How do I get rid of the background window ahead of the Windows 10 lock screen?

Question

I don't want to get the of the lock screen. If I hit Windows+L I want it to go directly to the lock screen. Instead, it goes to a background screen that I have to click or otherwise interact with to get to the lock screen - I can't just start typing my password! The same thing happens if I power up my computer out of sleep.

I have looked under Settings -> Lock Screen and I can see where I can change the picture for this background, but not how to skip this screen entirely.

I don't know what this extra background screen is called, but I want to get rid of it! How do I do this? I used to have it configured this way, but when I applied the Windows Anniversary Update yesterday it reverted to putting this annoying extra screen in the way.

Answer 1

There is a workaround to disable the Lock Screen in Anniversary Update builds, in any edition of Windows.

Create a Scheduled Task that runs the following command-line, or a batch/script that runs the following command:

reg.exe add HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Authentication\LogonUI\SessionData /t REG_DWORD /v AllowLockScreen /d 0 /f

The idea is to reset the AllowLockScreen value data to 0 on these two trigger events:

• Log on
• Workstation unlock.

So you need to use multiple triggers for that task.

(or)

Download the Task XML from here: How to Disable the Lock Screen in Windows 10 Anniversary Update (1607)?

And use the Import Task option in Scheduler to create/import the task automatically.

Lock the workstation and unlock it. From the 2nd time onwards you shouldn't see the lock screen.

Answer 2

In the Version 1607, you can't disable the LockScreen on Pro Editions, only on Education and Enterprise.

So setting the Registry key or GPO has no effect. Update to Enterprise if you are a business user or submit Feedback to bringt it back to Pro.