You can do a lot of cool things within Windows, but you first have to get through the lock screen. Clicking or tapping on this screen brings you to the sign-in screen where you log into Windows. The lock screen may seem like an unnecessary obstacle, but it carries with it some tidbits that can be useful before you even dive into the operating system.
The default lock screen that greets you may only show the date and time with a generic background image. But you can spice this up by customizing it with your favorite background photo or slideshow; viewing your calendar, email, alarms, and local weather; or setting it to time out or kick off your screen saver after a certain amount of time.
The lock screen looks and acts the same in Windows 10 and Windows 11, but the way you tweak and personalize it differs somewhat between the two versions. Here’s how to set everything up.
Windows 10 Lock Screen
To access the settings for your lock screen in Windows 10, navigate to Settings > Personalization > Lock screen. The first thing you can change is the lock-screen image. Open the Background drop-down menu to choose between Windows spotlight, Picture, or Slideshow.
If you select Windows spotlight, the lock screen will periodically display different images sent over from Microsoft. Pick Picture to choose from a selection of static images packaged with the OS. You can also upload your own images to use as a background.
The Slideshow option will let you choose multiple images to become part of a collection of rotating pictures. If there are any albums you don’t wish to use, click the folder and select Remove. Then click Add a folder and select the folder you do wish to use for the slideshow.
Click the Advanced slideshow settings link to further customize your slideshow. Here, you can enable Include the Camera Roll folders from your PC and from OneDrive to add photos synced from your smartphone. To avoid images that don’t look right, turn on the switch for Only use pictures that fit my screen.
You can display the lock screen when your PC is inactive, if you flip the switch for When my PC is inactive, show lock screen instead of turning off the screen. Click the drop-down box for Turn off screen after slideshow has played for to determine if the slideshow should stop at a certain point. This can be set to 30 minutes, 1 hour, or 3 hours.
Windows 10 allows you to add certain pieces of information to your lock screen. Turn on the switch for Get fun facts, tips, and more from Windows and Cortana on your lock screen if you don’t mind seeing suggestions from Microsoft on the lock screen. Click the icon under Choose one app to show detailed status on the lock screen.
Select the app for which you want to see details, choosing among 3D Viewer, Weather, Mail, Calendar, and more. For example, picking Calendar might show you the day's appointments, picking Weather will display the current temperature, and picking Mail will show you the subject of your latest incoming email.
You can also pick several other apps to display a simpler quick status. Click each icon under the phrase Choose which apps show quick status on the lock screen. Again, you can select such apps as Weather, Messaging, and Calendar, Alarms & Clock, Mail, and Windows Store.
The next time the lock screen pops up, you should see information from the apps you chose, assuming any new information is available.
If you're happy with your lock-screen image, you can keep the same one for your sign-in screen. Just turn on the option for Show lock screen background picture on the sign-in screen.
If you walk away from your computer for a while, the lock screen will eventually turn on (and stay on) until you come back and click. But you don’t want the lock screen activity chewing up energy, especially if your laptop is on battery mode, so Windows allows you to control this function.
Click the Screen timeout settings link (or open Settings > System > Power & sleep) to change screen and sleep settings. Use the drop-down menus to determine if and when your PC should turn off the screen and go to sleep. On a laptop, you can set these options for both battery power and AC. Windows lets you choose any interval from one minute to five hours, or Never.
From the Lock screen settings page, click Screen saver settings to control your screen saver options. A small window opens where you can change your screen saver and set how long before it turns on.
Check the box next to On resume, display logon screen so you can return to the logon screen when you stop the screen saver. Timeout and screen saver settings apply to all screens, not just the lock screen.
After you’ve configured everything, it’s time to check out your lock screen. Rather than wait for your PC to go into lock mode or reboot your system, click the Start menu, select your profile icon, and click Lock. Click the lock screen to get back into Windows.
Windows 11 Lock Screen
You access the settings for your Windows 11 lock screen under Settings > Personalization > Lock screen. Click the drop-down box for Personalize your lock screen and choose Windows spotlight, Picture, or Slideshow.
If you opt for a picture, you can select one of the built-in images or choose your own. If you go the slideshow route, remove any folders you don’t want and then add a folder with images you want to appear in the show.
Turn on the switch for Get fun facts, tips, and more from Windows and Cortana if you want to see tips and tricks from Microsoft on the lock screen.
With a slideshow, click Advanced slideshow settings and enable or disable the various options. Click the box next to Include the Camera Roll folders from your PC and from OneDrive to add photos synced from your smartphone.
You can avoid images that won’t look good on the screen if you turn on the switch for Only use pictures that fit my screen.
Display the lock screen when your PC is inactive by flipping the switch for When my PC is inactive, show lock screen instead of turning off the screen. Click the drop-down box for Turn off screen after slideshow has played for to determine if the slideshow should stop at a certain point. This can be set to 30 minutes, 1 hour, or 3 hours.
Click the drop-down box for Lock screen status and select the app for which you want to see details, choosing among 3D Viewer, Weather, Mail, Calendar, and more.
If you're happy with your lock-screen image, keep the same one for your sign-in screen by turning on the option for Show lock screen background picture on the sign-in screen. You can also access timeout and screen saver settings from this page.
Click Screen timeout (or head to Settings > System > Power & battery) to change screen and sleep settings. Select Screen and sleep, then choose the drop-down boxes below to determine if and when your PC should turn off the screen and go to sleep.
On a laptop, these options appear for both battery power and AC. Windows lets you choose any interval from one minute to five hours, or Never.
You can control your screen saver by clicking the Screen saver settings link on the Lock screen settings page. The small window that appears lets you change your screen saver and set how long before it turns on.
Check the box next to On resume, display logon screen if you want to be taken directly to the logon screen when the screen turns back on. These settings apply to all screens, not just the lock screen.
After you’ve configured the lock screen, you’ll want to check it out. Click the Start menu, select your profile icon, and click the entry for Lock. Click the lock screen to get back into Windows.