Use Active Authentication for Unlock and Screen Saver

Use Active Authentication for Unlock and Screen Saver (Windows NT/2000/XP)


This setting controls whether a full login should be performed when a workstation is unlocked or a password is used with the screen saver. Normally Windows will not check some settings such as whether the account has been locked out.

Open your registry and find or create the key below.

Create a new DWORD value, or modify the existing value, called "ForceUnlockLogon" and set it according to the value data below.

Exit your registry; you may need to restart or log out of Windows for the change to take effect.

Note: For Windows XP this behavior only happens when you have Fast User Switching disabled.

Registry Settings

System Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
Value Name: ForceUnlockLogon
Data Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
Value Data: 0 = default authentication, 1 = online authentication


Disclaimer: Modifying the registry can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. We cannot guarantee that problems resulting from modifications to the registry can be solved. Use the information provided at your own risk.