To disable the lock screen in Windows 11, open Local Group Policy Editor, go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel > Personalization, and set Do not display the lock screen to Enabled. The picture-and-clock screen goes away, and Windows takes you straight to the sign-in box, where you still use your PIN, password, or Windows Hello.
This covers Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education, which are the editions Microsoft lists for this policy. Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education use the same policy at the same path. Windows 11 Home does not include Local Group Policy Editor; see the Home section below for what you can change there.
Lock Screen vs. Sign-In Screen
Windows shows two different screens when you start, wake, or lock the PC, and this change affects only the first one.
| Screen | What it shows | Does this policy remove it? |
|---|---|---|
| Lock screen | Background picture, large clock and date, optional widgets | Yes |
| Sign-in screen | Your account name and the PIN, password, or Windows Hello prompt | No |
Hiding the lock screen does not stop Windows from locking, does not remove your password, and does not set up automatic sign-in. Anyone who wakes the PC still has to sign in.
If it is the PIN box you want to change, you can turn off your PIN on Windows 11 and sign in with your password instead.
If you only want a different picture or fewer widgets, you do not need this policy. You can customize the Windows 11 lock screen instead, and those settings work on Home as well as Pro.
Check Your Edition First
Open Settings > System > About and look under Windows specifications for Edition. Microsoft’s device information guide shows where to find it. If it says Pro, Enterprise, or Education, continue with the steps below. If it says Home, skip to the Home section.
Before You Change the Policy
You need an administrator account, because this is a Computer Configuration policy that applies to every user on the PC. On a work or school computer, ask IT first. An organization’s policies can override a local change, and you should not try to work around them.
The policy is Not Configured by default. Note that now, because it is the setting you return to if you want the lock screen back. Change only Do not display the lock screen. Leave the sign-in, Ctrl + Alt + Delete, and automatic-lock settings as they are. For background on Local Group Policy Editor, read Microsoft’s system configuration tools guide, and there are other ways to open Local Group Policy Editor in Windows 11 too.
Hide the Lock Screen With Group Policy
- Press Windows key + R to open the Run box.
- Type
gpedit.mscand press Enter. Approve the administrator prompt if one appears. The Local Group Policy Editor window opens. If Windows says it cannot find gpedit.msc, the PC runs Home. - In the left pane, expand Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel, then select Personalization. The policies for that folder appear on the right.
- Double-click Do not display the lock screen. Its settings window opens with the current state selected, usually Not Configured.
- Select Enabled. In this policy, Enabled means “do not display,” so it is the setting that hides the lock screen.
- Select Apply, then OK, and close the editor.
Microsoft’s NoLockScreen policy documentation lists the supported editions and explains the effect: users who do not have to press Ctrl + Alt + Delete before signing in see their account tile after the PC locks, instead of a lock screen they must dismiss with a key, a click, or touch. If your PC is set to require Ctrl + Alt + Delete, you will see that prompt first.
Confirm It Worked
Save your work and press Windows key + L to lock the PC. You should land on the sign-in screen with your account name and the PIN or password box, with no large clock to dismiss. Sign in as usual.
If the picture screen still appears, restart the PC and test again. Some policy changes only apply after a restart or sign-out. Test once more after waking the PC from sleep, since that is when most people see the lock screen.
Bring the Lock Screen Back
- Open Local Group Policy Editor again with Windows key + R and
gpedit.msc. - Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel > Personalization.
- Double-click Do not display the lock screen and select Not Configured.
- Select Apply, then OK.
- Press Windows key + L to check. Restart if the lock screen does not return right away.
Disabled also shows the lock screen, but Not Configured returns the policy to its default state.
If You Have Windows 11 Home
Home has no supported switch for removing the lock screen. Microsoft does not list Home for this policy, and Settings has no on/off option for the lock screen itself. You can make it less of an obstacle:
- Dismiss it faster: press any key, drag the screen up with the mouse, or swipe up on a touch screen. The sign-in box appears right away.
- Remove clutter: open Settings > Personalization > Lock screen and turn the Widgets toggle Off to hide weather and other widgets.
- Use a plainer background: on the same page, under Personalize your lock screen, choose Picture instead of Windows spotlight or Slideshow.
- Match the sign-in screen: turn Show the lock screen background picture on the sign-in screen on or off, depending on which look you prefer.
Microsoft’s lock screen customization page describes these options. Some guides suggest registry edits or third-party tweak apps for Home. This guide does not cover them, because Microsoft does not support the policy on Home and those tools change system settings outside of Windows’ own controls.
If the Option Is Missing or Does Not Work
- “Windows cannot find gpedit.msc”: check the spelling, then check your edition. Home does not include the editor.
- The policy is missing from the list: make sure you opened Computer Configuration, not User Configuration, and selected the Personalization folder under Control Panel.
- The setting is grayed out or changes back: the PC is likely managed by an organization. Contact its administrator.
- Nothing changed after Enabled: confirm you selected Apply and OK, then restart and test with Windows key + L.
- The PIN or password prompt still appears: that is expected. This policy hides the picture screen only.
Settings to Leave Alone
Some guides combine this change with automatic sign-in through netplwiz, setting sign-in after you have been away to Never, or removing the account password. Those steps let anyone who picks up or wakes your PC open your files, email, and saved passwords. Hiding the lock screen does not require any of them, so keep sign-in turned on.
Faster Sign-In Without Weakening Security
If the real goal is getting to your desktop faster, a quicker sign-in method helps more than removing protection. Open Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options and set up a PIN, facial recognition, or a fingerprint, depending on your hardware. For what each option needs, check Microsoft’s sign-in options guide. If your current PIN is slow to type, change your PIN on Windows 11.
On the same page, Dynamic lock can lock the PC automatically when a paired phone moves out of Bluetooth range, which pairs well with a faster sign-in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does disabling the lock screen remove my password?
No. The policy hides only the picture-and-clock screen. Windows still asks for your PIN, password, or Windows Hello every time you start, wake, or unlock the PC.
Does this work on Windows 10?
Yes. Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education have the same Do not display the lock screen policy at the same path, and the steps above work the same way.
Will the screen timeout still turn off my display?
Yes. The screen timeout and sleep settings are separate from the lock screen. To adjust them, follow the steps to change the screen timeout in Windows 11.
Can I keep the lock screen picture but hide the widgets?
Yes. Open Settings > Personalization > Lock screen and turn Widgets off. That works on every edition, including Home, and does not need Group Policy.
Does this policy affect every user on the PC?
Yes. It is a computer-wide setting under Computer Configuration, so every account on the PC skips the lock screen and goes to the sign-in screen.
Next, press Windows key + L once more after your next restart to confirm the sign-in screen still appears first.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are checked step by step against the device or app maker’s own documentation and tested on his own devices whenever he has the hardware or software, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
Read more about Matthew and how Solve Your Tech writes and updates its guides, or report a correction.