How to Add or Remove Lock in Account Picture Menu in Windows 10
Locking your PC protects it from unauthorized use when you need to step away from the PC, and don't want to sign out or shut down. When you lock the computer, you will be taken to the lock screen by default to dismiss (unlock) and sign in when ready to continue where you left off. Other users can still sign in to their accounts from the sign-in screen.
This tutorial will show you how to add or remove Lock from the account picture menu on the Start menu for all users in Windows 10.
You must be signed in as an administrator to add or remove Lock in the account picture menu.
This will not affect users from being able to use other methods to lock the computer.
CONTENTS:
- Option One: Add or Remove Lock in Account Picture Menu using Power Options
- Option Two: Add or Remove Lock in Account Picture Menu using a REG file
- Option Three: Add or Remove Lock in Account Picture Menu using Local Group Policy Editor
- Option Four: Add or Remove Lock in Account Picture Menu via Group Policy using a REG file
EXAMPLE: Lock in account picture menu on Start menu

OPTION ONE
Add or Remove Lock in Account Picture Menu using Power Options
1. Open the
Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the
Power Options icon.
2. Click/tap on the
Choose what the power buttons do link on the left side. (see screenshot below)
3. Click/tap on the
Change settings that are currently unavailable link at the top. (see screenshot below)
4. If prompted by
UAC, click/tap on
Yes.
5. Do
step 6 (on) or
step 7 (off) below for what you would like to do.
6. To Add Lock in Account Picture Menu
A) Check the
Lock box under
Shutdown settings, and click/tap on
Save changes. (see screenshot below step 7)
This is the default setting.
7. To Remove Lock in Account Picture Menu
A) Uncheck the
Lock box under
Shutdown settings, and click/tap on
Save changes. (see screenshot below)

OPTION TWO
Add or Remove Lock in Account Picture Menu using a REG file
The downloadable .reg files below will modify the DWORD in the registry key below.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FlyoutMenuSettings
ShowLockOption DWORD
0 = Remove
1 = Add
1. Do
step 2 (add) or
step 3 (remove) below for what you would like to do.
2. To Add Lock in Account Picture Menu
This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to
step 4 below.
Add_Lock_in_account_picture_menu.reg
Download
3. To Remove Lock in Account Picture Menu
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to
step 4 below.
Remove_Lock_in_account_picture_menu.reg
Download
4. Save the .reg file to your desktop.
5. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
6. When prompted, click/tap on
Run,
Yes (
UAC),
Yes, and
OK to approve the merge.
7. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
OPTION THREE
Add or Remove Lock in Account Picture Menu using Local Group Policy Editor
If enabled of disabled, this option will override and gray out Option One and Option Two.
The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.
All editions can use Option Four below to set this policy.
1. Open the
Local Group Policy Editor.
2. In the left pane of Local Group Policy Editor, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)
Computer Configuration/Administrative Templates/Windows Components/File Explorer

3. In the right pane of
File Explorer in Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the
Show lock in the user tile menu policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)
4. Do
step 5 (add),
step 6 (remove), or
step 7 (default) below for what you would like to do.
5. To Enable Show Lock in Account Picture Menu
A) Select (dot)
Enabled, click/tap on
OK, and go to
step 8 below. (see screenshot below)
7. To Disable Show Lock in Account Picture Menu
A) Select (dot)
Disabled, click/tap on
OK, and go to
step 8 below. (see screenshot below)
8. Default Lock in Account Picture Menu
A) Select (dot)
Not Configured, click/tap on
OK, and go to
step 8 below. (see screenshot below)

8. When finished, you can close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.
OPTION FOUR
Add or Remove Lock in Account Picture Menu via Group Policy using a REG file
If enabled of disabled, this option will override and gray out Option One and Option Two.
The downloadable .reg files below will add and modify the DWORD value in the registry key below.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System
ShowLockOption DWORD
(delete) = default
1 = Add
0 = Remove
1. Do
step 2 (add),
step 3 (remove), or
step 4 (default) below for what you would like to do.
2. To Enable Show Lock in Account Picture Menu
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to
step 5 below.
Add_Lock_in_account_picture_menu_by_policy.reg
Download
3. To Disable Show Lock in Account Picture Menu
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to
step 5 below.
Remove_Lock_in_account_picture_menu_by_policy.reg
Download
4. Default Lock in Account Picture Menu
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to
step 5 below.
Default_Not_Configured_Lock_in_account_picture_menu_policy.reg
Download
5. Save the .reg file to your desktop.
6. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
7. When prompted, click/tap on
Run,
Yes (
UAC),
Yes, and
OK to approve the merge.
8. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn