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Windows key+L: Lock desktop
This one’s useful for laptops or whenever you want some privacy: Assuming you’ve set up a password for your Windows login username, press the Windows key+L. Immediately, the Lock Dialog will appear. To use your computer again, you must press Ctrl+Alt+Del, enter your password, and press Enter.
on March 18th, 2007 at 2:36 pm
The Ctrl+Alt+Delete is only required if the WIn XP computer is on a domain. Not sure how this works with Win2k3, or when Vista is on a domain.
on March 18th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
If you have XP Home set up with multiple users, this will take you to the “switch user” screen.
on September 6th, 2007 at 3:57 am
On my workstation Windows (key) +L doesn’t work. Can anybody help me with this?
on September 6th, 2007 at 3:11 pm
What does it do instead? What version of Windows are you running? And do you have a username and password you have to enter when you log on?
on September 7th, 2007 at 6:13 am
I have windows 2000 server installed. The Window (key) + l combination doesn’t do anything.
i do have a username and password to enter when i log in.
on September 7th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
Ok, try this:
1. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete
2. Select the “Lock Computer” button (by pressing either Enter, since it’s default, or K, since that letter is underlined)
Do you see the appropriate “Computer Locked” dialog when you do that?
on September 11th, 2007 at 12:51 am
The “Ctrl+alt+del” does work on my machine. The computer is also locked properly on “Ctrl+Alt+Del” combination.
I wanted a shortcut for this. As it is said here the ” Windows(key) +l” combination. this doesnot work on my machine.
Is there anything on the comp wherein we can enable or disable these shortcuts? If there is any please do let me know.
Thanks a lot for all your help.
on September 11th, 2007 at 5:54 pm
Bashi, sorry to hear Windows+L isn’t working for you. I’ve never heard of this issue before, and there isn’t normally a way to disable these keystrokes, so I don’t know why it’s not working.
Short of contacting Microsoft for help, my only suggestion is to use Ctrl+Alt+Delete, Enter in the meantime.
on September 11th, 2007 at 9:34 pm
anyways thanks a lot for ur help.
on October 14th, 2007 at 6:38 am
Hi,
There is a way how to enable/disable shortcuts functionality via windows registry. You need to go to
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
If this key does not exist, create it.(There will be already key explorer in key Policies, so create key System)
Then you need to add a value type DWORD, with value
0 - enable Win+L shortcut
1 - disable Win+L shortcut
Should work for both XP and Vista.
However, it may not work on some PCs… not sure why, though…
on October 14th, 2007 at 6:40 am
Hm, might interest you that the value’s name is
DisableLockWorkstation
So it will look like this
DisableLockWorkstation REG_DWORD 0×0000000x(x)
where x is either 1 or 0.
on October 14th, 2007 at 6:43 am
Yep, one more thing… if this value exists, it may be reason why Win+L does not work… try deleting it then…
on July 2nd, 2008 at 12:15 pm
I think Windows+L is a wonderfully useful keyboard shortcut. (Clearly, I lock my workstation often.)
This shortcut is new in Windows XP; it wasn’t available on Windows 2000. So back on 2000, one annoying alternative for Windows+L would be to press Ctrl+Alt+Del, then press Enter (because Lock is usually the default button selected) or K (the mnemonic).
on August 4th, 2008 at 7:07 am
Hi guys,
My dear computer doesn’t want to lock itself on Win+L. The registry key doesn’t help. WinXP Professional 2nd SP. It also was with my Home Edition. Help pls.
on August 16th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Does anything happen when you hit Windows Key + L? Do you have multiple users switched on?