How to Set an Inactivity Password Timeout in Windows 11

How to Set an Inactivity Timeout for Password Log-In on Windows 11

by Heinz Tschabitscher | Nov 4, 2026 | Windows Tips and Resources

Want your PC to require a password after you haven’t used it for a while — say, 5 hours — yet still have Windows 11 wake from sleep without asking for a login if you return sooner? Find out here how to set an inactivity timeout for password log-in in Windows 11 ⤓.

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First, the Joys of Exploring the World at Night

When no light waves reach your part of the Earth from our star, low-frequency waves struggle to escape the planet. So, dark is the traditional hour of the short-wave radio listener — a time to discover and discern curious signals from all around the globe in a cacophony of languages.

What if you’ve just woken up to a bright morning, though — or have no shortwave receiver?

It’s always night somewhere! Thanks to the magic of the internet, you can tune in to a station located halfway around the world via a shortwave antenna found a quarter of the way around the globe in the opposite direction.

Now, want Windows 11 to require a password after a certain time of inactivity — even if the PC has been up all night listening to shortwave?

How to Set an Inactivity Timeout for Password Log-In on Windows 11

⚡ Quick Fix

Go to Settings | Accounts | Sign-in options and set If you’ve been away, when should Windows require you to sign in again? to Never. Then go to Settings | Personalization | Lock Screen, use Screen saver to set the desired timeout under Wait and enable On resume, display logon screen.

Time needed: 5 minutes

To specify a time of inactivity after which Windows 11 will require you to log in (whether the PC went to sleep in the meantime or not):

Open Windows settings.
Here’s how: You can select the Settings app in the Start menu, for example.
Windows keyboard shortcut: Press Windows I to open Windows settings.
Go to the Accounts category.
Select Sign-in options under Account settings.
Choose Never for If you’ve been away, when should Windows require you to sign in again? (under Additional settings).
Caution: This method depends on the screen saver activating correctly. If the screen saver does not start, the PC will remain unlocked. Test the setup before relying on it for security.
Now go to the Personalization section in Settings.
Open Lock screen
Click Screen saver under Related settings.
Pick any screen saver.
Blank: If you draw a blank (like I did), Blank works just fine.
Choose the inactivity timeout before password sign-in under Wait:.
Example: Enter 300 for a timeout of 5 hours.
Turn on On resume, display logon screen.
Now click OK.

Secured from idle threats?

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How to Set an Inactivity Timeout for Password Log-In on Windows 11: FAQ

Can I still lock the PC with “Dynamic lock?”

Yes.

If you have Allow Windows to automatically lock your device when you’re away enabled in Windows 11 sign-in options (see above), your PC will lock automatically when the paired Bluetooth device (like your phone) goes out of range and the system is idle — even if the screen saver’s inactivity timeout has not been reached yet.

You will have to log in with your password when you return.

Speaking of time: How to Set the Time and Date on Windows 10/11

(Tested with Windows 11 Version 24H2–25H2; first published May 2025, last updated November 2026)

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