Posted by If you are using Windows 11/10, Windows takes you up to the Lock Screen once you start your PC. After clicking on the Lock Screen, you are prompted for a password if you have set it for your user account. It is a good option, and Windows lets you enter into your PC quickly. However, the classic Ctrl+Alt+Del logon prompt is still part of Windows 11/10, and you can activate it on your PC.
The Ctrl+Alt+Del is an additional layer of security for your computer or laptop. If you enable secure login, users on your PC must press the Ctrl+Alt+Del keys combination before entering their credentials and logging on. However, according to your convenience, you can enable or disable this feature on your computer or laptop.
Microsoft provides a few ways through which you can enable or disable Ctrl+Alt+Del to Log on to your PC. In this gearupwindows article, we will review all these methods so that you can use any method according to your convenience.
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How to Disable or Enable Secure Logon in the User Accounts Applet?
For added security, you can enforce users to press Ctrl+Alt+Delete before signing in. This guarantees that the authentic Windows sign-in screen appears, protecting the system from programs that mimic a sign-in to retrieve password info.
Step 1. Press
Step 2. In the User Accounts window, navigate to
Once you complete the above steps, you will only be allowed to log in to your Windows 11/10 machine when you press Ctrl+Alt+Delete from the keyboard. After pressing the required keys combination, you will get the screen to enter the username and password.
If you want to allows all users on your computer to login without pressing Ctrl+Alt+Del, repeat the above steps and uncheck the checkbox labeled with “Require users to press Ctrl+Alt+Delete.”
In case, “Require users to press Ctrl+Alt+Delete” checkbox is disabled, i.e., you are unable to click on this checkbox, you can use the alternate method to enable this function on your Windows 11/10/8.1/7 PC.
How to Disable or Enable “Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to Log on” using Local Security Policy?
Step 1. Bring up the Run command box by pressing
Step 2. In the Run box, type in the following and hit
secpol.msc
Step 3. In the Local Security Policy window, navigate to the following path from the left side pane:-
Security Settings > Local Policies > Security Options
Step 4. On the right side of the Security Options folder, look for policy name
This security setting determines whether to audit the access of global system objects. If this policy is enabled, it causes system objects, such as mutexes, events, semaphores, and DOS devices, to be created with a default system access control list (SACL). Only named objects are given a SACL; SACLs are not given to objects without names. If the Audit object access audit policy is also enabled, access to these system objects is audited. Note: When configuring this security setting, changes will not take effect until you restart Windows.
Step 5. Select
After executing the above steps, “Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to Log on” is enabled or disabled on your PC, depends upon the selection.
By default, the policy is enabled on Windows 11/10/8 domain computers and disabled on Windows 7 and earlier versions of Windows. This policy is disabled by default on stand-alone Windows 11/10 computers.
How to Turn On or Turn Off “Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to Log on” feature using Registry Editor?
Step 1. Open the Registry Editor window.
To launch the Registry Editor, press
Step 2. In the Registry Editor, navigate or browse for the following key:-
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Step 3. On the right side window of the Winlogon folder, look for DisableCAD DWORD (32-bit) Value and double-click on it to modify. Now type in the following value in the Value data field:-
- 1 – Disable Secure Logon
- 0 – Enable Secure Login
Step 4. Click
Once you complete the above steps, you should be able to enable or disable Secure Logon on your Windows 11/10/8/7 PC.
