How to disable Lock Screen on Windows 11

• To disable the Lock Screen on Windows 11, open Group Policy > Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel > Personalization, and enable the “Do not display the lock screen” policy.
• Another way to disable this feature is to open the Registry in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Personalization, create the “Nolockscreen” DWORD, and set its value to “1.”

UPDATED 4/17/2025: On Windows 11, it’s possible to disable the Lock Screen, but not through the Settings app or legacy Control Panel. Instead, you have to use the Group Policy Editor or Registry, and in this guide, I will explain how to complete this configuration.

The Lock Screen is the first experience you see when you turn on your computer or after it has been locked, either manually using the “Windows key + L” keyboard shortcut, automatically after a period of inactivity, or by other means.

It has been designed to provide a basic level of security by preventing immediate access to your desktop. You have to dismiss it to get to the sign-in screen. Also, it can display useful information without requiring you to sign in, such as the date and time, system notifications, weather updates, and the latest news from traffic, finance, and sports. In addition, it also offers a customizable background to enhance visual appeal.

While the Lock Screen has more than one purpose, it can introduce an extra step in the sign-in process. If you don’t find it useful, you can disable the feature if you don’t find it useful by enabling a policy or modifying a Registry key.

In this guide, I will teach you how to skip the Lock Screen and go directly to the Sign-in screen on Windows 11.

• Disable Lock Screen from Group Policy on Windows 11
• Disable Lock Screen from Registry on Windows 11

Disable Lock Screen from Group Policy on Windows 11

To disable the Lock Screen on Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education, with the Local Group Policy Editor, follow these steps:

1. Open Start on Windows 11.

2. Search for gpedit, and select the top result to open the Local Group Policy Editor.

3. Browse the following path:

   Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel > Personalization

4. Double-click the “Do not display the lock screen” policy.

   

5. Select the Enabled option.

   

6. Click the Apply button.

7. Click the OK button.

8. Restart the computer.

Once you complete the steps, the next time the laptop or desktop computer starts, the Sign-in screen will appear instead of the Lock Screen.

If you change your mind, you can always re-enable the Lock Screen by using the same instructions, but in step 5, choose the “Not configured” option.

You can also follow these instructions in my video tutorial on my YouTube channel. (Remember to like and subscribe.)

Disable Lock Screen from Registry on Windows 11

Although Windows 11 Home does not have the Local Group Policy Editor, you can still disable the feature by editing the Registry. This method also works for the Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions of Windows 11.

To remove the Lock Screen from the Registry on Windows 11 Home or Pro, use these steps:

1. Open Start.

2. Search for regedit, and select the top result to open the Registry.

3. Browse the following path:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows

4. Right-click the Windows key (folder), select the New submenu, and choose the Key option.

   

5. Name the key Personalization and press Enter.

6. Right-click the Personalization folder, select the New submenu, and choose the DWORD option.

   

7. Name the key Nolockscreen and press Enter.

8. Double-click the “Nolockscreen” key and set its value data from 0 to 1.

   

9. Click the OK button.

10. Reboot the computer.

After you complete the steps, the Lock Screen will be removed, and the Sign-in screen should appear as the first screen.

If you want to undo the changes, you can use the same instructions mentioned above, but in step 8, set the “Nolockscreen” value to 0 or delete the Registry key.

When you remove the Lock Screen, you won’t disable the Sign-in Screen, meaning you will still need to enter your password (or PIN) to sign in to your account. If you want to start the device directly on the desktop, bypassing the Lock and Sign-in experiences, you will have to remove the login password on Windows 11.

Also, if you want to prevent the computer from showing the Lock screen after resuming sleep, you should disable the option to require a password after waking up on Windows 11.

Update April 17, 2025: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect changes to the process.