Lock Computer and Turn Off Monitor - Add to Desktop Context Menu

How to Add "Lock Computer and Turn Off Monitor" to the Context Menu in Windows​

   Information

This tutorial will show you how to add Lock Computer and Turn Off Monitor to the desktop context menu in Windows 7 and Windows 8.

When used by a user, it will lock the computer and turn off the display (monitors). To return to Windows, you would just need to move the mouse or press a key on the keyboard to turn on the display (monitors) again, then log on from the lock computer screen.

   Note

You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to add this to the desktop context menu, but all users on the computer will be able to use the context menu.

EXAMPLE: "Lock Computer and Turn Off Monitor" added to Desktop Context Menu

Here's How:
1. Do either step 2 or 3 below for what you would like to do.

2. To Add "Lock Computer and Turn Off Monitor" to Context Menu
A) Download the 32-bit or 64-bit version of NirCmd at the bottom of the website below that is the same as your 32-bit or 64-bit Windows, and save the ZIP file to your desktop.
NirCmd - Windows command line tool
B) Open the downloaded ZIP file, and extract (drag and drop) the nircmd.exe file to your desktop, and unblock the file.

C) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .bat file below, and save the .bat to your desktop.
Turn_Off_Monitor_and_Lock_Computer.bat


Download


D) Unblock the .bat file.

E) Move both the unblocked nircmd.exe file and unblocked Turn_Off_Monitor_and_Lock_Computer.bat file into your C:\Windows\System32 folder, and approve (Continue-Yes).
NOTE: The .bat file must have this exact name. Rename if needed.

F) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and save the .reg file to your desktop.
Add_Lock-Computer_Turn_Off_Monitor_to_Context_Menu.reg


Download


G) Double click/tap on the downloaded REG file to merge it, then click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK when prompted to approve the merge.
3. To Remove "Lock Computer and Turn Off Monitor" from Context Menu
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below.
Remove_Lock-Computer_Turn_Off_Monitor_from_Context_Menu.reg


Download


B) Double click/tap on the downloaded REG file to merge it, then click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK when prompted to approve the merge.

C) In Windows Explorer (Windows 7) or File Explorer (Windows 8), navigate to C:\Windows\System32, and delete the nircmd.exe and Turn_Off_Monitor_and_Lock_Computer.bat files.

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Add or Remove "Turn Off Display" Desktop Context Menu in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Set to Turn Off the Display after Specified Time in Windows
• How to Lock, Log off, Restart, Shut Down, and Switch User in Windows 8
• How to Add "Log Off" Computer to the Desktop Context Menu in Windows 7
• How to Create a Log Off Shortcut in Windows
• How to Create a "Lock Computer" Shortcut in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Add "Lock Computer" to the Desktop Context Menu in Windows 7
• How to Add "Lock Computer" to the Desktop Context Menu in Windows 8
• How to Add or Remove Lock Computer from the CTRL+ALT+DEL Screen
• Enable or Disable Screen Saver Password Protection in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Enable or Disable Require Password on Wakeup in Windows 7
• How to Add a "Power" Cascading Desktop Context Menu in Windows 8
• How to Add or Remove "Lock" from the User Tile Menu in Windows 8

 

[NoN]

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Brink again.

Well, this said i do Rep you here myself for that one click on my desktop!

 

[Brink]

Thank you NoN.

 

[T C]

Windows + L to lock screen and...

How is that different from hitting Windows + L to lock the screen (in effect)? Namely my screens did not turn off but just went dark with center screen going to unlock screen.

 

[Brink]

Hello T C, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Normally when you just lock your computer, you will only see the lock screen. The display doesn't turn off automatically until after some idle time has passed.

This will lock your computer and turn off your display(s) instantly. Just like when your display(s) turn off normally, any movement of the mouse, touchpad, or pressing a key will have the display(s) automatically turn back on to see the lock screen to be able log back in.

You may have inadvertently moved or pressed something right after clicking on the context menu to turn the display back on. While on the lock screen, it is normal for only your main display to on and not your other displays. The other displays only turn on while in Windows. Sometimes you may have another on during boot, but not always.

If you are sure that you didn't move or press anything, then you may have missed a step in the tutorial, or downloaded the wrong NirCmd 64-bit file for your 64-bit Windows 7.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[pdi805]

Same process in a shortcut?

Hey Shawn - Thank you so much for this! It's EXACTLY what I wanted.

One question... Is it possible to have this exact same process (lock computer and turn off monitors) in a desktop icon and/or a shortcut key? If so, let me know how to go about doing that.

Thanks!
PDI

 

[Brink]

Hello PDI, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Since you already added the context menu, you could create a shortcut of the .bat file from step 2 on your desktop, and be able to change the shortcut's icon and shortcut key.

 

[pdi805]

Thanks Shawn! I will do that.

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome.

 

[Akip]

Is there any way to only turn off the monitor without locking the computer?

 

[Brink]

Is there any way to only turn off the monitor without locking the computer?

Sure. You could use this below instead for that.

Turn Off Display - Add to Desktop Context Menu in Windows

 

[Akip]

Is there any way to only turn off the monitor without locking the computer?

Sure. You could use this below instead for that.

Turn Off Display - Add to Desktop Context Menu in Windows

Thats what I looking for. Thanks Shawn

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome.

 

[powershelluser]

Is there any way to only turn off the monitor without locking the computer?

You can turn off the monitor the workstation without a 3rd party program with a PowerShell-script: Make a MonitorOff.ps1 for example in C:\ and create a shortcut with this target: C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy UnRestricted -File C:\MonitorOff.ps1

Paste the following code inside the .ps1 file:

# Turn display off by calling WindowsAPI.
 
# SendMessage(HWND_BROADCAST,WM_SYSCOMMAND, SC_MONITORPOWER, POWER_OFF)
# HWND_BROADCAST    0xffff
# WM_SYSCOMMAND    0x0112
# SC_MONITORPOWER    0xf170
# POWER_OFF          0x0002
 
Add-Type -TypeDefinition '
using System;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
 
namespace Utilities {
    public static class Display
    {
        [DllImport("user32.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Auto)]
        private static extern IntPtr SendMessage(
            IntPtr hWnd,
            UInt32 Msg,
            IntPtr wParam,
            IntPtr lParam
        );
 
        public static void PowerOff ()
        {
            SendMessage(
                (IntPtr)0xffff, // HWND_BROADCAST
                0x0112,            // WM_SYSCOMMAND
                (IntPtr)0xf170, // SC_MONITORPOWER
                (IntPtr)0x0002  // POWER_OFF
            );
        }
    }
}
'
[Utilities.Display]::PowerOff()
 
 
if ($Host.Name -eq 'ConsoleHost') {Stop-Process $PID}

 

[SaraPalani]

Can we use this in Windows 10 operating system.

 

[Brink]

Hello Sara,

I haven't tested this in Windows 10 yet, but it should work.

 

[SaraPalani]

I am going to use it on my Windows 10 PC. if it is work properly, I will post my experience here.