how do I turn off the autolock in windows 8?

Anonymous
2012-11-12T04:17:14+00:00

After inactivity of around 1 minute in windows 8 the computer locks itself... I have to reenter my password. I have tried everything, power options, personalization, and it's still not taking it off. All of the features that relate to turning off the auto lock are off too. Help please!!

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Email and communications

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Anonymous
2012-11-20T23:30:03+00:00

Found a fix, under User Accounts, clicking reset security policies seems to have fixed the issue. Also, it fixed the issue of not being able to change the screensaver timeout. I haven't been able to track down the specific policy caused the problem in the first place, but this works for now.

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  1. Anonymous
    2012-12-28T20:05:20+00:00

    Does the same thing happen in Safe Mode, or in Normal Mode if you try the Clean Boot procedure?

    Advanced startup options (including safe mode)

    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Advanced-startup-options-including-safe-mode

    How to troubleshoot a problem by performing a clean boot in Windows Vista or in Windows 7

    http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/929135

    What about if you test with another Windows user rather than your current user?

    Try running ChkDsk to check your drive for errors. Right-click your Drive icon/ Properties/ Tools/ Error Checking.  Try it first by not checking either box (this will run it in a Read-only mode) to see if it flags any hard drive or file problems.  If it does, restart  it by ticking both boxes, and rerun it to allow it to attempt to fix any found problems.

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-02-05T07:24:14+00:00

    I have, and am currently experiencing this issue as well. This started for me after setting up my exchange email account from work through the mail app. I think that the mail app is pulling the security settings for active sync phones and applying it to windows 8 pc's as well which is why clearing the security policy fixed the issue.

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-02-05T16:09:36+00:00

    I am experiencing the same issue and it's driving me crazy.

    I'm with Windows 8 Pro in a Windows Server 2008 SBS domain environment with Exchange accounts.

    I tried everything mentioned in this thread with no results.

    Just to clarify:

    • i like the lock screen;
    • i do want my system to ask for a password when it is locked;
    • i do want to lock my system as required pressing the WinKey+L;
    • i do want my system to ask for a password when it is woken up;
    • i just do not want my system to auto-lock itself after a given time of inactivity.

    From what I've understood the only working solution is the "Reset security policies" link in the User Accounts page but I do not have that option. This makes sense to me: being in a domain environment the single user should not be able to set or reset security policies by itself.

    I think Microsoft should explain what exactly the "Reset security policies" link does and where domain users, or maybe domain admins, should act to gain control of this autolock feature (probably some domain policy)

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-02-05T16:34:27+00:00

    I am experiencing the same issue and it's driving me crazy.

    I'm with Windows 8 Pro in a Windows Server 2008 SBS domain environment with Exchange accounts.

    I tried everything mentioned in this thread with no results.

    Just to clarify:

    • i like the lock screen;
    • i do want my system to ask for a password when it is locked;
    • i do want to lock my system as required pressing the WinKey+L;
    • i do want my system to ask for a password when it is woken up;
    • i just do not want my system to auto-lock itself after a given time of inactivity.

    From what I've understood the only working solution is the "Reset security policies" link in the User Accounts page but I do not have that option. This makes sense to me: being in a domain environment the single user should not be able to set or reset security policies by itself.

    I think Microsoft should explain what exactly the "Reset security policies" link does and where domain users, or maybe domain admins, should act to gain control of this autolock feature (probably some domain policy)

    Hi. This is because your Windows 8 installation is domain joined. By default Windows 8 computers joined to domain has this setting enabled "Allow users to select when a password is required when resuming from connected standby."

    As stated in description of this GPo setting: "If you disable or don't configure this policy setting, the user cannot configure the amount of time after the device's screen turns off before a password is required when waking the device. Instead, a password will be required immediately upon the screen turning off."

    This GPo setting is located under Computer Configuration, Administrative templates/System/Logon (here is screenshot: http://pic.wladik.net/5fcdaa)

    So at least in our company was sufficient to enable this GPo setting and restart affected Windows 8 computers.

    Hope this helps.

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