Fix Gray or Black Screen on your Windows Lock Screen

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If you’re experiencing a grayed or black screen on your Windows 10 lock screen, there are a few potential solutions you can try. These issues might arise due to various reasons such as group policy settings or system errors.

1. Check Group Policy Settings

If you’re facing issues with a grayed or black screen on the Windows 10 lock screen, it could be due to specific Group Policy settings. Follow these steps to check and adjust the necessary settings:

1. Open Group Policy Editor: Press Windows + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter to open the Local Group Policy Editor.
2. Navigate to Personalization Settings: In the Group Policy Editor, go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel > Personalization.
3. Adjust Policy Settings: Look for a setting named “Prevent changing lock screen and logon image”. If this policy is enabled, it can cause the lock screen to become grayed or black. Disable this policy to potentially resolve the issue.
   • Right-click on the policy and select Edit.
   • Change the setting to Not Configured or Disabled.
   • Click Apply and then OK.

2. Update Graphics Driver

An outdated or corrupted graphics driver can also lead to display issues, including a grey screen. Updating your graphics driver might resolve the problem:

1. Boot in Safe Mode with Networking: Restart your PC and boot into Safe Mode with Networking to ensure minimal software interference.
2. Open Device Manager: Press Windows + X and select Device Manager from the menu.
3. Update Graphics Driver: Expand the Display adapters section, right-click on your graphics card, and select Update driver.
   • Select Search automatically for drivers to allow Windows to find and install the latest driver.
   • Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the update.
4. Restart Your Computer: After updating the driver, restart your computer to see if the issue is resolved.

3. Disable Fast Startup

Fast Startup in Windows 10 can sometimes cause issues with the lock screen. Disabling it may help resolve the grey screen problem:

1. Boot in Safe Mode: Start your computer in Safe Mode to make changes without interference from other programs.
2. Access Power Options: Go to Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options.
3. Change What the Power Buttons Do: On the left side of the window, click on Choose what the power buttons do.
4. Modify Settings: Click on Change settings that are currently unavailable.
   • Uncheck the box next to Turn on fast startup (recommended).
   • Click Save changes.

4. Perform a Clean Boot

Performing a clean boot can help identify if background programs are causing the lock screen issue in Windows 10. This process starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs:

1. Open System Configuration: Press Windows + R, type msconfig, and press Enter.
2. Selective Startup: In the System Configuration window, under the General tab, select Selective startup. Uncheck Load startup items.
3. Disable Non-Microsoft Services: Switch to the Services tab, check Hide all Microsoft services, and then click Disable all.
4. Apply Changes and Restart: Click OK and restart your computer for the changes to take effect. This will perform a clean boot.

5. Force Shut Down and Restart

If the above methods don’t work, a force shut down and restart might help reset the system:

1. Remove External Devices: Disconnect all external devices like USB drives, external hard disks, and headphones.
2. Force Shut Down: Hold the Power button for several seconds until the computer turns off.
3. Restart: After a few minutes, turn on your computer again and check if the issue is resolved.

6. Use Registry Editor

For advanced users, modifying certain settings in the Registry Editor can resolve the lock screen issue. Proceed with caution, as incorrect changes can lead to system instability:

1. Open Registry Editor: Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to the Relevant Key: In the Registry Editor, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Personalization.
3. Modify the Key: If you find a key named NoLockScreen, set its value to 0 to enable the lock screen. If the key doesn’t exist, you might need to create it.
   • Right-click on Personalization, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it NoLockScreen.
   • Set its value to 0 and click OK.
4. Restart Your Computer: After making changes, restart your PC to see if the issue is resolved.

 

 

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