Disable Automatic Lock Screen in Windows Server

Steps to Disable Automatic Lock Screen in Windows Server

1. Open Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) gpmc.msc

2. Create a new GPO or edit an existing one Link it to the appropriate OU where your server or computers are located.

Computer Configuration > Policies > Administrative Templates > Control Panel > Personalization

• Enable screen saver → Set to: Disabled (This stops the screen saver from running)

• Screen saver timeout → Set to: Disabled (Prevents any timeout from activating the screen saver)

User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel > Personalization

• Enable screen saver → Set to: Disabled

• Screen saver timeout → Set to: Disabled

• Password protect the screen saver → Set to: Disabled

• Prevent changing screen saver → Optional — leave it Not Configured unless you want to lock settings.

Disable Lock via Registry using GPO

If you want to go further and ensure no lock screen via registry:

Navigate to: Computer Configuration > Preferences > Windows Settings > Registry

Add a new registry item:

• Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

• Key Path: SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Personalization

• Value name: NoLockScreen

• Value type: REG_DWORD

• Value data: 1

Power Settings (if you don’t want the screen to turn off)

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Power Management > Sleep Settings

• Sleep after (plugged in) → Disabled

• Turn off the display (plugged in) → Disabled

• Allow hybrid sleep (plugged in) → Disabled

• Allow applications to prevent automatic sleep → Enabled (optional)

• Make sure to force group policy update with gpupdate /force.

• If the lock screen still shows up, check for Active Directory domain policies, local GPO overrides, or third-party management tools (like SCCM/Intune).

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REFERENCES

• https://www.isunshare.com/windows-server/disable-enable-windows-server-2012-lock-screen.html
• https://community.spiceworks.com/t/gpo-lock-screen-turn-off-screen-disable-sleep/950820/2