Personalization Add or Remove Lock in Account Picture Menu on Start Menu in Windows 11


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Lock_screen_banner.png

This tutorial will show you how to add or remove Lock in the account picture menu on the Start menu for all users in Windows 10 and Windows 11.

The account picture menu (aka: "user tile menu") on the Start menu allows you to Change account settings, Lock the computer, Sign out, or switch user.

If you like, you can remove Lock from the account picture menu on the Start menu.

When you lock the computer, it protects the computer from unauthorized use when you need to step away from the PC, and don't want to sign out or shut down causing everything open to be closed.

When you lock the computer, you will be taken to the lock screen by default to dismiss and sign in when ready to continue where you left off. Other users can still sign in to their accounts from the sign-in screen.

Reference:


You must be signed in as an administrator to add or remove Lock in the account picture menu on the Start menu.

Removing Lock from the account picture menu will not prevent users from using other methods to lock the computer.



Contents

  • Option One: Add or Remove Lock in Account Picture Menu in Control Panel
  • Option Two: Add or Remove Lock in Account Picture Menu in Local Group Policy Editor
  • Option Three: Add or Remove Lock in Account Picture Menu using REG file


EXAMPLE: Lock in account picture menu on Start menu

Lock_in_account_picture_menu_on_Start_menu.jpg





Option One

Add or Remove Lock in Account Picture Menu in Control Panel


1 Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the Power Options icon.

2 Click/tap on the Choose what the power buttons do link in the left pane. (see screenshot below)

Lock_Power_Options-1.png

3 Click/tap on the Change settings that are currently unavailable link. (see screenshot below)

Lock_Power_Options-2.png

4 Check (add - default) or uncheck (remove) Lock for what you want, and click/tap on Save changes. (see screenshot below)

Lock_Power_Options-3.png

5 You can now close the Control Panel if you like.




Option Two

Add or Remove Lock in Account Picture Menu in Local Group Policy Editor


The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

All editions can use Option Three that includes this same policy.


1 Open the Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc).

2 Navigate to the policy location below in the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor. (see screenshot below)

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer

Lock_user_tile_menu_gpedit-1.png

3 In the right pane of File Explorer in the Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Show lock in the user tile menu policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)

4 Do step 5 (default), step 6 (add), or step 7 (remove) below for what you want.

5 Enable Lock in Account Picture Menu

This is the default setting to allow using Option One.


A) Select (dot) Not Configured. (see screenshot below)​

B) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 8.​

Lock_user_tile_menu_gpedit-2.png

6 Add Lock to Account Picture Menu

This will prevent using Option One.


A) Select (dot) Enabled. (see screenshot below)​

B) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 8.​

Lock_user_tile_menu_gpedit-3.png

7 Remove Lock from Account Picture Menu

This will prevent using Option One.


A) Select (dot) Disabled. (see screenshot below)​

B) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 8.​

Lock_user_tile_menu_gpedit-4.png

8 Close the Local Group Policy Editor.




Option Three

Add or Remove Lock in Account Picture Menu using REG file


1 Do step 2 (add) or step 3 (remove) below for what you want.

2 Add Lock to Account Picture Menu

This is the default setting


A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.​

Add_Lock_to_account_picture_menu_on_Start_menu_for_all_users.reg


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PolicyManager\default\Start\HideLock]
"value"=dword:00000000

; Control Panel > Power Options > System Settings
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FlyoutMenuSettings]
"ShowLockOption"=dword:00000001

; Group Policy
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"ShowLockOption"=-

3 Remove Lock from Account Picture Menu

This will prevent using Option One.


A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.​

Remove_Lock_from_account_picture_menu_on_Start_menu_for_all_users.reg


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PolicyManager\default\Start\HideLock]
"value"=dword:00000001

; Control Panel > Power Options > System Settings
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FlyoutMenuSettings]
"ShowLockOption"=dword:00000000

; Group Policy
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"ShowLockOption"=dword:00000000

4 Save the REG file to your desktop.

5 Double click/tap on the downloaded REG file to merge it.

6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

7 You can now delete the downloaded REG file if you like.


That's it,
Shawn Brink


 

Attachments

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