How to Disable the Lock Screen on Windows 10

Go straight to the Windows 10 password prompt with no lock screen

Illustration of a computer lock screen unlocked with a passcode

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by Jon Martindale
Jon Martindale has been a feature tech writer for more than 10 years. He's written for publications such as Digital Trends, KitGuru, and ITProPortal.
Updated September 11, 2018

The lock screen is an informative, pretty veneer for the Windows 10 login screen that doesn't serve much of a purpose. It only takes a swipe or a click and drag to dismiss it, but if you'd rather disable the lock screen on Windows 10, there are a couple of ways you can do it.

How to Disable the Lock Screen in Windows 10

If you're running the latest April Update of Windows 10 Home edition, then the best way to turn off the lock screen in Windows 10 is to add a new registry key. There are a few steps involved, but if you follow them one after the other, you'll soon know how to get rid of the Windows lock screen for good.

Altering the Windows registry can have a dramatic effect on the way Windows operates and should not be done so lightly. If at all unsure about the changes you've made, start again, or speak to a professional.

  1. Open the Windows 10 registry editor by typing "Regedit" into the Windows search bar. Select the corresponding result.
  2. When asked whether to allow the app to make changes to your device, select Yes.
  3. From the left-hand menu, double-click HKEY_LOCAL MACHINE.
  4. Double-click SOFTWARE.
  5. Double-click Policies.
  6. Double-click Microsoft.
  7. Right-click Windows.
  8. From the drop-down menu, select New, then select Key.
  9. Name it Personalization.
  10. Select the key that you just created. Right-click in the right-hand window pane and select New, then select DWORD (32-bit) Value.
  11. Rename the "New Value #1" DWORD you just created as NoLockScreen. Regedit should automatically select the entry's name for customizing, but if not, right-click it and select Rename.
  12. Double-click NoLockScreen.
  13. In the Value data field, type 1.

To find out if the change you made has taken effect, press Windows key+L key to lock your PC. If you're taken straight to the login screen rather than the lock screen that typically proceeds it, congratulations, you've successfully disabled Windows lock screen!

How to Turn off the Lock Screen in Windows 10 Pro

Although making alterations to the Windows 10 registry will disable the lock screen in Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro, the latter users have an alternative method that’s a little quicker.

This also works for both Enterprise and Education versions of Windows 10 too.

  1. Search for "Gpedit" in the Windows 10 search bar and select the corresponding result.
  2. In the Local Group Policy Editor window, look to the left-hand menu and double-click Administrative Templates.
  3. Double-click Control Panel.
  4. Select Personalization.
  5. Double-click Do no display the lock screen in the right-hand window pane.
  6. Select Enabled in the top-left, then select Apply and select OK.

Test to see if you have successfully disabled the lock screen by pressing Windows key+L. If you're taken to the login screen, rather than the lock screen, congratulations, you've removed the Windows 10 lock screen from your system.

If you ever want to re-enable the lock screen, repeat the steps above and choose Disabled during step six instead.