Windows 10 PC goes to lock screen after 2 minutes

Anonymous
2018-01-08T18:24:24+00:00

Screen saver set at 15 minutes, yet after 2 minutes of inactivity display goes blank requiring "enter" to get lock screen . I must always move my mouse to stay "active." Can't seem to find a solution online that works. 

*Modified title for accuracy*

*Original title: Windows 10: PC goes to lock screen after 2 minutes*

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Settings

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous
2018-11-14T19:39:45+00:00

The setting to fix this is "System unattended sleep timeout" in advanced power settings. (Control Panel\Hardware and Sound\Power Options\Edit Plan Settings > change advanced power settings).

However this setting is hidden because Microsoft wants waste our time and make our lives miserable. 

To un-hide it, you need to change a registry attribute value data from 1 to 2 at the following registry path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SYSTEM > CurrentControlSet > Control > Power > PowerSettings > 238C9FA8-0AAD-41ED-83F4-97BE242C8F20 > 7bc4a2f9-d8fc-4469-b07b-33eb785aaca0

Full instructions:

  1. windows key + R
  2. type regedit and hit enter
  3. click Yes if asked
  4. on registry editor - ctrl+F
  5. search for 7bc4a2f9-d8fc-4469-b07b-33eb785aaca0
  6. wait, can take a while to find
  7. when found, double click attributes on the right pane
  8. change value data to 2
  9. hit ok, close registry editor.
  10. Right click the start button > power options > Additional power settings > Change Plan Settings > change advanced power settings
  11. expand Sleep
  12. expand System unattended sleep timeout
  13. change both values to zero for never or set your preferred value.

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-07-28T12:45:31+00:00

    Lots of good solution options here.  There are WAY too many settings related to power and sleep in too many areas within Windows.  Although I was having the same situation, my problem came from a different source.  I'm hoping this helps somebody.

    We just got some new Dell Precision laptops.  Dell is now installing a Dell Optimizer application.  Part of that application includes a proximity sensor to detect when you are away to lock the screen then detect your presence to wake the computer up.  By default, it will lock your PC after 1 minute, no matter what the Windows settings are.  I disabled this and my problem went away.

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  2. Anonymous
    2019-09-04T14:15:15+00:00

    Try hitting F3 to search for the token again.  I actually didn't find the Attributes property until my second search completed.  Hope this helps!

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    6 people found this answer helpful.
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  3. Anonymous
    2019-04-27T14:48:36+00:00

    The setting to fix this is "System unattended sleep timeout" in advanced power settings. (Control Panel\Hardware and Sound\Power Options\Edit Plan Settings > change advanced power settings).

    However this setting is hidden because Microsoft wants waste our time and make our lives miserable. 

    To un-hide it, you need to change a registry attribute value data from 1 to 2 at the following registry path:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SYSTEM > CurrentControlSet > Control > Power > PowerSettings > 238C9FA8-0AAD-41ED-83F4-97BE242C8F20 > 7bc4a2f9-d8fc-4469-b07b-33eb785aaca0

    Full instructions:

    1. windows key + R
    2. type regedit and hit enter
    3. click Yes if asked
    4. on registry editor - ctrl+F
    5. search for 7bc4a2f9-d8fc-4469-b07b-33eb785aaca0
    6. wait, can take a while to find
    7. when found, double click attributes on the right pane
    8. change value data to 2
    9. hit ok, close registry editor.
    10. Right click the start button > power options > Additional power settings > Change Plan Settings > change advanced power settings
    11. expand Sleep
    12. expand System unattended sleep timeout
    13. change both values to zero for never or set your preferred value.

    It is amazing how much damage, a few under-performing software team managers in Microsoft, can inflict on an entire planet.

    credit: https://appuals.com/windows-10-sleeps-after-1-4-minutes-of-inactivity/

    This fixed my problem, it's 2019 and this just started happening after some update and these exact steps resolved it!  Thank you!!

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  4. Anonymous
    2019-02-01T22:18:35+00:00

    Thank you for your existence.

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