How to Turn Off Windows Auto Lock (Windows 11 and 10)

Windows locks your PC automatically to protect it when you walk away, but on a home desktop, a presentation machine or a PC that runs long tasks, constantly signing back in gets old fast. The auto-lock is controlled by several separate settings: the sign-in requirement after sleep, the screen and sleep timers, the screen saver, and Dynamic lock. This guide shows how to turn each one off in Windows 11 and Windows 10, how to skip the lock screen entirely, and what to do if a work policy keeps locking your PC.

Quick Answer

Go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options and set If you’ve been away, when should Windows require you to sign in again? to Never. Then set the sleep timers to Never in Settings > System > Power & battery (Power & sleep on Windows 10), and turn off Dynamic lock.

Step 1: Stop Windows Asking You to Sign In After Sleep

1. Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
2. Go to Accounts > Sign-in options.
3. Under Additional settings (Windows 11) or Require sign-in (Windows 10), set the drop-down to Never.

If the option is missing, turn off For improved security, only allow Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts on this device on the same page, then check again. Some PCs with Windows Hello face sign-in hide it; the camera unlocks the PC instead.

Step 2: Stop the PC Going to Sleep or Turning Off the Screen

Windows 11: go to Settings > System > Power & battery > Screen, sleep, & hibernate timeouts (or Screen and sleep) and set the sleep options to Never. Set the screen timeout to a longer time or Never.

Windows 10: go to Settings > System > Power & sleep and set Sleep to Never for plugged in (and on battery, if you like).

On a laptop, keeping sleep off on battery drains it quickly, so consider leaving a battery timer in place.

Step 3: Turn Off the Screen Saver Lock

1. Click Start, type screen saver, and open Change screen saver.
2. Uncheck On resume, display logon screen, or set Screen saver to (None).
3. Click OK.

Step 4: Turn Off Dynamic Lock

Dynamic lock locks the PC when your paired phone goes out of Bluetooth range. In Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options, expand Dynamic lock and uncheck Allow Windows to automatically lock your device when you’re away. Windows 11 also has presence sensing on some laptops (Settings > Privacy & security > Presence sensing, or Accounts > Sign-in options); turn off Lock my device when I leave if you see it.

Skip the Lock Screen Entirely (Optional)

The lock screen is the picture with the clock you see before the password box. To go straight to the sign-in box:

• Windows 10/11 Pro, Enterprise and Education: press Windows key + R, type gpedit.msc, go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel > Personalization, open Do not display the lock screen, choose Enabled, and click OK.
• Windows Home: the same policy can be set in the registry at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Personalization by creating a DWORD named NoLockScreen with value 1. Back up the registry first. Microsoft documents this policy for Enterprise and Education editions, so it may not work on every edition.

Sign In Automatically at Startup

If you also want to skip the password when the PC starts, press Windows key + R, type netplwiz, uncheck Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer, click Apply, and enter your password to confirm. Only do this on a PC nobody else can access, because anyone who turns it on will be signed in.

Why Does My PC Still Lock?

• Work or school policy: PCs managed by an organization often have a required inactivity lock (Interactive logon: Machine inactivity limit). You can’t change it; ask your IT department.
• Another app: some security, VPN or remote access software locks the screen. Check its settings.
• Win + L: the Windows key + L shortcut always locks the PC. Turning off auto-lock doesn’t disable it.

Keep It Safe

Turning off auto-lock means anyone who sits at your PC can see your email, files and saved passwords. It’s reasonable at home, but on a laptop or shared PC, a short lock timer or a quick PIN is a better balance. Press Windows key + L whenever you step away.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I stop the screen from turning off without disabling the lock?

Change only the screen and sleep timers in Power settings and leave the sign-in requirement as it is.

Can I keep the PC awake temporarily?

Yes. Tools such as Microsoft PowerToys Awake keep the PC awake on demand without changing your settings.

Does this work on Windows 10?

Yes. The settings are the same, with slightly different names: Require sign-in and Power & sleep.

Summary

1. Set Sign-in options > If you’ve been away to Never.
2. Set sleep timers to Never in Power settings.
3. Uncheck On resume, display logon screen in the screen saver settings.
4. Turn off Dynamic lock.