How to Prevent Windows 10/11 from Automatically Locking

Have you ever been in the midst of an intense work session when suddenly—bam! Your PC locks itself, forcing you to log back in and lose your train of thought? Fear not! We’re diving deep into ways to keep your Windows 11 or Windows 10 system unlocked, allowing for a more seamless workflow without pesky interruptions.

Understanding the Lock Mechanism​

Before we dig into the nitty-gritty of preventing your PC from locking itself, it’s crucial to understand the factors contributing to this inconvenience. Windows employs several features such as Dynamic Lock and screensaver settings that automatically lock your machine under certain conditions, typically for security purposes. While these features are designed with safety in mind, they can become frustrating if they interrupt your tasks.

Step 1: Turn Off Dynamic Lock and Screensavers​

First things first: let's disable Dynamic Lock. This feature allows Windows to lock your PC when your paired Bluetooth device moves out of range—think of it as that friend who always walks away when you need them most.

On Windows 11:​

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Navigate to Accounts on the left sidebar.
3. Click on Sign-In Options on the right.
4. Find Dynamic Lock and uncheck the option Allow Windows to Automatically Lock Your Device When You're Away.

On Windows 10:​

1. Access Settings by pressing Windows + I.
2. Click on Accounts.
3. Under the Sign-In Options, uncheck the same option in the Dynamic Lock section.

Next, let’s tackle those screensaver settings that can inadvertently lock your PC.

Disable Screensaver Lock:​

Windows 11:

1. Right-click on your desktop and select Personalize.
2. Go to Lock Screen and then click on Screen Saver Settings.
3. Uncheck the option On Resume, Display Logon Screen.

Windows 10:

1. Right-click on your desktop, select Personalize.
2. Under Lock Screen, look for Screen Saver Settings at the bottom.
3. Turn off On Resume, Display Logon Screen here as well.

Step 2: Modify Sign-In Options​

If the previous methods don’t quite do the trick, let’s adjust your sign-in options so that you’re not prompted to log in again.

On Windows 11:​

1. Open Settings with Windows + I.
2. Select Accounts and then Sign-In Options.
3. In the Additional Settings section, locate the option that asks When should Windows require you to sign in again? and select Never from the dropdown.

On Windows 10:​

1. Again, access Settings using Windows + I.
2. Click on Accounts, head to Sign-In Options, and set the Require Sign-In dropdown to Never.

Step 3: Tweak Power Settings​

If you find that your computer is going to sleep, thereby locking itself, we can change those power options.

On Windows 11:​

1. Press Windows + I to launch Settings and select System.
2. Click on Power & Battery.
3. Expand the Screen and Sleep options.
4. Choose Never for both settings regarding when to put the device to sleep on battery and when plugged in.

On Windows 10:​

1. Search for Power & Sleep Settings in the Start Menu and select it.
2. In the Sleep section, set both dropdown menus to Never.

Step 4: Use Local Group Policy Editor​

For advanced users, both Windows 10 and Windows 11 Pro versions allow access to the Local Group Policy Editor, where locking can be disabled entirely.

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
2. Type gpedit.msc and hit Enter.
3. Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel > Personalization.
4. Double-click on Do Not Display the Lock Screen, enable it, and apply the changes.

Step 5: Registry Tweaks​

Lastly, for those unafraid to dive into the registry—where the true power lies—we can directly manipulate those settings.

1. Press Windows + R, then type regedit and hit Enter.
2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows.
3. If the Personalization key isn’t present, right-click on Windows, choose New > Key, and name it Personalization.
4. Right-click inside the key, choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, name it NoLockScreen, and set its value to 1.
5. Restart your PC to activate the changes.

Key Takeaways​

Disabling Windows from locking can enhance your user experience, especially for those working on tasks that require uninterrupted focus. Here’s a quick recap:

• Disable Dynamic Lock and screensaver lock options.
• Adjust sign-in settings to never prompt for a password.
• Modify the power and sleep settings so your computer doesn’t enter sleep mode.
• Utilize the Local Group Policy Editor for a more robust solution, and don't shy away from tweaking the registry if you feel adventurous.

Now you can work at your leisure without the nagging prompt of Windows asking you to log back in. Remember, while keeping your system unlocked can be very convenient, it may expose you to security risks, so always evaluate your environment—especially in shared spaces.
Source: How-To Geek How to Prevent Windows 11 or Windows 10 From Locking Itself