Windows 10: Locking computer WinKey+L causes all apps/screens/windows to close down

I discovered the answer or one answer to this question on my own but I'm posting it because I could find no good info on the web.I have Windows 10, Build 19044. In the Screen Saver Setting dialog, I have "On resume, display logon screen." So, normally, I hit WinKey+L for privacy, then come back to work by hitting any key, getting the password sign-in screen, and getting back in that way. Normally, when I do this, whatever programs and browser windows I had open when I hit WinKey+L are still up when I sign back in. However, for the past few days, all programs and browser windows closed dow

:)

 

Windows 10 lock screen closes programs

Recently, when Windows 10 returns to the lock screen, all of my programs (e.g. Excel) are closed, any unsaved information is lost, and I must restart the programs upon entering my password at the lock screen. The behavior is as if, by leaving the computer idle, I clicked the "sign out" option (which I have not).

• Reverting to an old system restore point did not work.
  
• Using Win-L and then immediately entering my password does not close my programs. I don't know how long the delay is between going to the lock screen and my programs being closed
  
• I have no screen saver; the screen goes blank after 10 minutes; I have - to my knowledge - unchecked all instances of returning to the lock screen
  
• I do want the lock screen, as this is an office computer
  
• When booting to safe mode, the problem does not appear.
  

In response to comments

• My office computer is not on the institution's domain, although they do have one.
  
• I can confirm that the computer is not rebooting by checking that no events with IDs 6005 or 6006 occur at times when my programs close
  
• Starting the lock screen witn Win-L and waiting 15-20 minutes does not cause my programs to close. I not yet been able to check longer times; however, this is the only clue I have thus far to suggest that the program closing issue may not be attached to the lock screen.
  

I am not sufficiently familiar with the event viewer or task scheduling to check these systems for additional diagnostic information.

How do I continue to diagnose, and ultimately resolve, the issue of the Windows-10 lock screen apparently forcing all of my programs to close?

 

Windows Spotlight on the lock screen

Hi,

There are multiple causes on why you're encountering this issue. To further troubleshoot the issue, we suggest that you disable and re-enable Spotlight. Simply follow the steps below:

• Right-click on the desktop and open Personalize.
• Open Lock Screen tab.
• Under Background, switch from Windows Spotlight to a Picture or the Slideshow.
• Click OK and close the Window.
• Now Log off and log in.
• Navigate to Lock screen and enable Windows Spotlight again.

Let us know how it works.

 

lock screen problem - "some settings are managed by your organisation"

This worked for me!

I had previously attempted to do this via the following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Personalization

But that didn't work for me as there wasn't any value for 'NoLockScreen' to change from 1 to 0. I think it depends on how the organization or OS handles the lock/permission.

Once I change the 'EnforceLockScreenAndLogonImage' I was able to see options to change the lock screen image in control panel / settings.

For safety I changed the 'EnforceLockScreenProvider' as you mentioned, but I am not sure if it was necessary.

Thank you!

Edit: I found that I was still having issues with my Actual Lock screen showing a black screen rather than the picture I had selected. After some Digging, I found

this post which basically talks about toggling off and on the settings for it to show properly.

So here is a breakdown of my steps:

• Open Run Dialog (WinKey+R) -- 'regedit'
• In RegEdit, go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PolicyManager\default\DeviceLock\EnforceLockScreenAndLogonImage and change it to 0
• Then go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PolicyManager\default\DeviceLock\EnforceLockScreenProvider and change it to 0 as well
• Close out of RegEdit
• Go into Lock Screen settings within windows. You should be allowed to select a picture.
• Press WinKey+L and lock the PC to check if you are getting a black screen, if you image shows up both on the overlay and the screen where you enter your password you are done.
• If not, and you have a black screen or the image just shows up on the first part do the following.
• Disable the 'Show Lock screen background picture on the sign-in screen' (or just enable it if it's not already)
• Lock the PC and log back in
• Re-Enable the setting from step 8
• Lock PC and verify.
• If you are still not getting it on both screens, open up the Run Dialog (WinKey+R) and run 'sysdm.cpl'
  • Go to the advanced tab, then click on Settings in the 'Performance' section.
  • Un-check 'Animate windows when minimizing and maximizing'
  • Hit Apply
  • Re-check 'Animate windows when minimizing and maximizing'
• Lock the PC (WinKey+L) and see if it works
  • If still not working, run through steps 8-11 again.

That should do it. For me I had to go through all of the steps. So disable and re-enable with locking in between. Then I had to go into the animate setting and un-check and re-check. Then after locking I was good to go.

Also, I noticed in the settings for the lock screen, I still get the message about some settings are managed by your organization, but I am able to choose my image and everything as needed. (may clear after reboot, but not sure yet)

Hope this helped! Thank you again!