How to Enable or Disable the Require Sign-In on Wakeup Settings In most corporate IT environments, users are required to re-enter their credentials if they’ve been away from their workstation for a while. If you’d like to apply this same level of control in your network, this guide walks you through several methods to require a PC login after waking from sleep mode. Before we begin, be sure to subscribe to NinjaOne’s IT video hub and our YouTube channel for more tech content like this. How to Enable or Disable the “Require Sign-In on Wakeup” Setting in Windows 11 We’ll cover four approaches in this guide, ranging from quick user settings to advanced system-wide configurations. Each method offers a different level of control, so choose the one that best fits your environment. Let’s start with the simplest one: via Windows Settings. First, open Settings using the search bar or by pressing Win + I. From here, go to Accounts, followed by Sign-in options. Under Additional settings, locate this option: If you’ve been away, when should Windows require you to sign in again? Then choose Every time or Never, depending on your preference. Note that this setting applies only to the current user and takes effect immediately. If you manage multiple systems across an organization, the Group Policy Editor is your best option. Start by pressing Win + R, typing gpedit.msc, and selecting OK. Navigate to this location— Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → System → Power Management → Sleep Settings —and double-click Require a password when a computer wakes for both on battery and on AC power. Set it to Enabled or Disabled, depending on your policy. To apply this change immediately, run the gpupdate /force command. Otherwise, the change takes effect at the next policy refresh. Next, the Registry Editor method is for advanced users or IT admins managing systems without GPO access. First, press Win + R, type regedit, and hit OK. Then navigate to this location: If this path is incomplete, you may need to create the missing key. From here, create or modify the DelayLockInterval DWORD (32-bit) value as follows When you’re done, restart your system or run the powercfg /setactive command to apply the active plan. While using this method, keep in mind that editing the registry incorrectly can cause system issues. Always back it up before making changes. Finally, for automation and remote management, PowerShell provides the fastest solution for enforcing sign-in on wakeup system-wide. To disable sign-in on wakeup for all users, open PowerShell as an administrator and run the following script: To enable sign-in on wakeup, use the same commands but replace 0 with 1. In the end, whether you’re managing personal devices or deploying policies across your organization, these methods give you flexibility and control over user access after sleep or idle time. For more information, check out our official blog post on enabling or disabling sign-in on wakeup in Windows 11, linked in the description below.