Disable the Windows 8 Lock Screen: How to Do It in 5 Steps

Posted by Sherie Connelly on Friday, May 31, 2024

When you first boot Windows 8, change users or wake from sleep,  you're presented with a lock screen that you must drag up and away (or click to close) before you reach the login prompt. While having the weather, time and number of emails displayed on a lock screen makes sense on tablets and phones, it's a waste of time on PCs where users just want to see a password prompt and log in. 

Disabling this productivity-robbing lock screen is really easy, if you know how to find the right control panel menu.

1. Hit Window Key + R. A run dialog box appears.

2. Type gpedit.msc into the box and hit Ok. The Local Group Policy Editor appears.

3. Navigate to Computer Configuration -> Administrative Tools -> Control Panel -> Personalization in the left pane of the window.

4. Double click (or tap) on Do not display the lock screen. Another dialog box appears.

5. Select Enabled and click Ok.

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