W06 – Screen lock after 15 minutes or less

Why step 1 is required: the Windows check reads the InactivityTimeoutSecs setting (or a password-protected screen saver of 15 minutes or less). It does not read sleep settings. Without one of these, W06 stays NEEDS WRITTEN CONFIRMATION even if your screen settings are correct. Steps 2–3 are extra protection.

1. Required. In an admin PowerShell, set a 900-second (15 min) inactivity lock:

   reg add HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System /v InactivityTimeoutSecs /t REG_DWORD /d 900 /f

   Restart the PC, then run the check again; W06 should show DETECTED.
   SCREENSHOT PLACEHOLDER – no image yet: img/guides/screenlock-03.png
   Registry command completed
2. Additional: Settings → System → Power & battery → Screen, sleep & hibernate timeouts: set the screen to turn off after 15 minutes or less.
   SCREENSHOT PLACEHOLDER – no image yet: img/guides/screenlock-01.png
   Screen and sleep timeout settings
3. Additional: Settings → Accounts → Sign-in options → "If you've been away, when should Windows require you to sign in again?": choose When PC wakes up from sleep.
   SCREENSHOT PLACEHOLDER – no image yet: img/guides/screenlock-02.png
   Require sign-in setting
4. Staff habit: press Windows key + L whenever you leave the desk.

Describes settings detected at the time of the check. Not an audit, not a certification, not legal advice. Back to all fix guides.