8.07 Disable Windows Lock Screen

Upon boot up Windows 8 opens to a lock screen. This lock screen covers the log in information. While this lock screen has been placed there as a security measure it can add valuable second onto your normal boot process. For this reason many users prefer to disable the Windows 8 lock screen.

Disabling the lock screen requires a slight tinkering in either the Local Group Policy Editor (Pro version of Windows 8.1), or the Windows Registry.

Method One - The Group Policy Editor

The Local Group Policy editor requires Administrator permissions, therefore before proceeding ensure that you are logged onto your system as the Administrator.

Once logged on as Administrator proceed as follows:

On your keyboard press the Windows key and the R key together to open up the Run dialogue box.

Fig: 8.7.1 In the Run box type: gpedit.msc
When the Run box opens, type: gpedit.msc
The Local Group Policy Editor will now open.
In the Local Group Policy Editor window look for the Computer Configuration section.
Expand the Administrative Templates, followed by the Control Panel option.
Once you have expanded the Control Panel option, click on the Personalization option.
In the Main window look for the Do Not Display the Lock Screen option and Highlight it by clicking it with your mouse.

Fig: 8.7.3 Now click on the Do not display lock screen option
To the Left of the main window, click on the Edit Policy Setting link. This will open the policy for editing.

Fig: 8.7.4 Clicking the edit policy settings will allow you to disable the lock screen
Click on the Enabled radio button and then press the OK button.

Fig: 8.7.5 Click the enabled radio button to disable the lock screen
Finally Close the Local Group Policy Editor application.
The next time you boot up your machine you will be directed to the logon screen, thus bypassing the lock screen.
To Enable the lock screen once more, follow steps 1 to 9 once more, but, on this occasion, click the Not Configured radio button to re-enable the lock screen.

Method Two - The Windows Registry

On your keyboard press the Windows key and the R key together to open up the Run dialogue box.

Fig: 8.7.6 Type regedit into the Run dialogue box
In the Run dialogue box type: regedit
Next press the OK button.
The Windows Registry Editor should now open.
In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Personalization

Fig: 8.7.7 Navigate to the Personalization key in the Registry
When you have opened the Personalization key, if you look in the right hand pane of the window you should see an option called NoLockScreen.
Right click on the NoLockScreen option and, from the drop down menu, Click on Modify.

Fig: 8.7.8 Click on the Modify button to make changes
In the Edit DWORD box that appear, change the Value data from 0 (zero) to 1 (one) and then press the OK button.

Fig: 8.7.9 Change value data from 0 to 1
You can now close the Registry Editor.
Your Lock Screen should now be disabled.
If you wish to re-enable the Lock Screen, simply follow steps 1 to 8 above. In the Edit DWORD box change the data value back to 0 (zero).