Lock Screen

The correct method depends on whether you want to hide the introductory lock-screen page or bypass account authentication and open Windows directly at the desktop.

Hide only the lock-screen page

This removes the picture screen that must be dismissed before sign-in, but it does not remove your PIN, password, or Windows Hello authentication.

This documented policy applies to supported builds of Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, Education, and IoT Enterprise, not Windows 10 Home.^1^

1. Press Windows key + R.
2. Enter gpedit.msc, then select OK.
3. Go to: Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Control Panel → Personalization
4. Open Do not display the lock screen.
5. Select Enabled, then Apply → OK.
6. Restart Windows.

Afterward, locking or opening the computer should take you directly to the account sign-in tile rather than the introductory lock-screen page.

If gpedit.msc is unavailable, check Settings → System → About → Windows specifications → Edition. Windows 10 Home does not support this documented policy; avoid registry workarounds because the supplied Microsoft policy documentation does not establish them as supported for Home.

Open Windows directly at the desktop

If the goal is to eliminate both the lock-screen interaction and manual sign-in at startup, configure automatic sign-in:

1. Open Start → Settings → Accounts → Sign-in options.
2. Turn off Require Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts. This setting must be off so that the required netplwiz option can appear.^2^
3. Press Windows key + R, enter netplwiz, and press Enter.
4. Select your Windows account.
5. Clear Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer.
   • If it is already clear, select it and choose Apply, then clear it again and choose Apply.
6. In the credentials window:
   • For a Microsoft account, replace the prefilled username with the complete Microsoft-account email address.
   • Enter the Microsoft-account password—not the PIN—twice.
7. Select OK, select OK again, and restart the computer.

For a local account, enter the local username and password and leave the domain field blank.^3^

Automatic sign-in reduces physical security: anyone who starts the computer can access the desktop and files. Windows normally uses a password, PIN, fingerprint, or facial recognition to protect access.^4^

If you only want to remove “Lock” from the power menu

This does not bypass startup or sign-in; it only hides the Lock command:

1. Press Windows key + R.
2. Enter powercfg.cpl.
3. Select Choose what the power buttons do.
4. Select Change settings that are currently unavailable.
5. Clear Lock – show in power menu.
6. Select Save changes.^5^

References

1. Policy CSP - ADMX_ControlPanelDisplay
2. How to avoid PC login? - Microsoft Q&A
3. How to turn off sign in options completely on Windows 10? - Microsoft Q&A
4. [Windows](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/security/securing-your-device)
5. removing lock option from windows 10 - Microsoft Q&A