How to Enable or Disable Ctrl+Alt+Delete Secure Sign-in on Lock Screen in Windows 11

What You Need

Administrator privileges are required to change this setting.

Option 1Use the User Accounts Tool

1. Open the User Accounts tool (netplwiz).
2. Click the Advanced tab.
3. Check the box next to Require users to press Ctrl+Alt+Del to turn it on. Uncheck it to turn it off.
4. Click OK.

Option 2Use Local Security Policy

Users running Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education can use the Local Security Policy tool (secpol.msc) to change this setting. Typing secpol.msc into the search 🔍 bar and pressing Enter opens the tool. Local Policies contains Security Options for making these modifications.

1. ⚙️ Admin Required: Open Local Security Policy by typing secpol.msc in your search bar 🔍.
2. In the left pane, click Local Policies, then click Security Options.
3. In the right pane, double-click Interactive Logon: Do not require Ctrl+Alt+Del.
4. Select Enabled to turn off secure sign-in. Select Disabled to turn it on.
5. Click OK.
6. Close Local Security Policy if you want.

Option 3Use the Registry

⚙️ Admin Required: The Windows Registry is a more advanced system area. Proceed with caution, as incorrect changes can sometimes lead to problems.

To Turn On Secure Sign-in

Enabling the Ctrl+Alt+Del secure sign-in requirement in Windows 11 calls for a small change in the Windows Registry. This ensures the secure sign-in prompt appears every single time. Executing a specific command configures the registry entry correctly to activate this security measure.

reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon" /v DisableCAD /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
reg delete "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon" /v DisableCAD /f
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System" /v DisableCAD /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
reg delete "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System" /v DisableCAD /f

To Turn Off Secure Sign-in

Disabling the prompt removes that extra keystroke entirely. Adjusting a setting in the Windows Registry handles this modification. Executing a specific command configures the registry entry to turn off the feature.

Set the entry:

reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon" /v DisableCAD /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
reg delete "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon" /v DisableCAD /f
reg delete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System" /v DisableCAD /f
reg delete "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System" /v DisableCAD /f

Summary

Controlling this feature is possible through the User Accounts tool, Local Security Policy, or the Windows Registry depending on your edition of Windows.