Require a PIN to access data on devices running Microsoft firmware

This policy setting requires users to enter a default personal identification number (PIN) to unlock and access data on the device after a specified period of inactivity (time-out period). This setting applies to Windows SideShow-compatible devices running Microsoft firmware.

If you enable this policy setting, users will be required to enter the default PIN to unlock and access data on the device after the specified time-out period.

Note Users can change the PIN and time-out periods on the device settings page in the Windows SideShow Control Panel.

If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, users will not be required to enter a default PIN to unlock and access data on the device after a specified time-out period. However, users can choose to turn on PIN locking and can change the time-out period in the Windows SideShow Control Panel.

Note Devices not running Microsoft firmware will not be affected by this policy setting.

Note There is a fixed set of time-out periods which includes: after 1 minute, after 2 minutes, after 5 minutes, after 10 minutes, after 30 minutes, when the screen turns off, never.

Supported on: At least Windows Vista

Registry HiveHKEY_CURRENT_USER
Registry PathSoftware\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\SideShow
Value NameSetPIN
Value TypeREG_DWORD
Enabled Value1
Disabled Value0

4 digit PIN

Registry HiveHKEY_CURRENT_USER
Registry PathSoftware\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\SideShow
Value NamePIN
Value TypeREG_DWORD
Default Value9999
Min Value
Max Value
Timeout Value


  1. When the screen turns off
    Registry HiveHKEY_CURRENT_USER
    Registry PathSoftware\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\SideShow
    Value NamePINTimeout
    Value TypeREG_DWORD
    Value65535
  2. 1 minute
    Registry HiveHKEY_CURRENT_USER
    Registry PathSoftware\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\SideShow
    Value NamePINTimeout
    Value TypeREG_DWORD
    Value60
  3. 2 minutes
    Registry HiveHKEY_CURRENT_USER
    Registry PathSoftware\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\SideShow
    Value NamePINTimeout
    Value TypeREG_DWORD
    Value120
  4. 5 minutes
    Registry HiveHKEY_CURRENT_USER
    Registry PathSoftware\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\SideShow
    Value NamePINTimeout
    Value TypeREG_DWORD
    Value300
  5. 10 minutes
    Registry HiveHKEY_CURRENT_USER
    Registry PathSoftware\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\SideShow
    Value NamePINTimeout
    Value TypeREG_DWORD
    Value600
  6. 30 minutes
    Registry HiveHKEY_CURRENT_USER
    Registry PathSoftware\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\SideShow
    Value NamePINTimeout
    Value TypeREG_DWORD
    Value1800
  7. Never
    Registry HiveHKEY_CURRENT_USER
    Registry PathSoftware\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\SideShow
    Value NamePINTimeout
    Value TypeREG_DWORD
    Value0


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