How to disable Windows 10 swipe screen

Question

On Windows 10, a lock screen greets me as soon as I boot my computer or wake it up from sleep. It must be clicked before I can see the login screen (where I'll provide my username and password).

I realize that this pre-login screen prevents accidental unlocking on smartphones and tablets (because they have touchscreens), but it just hampers me on my desktop PC.

How can I permanently disable this lock screen (so that upon boot or wakeup, I can immediately enter my password)?

I know it's possible because I've done it before, but I can't remember how, and I've recently reinstalled Windows.

What I've tried recently is the "Do not display the lock screen" option within gpedit.msc and also the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Personalization value in regedit. (I followed these tutorials.) I've also tried the Task Scheduler method and the Microsoft.LockApp_cw5n1h2txyewy folder method.

In all cases, there is no error message and no effect (I still am greeted by the lock screen after boot or wake), although those settings persist.

P.S. My question is a duplicate of this one, but that one should not have been flagged as a duplicate of the others, because it is unique. And since I don't know how to give that question (#1074176) the attention it merits (and reopen it), I'm posting this one.

I have Windows 10 Pro (Version 1607, Build 14393.0).

Answer 1

I know it's possible because I've done it before, but I can't remember how, and I've recently reinstalled Windows.

Since the Windows 10 Anniversary Update (version 1607), Microsoft has prevented us from using a Group Policy or registry modification to disable the lock screen. There are various methods that are still available to disable the lock screen when it wakes from sleep or hibernation, and some of them are much more elaborate than others. This one seems to be the most straight-forward method:

1. Navigate to %SystemDrive%\Windows\SystemApps
2. Locate the Microsoft.LockApp_cw5n1h2txyewy folder

3. Rename that folder by adding a suffix such as .backup

4. Reboot

(Source)

If you ever want to restore the default functionality, simply remove the .backup suffix from that folder.

Keep in mind that any subsequent major updates to the Windows 10 operating system will probably supersede this modification, and you would need to replace your changes afterwards.

As far as eliminating the lock screen after booting the computer, there doesn't seem to be a way to do that unless you want to configure your account to login to the operating system automatically.