Auto logout for users

Question

Hi,

I have a question because so far I have only found the lock screen solution.We often use multiple users on a PC in remote management. To save resources, we would like, for example, if a user nahch half an hour, or an hour is inactive, an automatic logout to take place. Not lock screen, but logout, every service, program, everything that runs in the background and consumes resources (CPU, memory) will be closed.How can I do this?Thanks in advance.

LG,

Bence

Answer 1

Hi @Bence Balogh

To automatically log out inactive users after a certain period of inactivity and terminate all background processes and programs, you can use a combination of Windows built-in features and additional software if needed. Here's a step-by-step guide to achieve this:

1. Group Policy for Inactivity Timeout:

Windows provides Group Policy settings that allow you to configure an inactivity timeout for user sessions. This doesn't log out users but can be used in conjunction with other methods to achieve the goal.

Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter to open the Local Group Policy Editor.

Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel > Personalization.

Double-click on the "Screen saver timeout" policy and set the time for user inactivity. This will initiate the screensaver after the specified time, but it won't log out the user or close background processes.

2. Use Task Scheduler to Log Out Users:

To forcefully log out users after a certain period of inactivity, you can create a scheduled task using Task Scheduler.

Press Win + R, type taskschd.msc, and press Enter to open Task Scheduler.

Create a new task, and configure it to run the following command:

bashCopy code
shutdown /l /f

This command will forcibly log out the current user and close all running processes.

Set the task to trigger after a specified period of inactivity. In the "Conditions" tab, you can configure the task to run after a certain amount of idle time.

Save and activate the task.

This method will log out users, but it won't necessarily close all background processes. Some background processes may persist after the user logs out. If you want to forcefully close all running processes, you might need to use third-party software.

3. Third-Party Software:

You can use third-party software like "AutoLogoff" or "IdleLogoff" to automate user logoff after a specified period of inactivity and ensure that background processes are terminated. These tools can provide more control over the logoff process and are specifically designed for this purpose.

Please note that forcefully logging out users can result in data loss if they have unsaved work. Make sure to inform users about this policy, and consider implementing it in an environment where users are aware of the automatic logoff and save their work regularly.