Personalization Add or Remove Lock in Power Menu on Start Menu in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to add or remove Lock in the power 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.

Lock is now in the power menu on the Start menu.

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

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

EXAMPLE: Lock in power menu on Start menu







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)


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


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


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

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)



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.

This is the default setting to allow using Option One.

This will prevent using Option One.

This will prevent using Option One.

8 Close the Local Group Policy Editor.





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

This is the default setting

(Contents of REG file for reference)

This will prevent using Option One.

(Contents of REG file for reference)

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