Is there a way to prevent Windows from requiring me to sign in every single time my screen turns off?

Hi Greg, thanks for your quick response!

The option to select change "Require Sign I" is grayed out as you can see in the screenshot in my original post. 

I've tried the netplwiz option before too but I don't want to get rid of my password or lock screen completely. Based on the settings I set (screen turn off after 1 minute and sleep after 5 minutes), I want my PC to actually follow them. For now, it locks right away after 1 minute instead of having the screen turned off for up to 5 minutes before going to sleep. 

There must be a way to allow my screen to keep my laptop running while the screen is turned off for up to 5-10 minutes without taking me to the lock screen if I tried accessing it during that time frame. 

Hope this makes sense.

For user accounts without a password, the only way I know is to Disable Lock Screen Functionality.

Using regedit, navigate to

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

and set DisableLockWorkstation to 1

ref: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/84631-enable-disable-lock-computer-windows.html

HI ZZ. I'm Greg, an installation specialist, 10 years Windows MVP, and Volunteer Moderator here to help you.

That setting in Windows Settings > Accounts > Sign In Options > Require Sign in > Never.

You can also Skip the SIgn-in Screen here:

https://www.tekrevue.com/tip/skip-windows-10-lo...

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and keep me posted. If you will wait to choose if I resolved your problem, I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

________________________________________________________

Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.

Let's take a look at all places where Windows can suspend to try to find the culprit:

1. Check closely your Display, Sleep and Hibernate settings in Power Options following this guide: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2843-change...
2. Display timeout has been moved to Settings > System > Power & Sleep > Additional Power Settings, on active Power Plan choose Change Plan Settings then adjust Display timeout.

While there check also Advanced plan settings > Sleep > Allow Wake Timers > under Battery & Plug In options set to Enable, Apply, Save.

3. If your Power Options settings are set correctly then the next suspect is the screensaver which is mysteriously setting a 1 minute timeout to blank Screensaver when some Themes are chosen. Check that now at Settings > Personalization > Lock Screen > Screen Saver Settings.
4. This could also pertain to an issue of Unattended Sleep Timeout setting in Registry. See the Marked Answer here for what has worked for others: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/for...

Whenever modifying the registry, first set a System Restore point: http://home.bt.com/tech-gadgets/computing/how-t...

5. If System Unattended Sleep timeout is not present here's now to access it: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/72133-add-s...
6. More troubleshooting when PC keeps shutting down:

https://www.tenforums.com/general-support/66513...

https://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000689.htm

https://superuser.com/questions/1019043/windows...

7. If you suspect overheating which can shut down the PC, then install CoreTemp to monitor temps from System Tray:

https://www.thewindowsclub.com/core-temp-monito...

https://www.pcworld.com/article/2365089/compute...

8. Since sleep is overwhelmingly controlled by the Display driver, Update the Display driver from the PC or Display adapter maker's Support Downloads web page for your exact model number, HP Serial Number or Dell Service Tag - from the sticker on the PC.

While there check also for newer chipset, BIOS/UEFI firmware (very important), network, sound, USB3 and other drivers, comparing to the ones presently installed in Device Manager reached by right clicking the Start Menu.

if this doesn't give you the latest or ideal driver for what you need, compare it to the driver offered by the Intel driver update Utility here: http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/...

or the Nvidia Update utility here: http://www.nvidia.com/Download/Scan.aspx?lang=e...

or the AMD autodect utility here: http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/windows/P...

For Display issues one fix that is working is to Roll back or Uninstall the Driver on the Display Device > Driver tab, restart PC to reinstall driver.

You can also try older drivers in Device Manager > Display device > Driver tab > Update Driver > Browse > Let Me Pick.

Then you will know you've tried everything in addition to Windows Update drivers.

9. Check over these other working Sleep solutions which may also be involved:

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/fix-windows-10-sle...

10. If this was caused by Windows Update(s) then you can check which were installed at Settings>Update & Security>Windows Update under Update History, then uninstall them from the link there, and immediately check for these again and hide with the Hide Updates tool explained here: https://www.howtogeek.com/223864/how-to-uninsta...

You can also use System Restore to get before the problem began, then check for Updates with the Hide Update tool and hide them: https://www.windowscentral.com/how-use-system-r...

11. If this was caused by a Version Update then for 10 days you can roll it back in Settings>Update & Security>Recovery and then hide it until it matures using the Hide Updates Tool which is explained more here:

https://www.howtogeek.com/223864/how-to-uninsta....

12. If no power setting is causing this then go over this checklist to make sure the install is set up correctly, optimized for best performance, and any needed repairs get done: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

Start with Step 4 to turn off Startup freeloaders which can conflict and cause issues, then Step 7 to check for infection the most thorough way, then step 10 to check for damaged System Files, and also Step 16 to test a new Local Admin account. Then continue with the other steps to go over your install most thoroughly.

13. If nothing else works then do a Repair Install, by installing Media Creation Tool and then choosing to Upgrade Now. This reinstalls Windows while keeping files, programs and most settings in place, and is also the most stable method to advance to the latest version. http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/m...

If you want you can wait a few more days for the new version to be released into Media Creation Tool then you can use it to do the Repair Install also bringing you up to the latest version by the most stable method. Watch for the MCT to change the version listed at top here: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/m...

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and let us know how it goes. I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

________________________________________________________

Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.

Open Settings > Personalisation Lock Screen and select Screen Saver settings. Is the setting checked for On resume, display logon screen.?