win 8.1 machine to not lock after idle time was to set 3 registry key values to REG_SZ 0. The keys are:

HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop\ScreenSaveActive

HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop\ScreenSaverIsSecure

HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop\ScreenSaveTimeOut

I have these set to apply to small OU in Group Policy Preferences - Registry (User Configuration).

I just started using this last week and haven't had any adverse affects. If anyone knows of issues with doing it this way, please let me know.

theChuckWagon

Posted 2012-09-10T23:27:34.977

Reputation: 1

It's worth noting this accomplishes the same thing as configuring the Screen Saver through the UI, however use of the Reg keys is definitely appropriate if pushing the settings out via GP. Unfortunately, these settings did not work for me. – I say Reinstate Monica – 2015-02-17T19:28:26.257