Why Your Screen Says “Locking” Then Goes to Sleep Mode and How to Fix It

The lock screen feature in Windows is a valuable addition, providing a means to secure your PC when it’s not in use and prevent unauthorized access. By pressing the Windows + L keys, you can easily lock your screen. To regain access to your desktop, simply enter your username and password.

While it’s obviously a handy feature, some Windows users have reportedly encountered problems with it. According to them, their computer automatically locks and goes to sleep mode.

If you are among the unlucky few who have been in such a situation, then you have come to the right place. We’ll discuss everything you need to know to stop your Windows 10/11 computer from automatically locking.

How to Stop Your Computer from Automatically Locking

If you are constantly being locked out of Windows 10/11, know that you are not alone. Again, many Windows 10/11 users around the world are complaining about the same error. Experts suggest that the most common culprit behind this issue is some problematic settings on your PC is. However, there are instances when malware entities are also to blame.

So, to stop your computer from automatically locking Windows 10/11, we created this handy guide for you. Take note that while some of the solutions we have listed seem a bit obvious, sometimes the smallest changes are those that make a significant impact.

Solution #1: Disable the Lock Screen Feature

The first thing you have to do is to try to disable the lock screen feature. You can easily it on Windows 10/11. Simply follow these steps:

1. Launch the Run utility by pressing the Windows + R keys.
2. Into the text field, input gpedit.msc and hit OK.
3. In the Local Group Policy Editor window that opens, go to Computer Configuration.
4. Navigate to Administrative Templates > Control Panel > Personalization.
5. Double-click on the Do not display the Lock Screen section.
6. Tick the radio button next to the option that says Enabled.
7. Hit Apply.

By now, your screen will not automatically lock. If it still does, then proceed to the next solution.

Solution #2: Change your lock screen timeout settings

The second solution we recommend is to disable or change your lock screen timeout settings. To make this as easy as possible, you can use a third-party app. In just a few clicks, you can already change your timeout settings.

Here’s a more detailed guide on what to do:

1. Open the app of your choice.
2. Go to Customization and navigate to Modern UI.
3. Select Lock Screen.
4. Here, you can alter the timeout settings to your preference.

If you do not wish to disable your lock screen, you may check your sleep timeout and screensaver settings. Sometimes, these features may cause your screen to lock automatically.

Solution #3: Disable the Dynamic Lock feature

Aside from the use of passwords and pins, your Windows 10/11 PC has this Dynamic Lock feature that allows you to secure your desktop when you’re away. It’s quite handy for those who always forget to lock their PCs.

This feature uses Bluetooth technology for it to work. Whenever your registered Bluetooth device is out of range, your PC is automatically locked.

If you have enabled this feature, make sure that your Bluetooth device is nearby to keep your screen from locking. Better yet, untick the “Allow Windows to lock your device when you’re away automatically” option.

Solution #4: Try to disable blank screensaver

Are you using a screensaver? If that is the case, make sure it is not set as blank. This could cause confusion in the long run because you can’t tell that a screensaver is active.

To check whether or not you are using a blank screensaver, follow the instructions below:

1. Into the search bar, input screensaver.
2. Select Change Screensaver.
3. In the dropdown menu, check if you have set it to blank. If yes, then modify it. Select None.
4. Hit Apply and exit the window.

Solution #5: Change your system’s unattended sleep timeout settings

The unattended sleep timeout settings is the idle timeout before your system goes to a low power sleep state. Located under Power Settings, this is usually set to 2 minutes by default, regardless of whether your PC is running on batteries or plugged into a power source.

To keep your Windows 10/11 screen from locking automatically, change the timeout settings to a higher value. But if this setting is not available on your device, add it manually using the PowerShell or Registry method.

The PowerShell Method

1. Press the Windows + X keys.
2. Select PowerShell (admin).
3. Into the command line, input the following command: powercfg -attributes SUB_SLEEP 7bc4a2f9-d8fc-4469-b07b-33eb785aaca0 -ATTRIB_HIDE.
4. Hit Enter.
5. Close the PowerShell prompt.
6. Check the Power Settings again and make the necessary changes.

The Registry Method

1. Open the Registry Editor.
2. Go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Power\PowerSettings\238C9FA8-0AAD-41ED-83F4-97BE242C8F20\7bc4a2f9-d8fc-4469-b07b-33eb785aaca0.
3. Here, change the current value of the Attributes key from 1 to 2. Doing this will show the System unattended sleep timeout setting in the Power Options menu.
4. Now, you may try to check the Power Settings again.

Solution #6: Run a malware scan

If you have tried all the solutions above but to no avail, it is possible that the issue is triggered by a malware entity hiding in your system. The malware may have infected your important files and settings, causing your system to trigger your Windows 10/11 device to automatically lock the screen.

To get rid of any malicious threats hiding on your Windows 10/11 device, run a quick or complete malware scan. Open your preferred anti-malware program and let it do its job. Once done, it will show a list of potential threats and suggest fixes for each.

For better results, you may also run a PC repair scan to fix any issues caused by the malware entity.

Wrapping Up

We hope the information we have presented above was useful enough in dealing with the Windows 10/11 PC keeps getting locked automatically issue. If the problem persists, do not hesitate to seek help from Microsoft’s support team.

Do you know other possible reasons why the issue occurs on Windows 10/11 devices? We’d love to know. Share your ideas in the comment section.