Ctrl+Alt+Del not working in Windows 11: how to fix it

Applies to: Windows 11 and Windows 10, on desktops, laptops, Remote Desktop sessions and virtual machines.

First: which problem do you have?

Ctrl + Alt + Del is a special key combination that Windows handles itself, so ordinary apps can’t block or fake it. It opens a security screen with Lock, Switch user, Sign out, Change a password and Task Manager. What’s going wrong decides the fix:

What you see	Likely cause	Go to
Nothing happens at all	A key, the keyboard or its driver; or you’re in a remote session or VM	Remote/VM, Fix 1, Fix 2
The screen opens but some options are missing	A Group Policy or registry setting hides them	Fix 4
“Task Manager has been disabled by your administrator”	The Remove Task Manager policy	Fix 4
It worked before and stopped after installing something	Key remapping or security software	Fix 3
Windows freezes or behaves oddly in general	Damaged system files or malware	Fix 5

In Remote Desktop or a virtual machine

When you press Ctrl + Alt + Del inside a remote or virtual session, your own PC catches it, not the remote one. Use the session’s own shortcut instead:

Where you are	What to press
Remote Desktop Connection (mstsc)	Ctrl + Alt + End
Hyper-V virtual machine	Ctrl + Alt + End, or the Ctrl+Alt+Delete button on the VM window’s toolbar
VMware Workstation or Player	Ctrl + Alt + Insert, or the VM menu’s Send Ctrl+Alt+Del
VirtualBox	Host key + Del (the Host key is the right Ctrl by default), or the Input menu
Other remote-support tools	Look for a “Send Ctrl+Alt+Del” button in the tool’s toolbar

If you’re already inside a nested remote session (a remote desktop within a remote desktop), these shortcuts may not pass through. Use the on-screen buttons instead.

Fix 1: Check the keyboard and keys

• Try Ctrl + Shift + Esc. If Task Manager opens, Windows is fine and the problem is likely with the Del key or the combination.
• Use the keys on the other side of the keyboard: right Ctrl and right Alt (or AltGr on some layouts) instead of the left ones.
• On compact laptop keyboards, Del sometimes shares a key with another function. Try it with Fn held down.
• Plug in a different USB keyboard. If that works, the original keyboard is faulty or needs cleaning.
• Check for stuck keys and turn off Sticky keys and Filter keys under Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard. If other keys misbehave too, see our Num Lock and keyboard fixes.

The On-Screen Keyboard can’t send Ctrl + Alt + Del, because Windows only accepts that combination from real hardware. Use it to test single keys, not this shortcut.

Fix 2: Reinstall the keyboard driver

1. Right-click Start and select Device Manager.
2. Expand Keyboards. Right-click your keyboard (often Standard PS/2 Keyboard on laptops or HID Keyboard Device for USB) and select Uninstall device.
3. Restart. Windows reinstalls the keyboard driver automatically.
4. On laptops, also install the latest keyboard, chipset or hotkey drivers from the maker’s support site.

Keep a mouse or touchpad handy while you do this.

Fix 3: Remove key remapping and conflicting software

• If you use PowerToys Keyboard Manager, a gaming keyboard app or a macro tool, check for remapped Ctrl, Alt or Del keys and turn the remapping off.
• Some security, kiosk and remote-control programs change what the security screen shows. Temporarily disable or uninstall recently added ones to test.
• To find the culprit, do a clean boot: press Win + R, type msconfig, on the Services tab tick Hide all Microsoft services, select Disable all, then disable startup apps in Task Manager and restart. Re-enable things in batches afterwards.

Fix 4: Missing options? Check policies

If the security screen opens but some options are missing, or you see “Task Manager has been disabled by your administrator”, a policy is switching them off. On a work or school PC, that’s usually deliberate, so ask your IT team. On your own PC:

Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise or Education: press Win + R, type gpedit.msc and go to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Ctrl+Alt+Del Options. Set each of these to Not Configured or Disabled:

Policy	What it hides	Registry value
Remove Change Password	Change a password	DisableChangePassword under ...\Policies\System
Remove Lock Computer	Lock	DisableLockWorkstation under ...\Policies\System
Remove Task Manager	Task Manager (also blocks Ctrl+Shift+Esc)	DisableTaskMgr under ...\Policies\System
Remove Logoff	Sign out	NoLogoff under ...\Policies\Explorer

Then run gpupdate /force in Command Prompt, or restart.

Windows 11 Home (no gpedit): open regedit and go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System. If you see DisableTaskMgr, DisableLockWorkstation or DisableChangePassword set to 1, change it to 0 or delete it. Check ...\Policies\Explorer for NoLogoff the same way. Microsoft also lists HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System as a place to check for DisableTaskMgr. Back up the registry first, and restart afterwards.

If these values come back after you remove them, something is setting them again: a domain policy, management software or malware. That’s a reason to run Fix 5. For the difference between local and domain policy tools, see GPMC vs. the Local Group Policy Editor.

Fix 5: Repair Windows and scan for malware

Malware sometimes disables Task Manager and the security screen to stop you closing it, and damaged system files can break the sign-in components behind Ctrl + Alt + Del.

• Run a full scan, and an offline scan if you can. See how to scan for malware on Windows.
• Open Terminal (Admin) and run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth, then sfc /scannow. If SFC reports a problem, see our SFC and DISM troubleshooting guide.
• Restart and test again.

Related guides

• Num Lock not working in Windows 11/10: 6 ways to fix it
• How to scan for malware on Windows
• Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation
• Group Policy Management Console on Windows 11

Official sources: for more detail, see these pages:

• Microsoft Learn: Task Manager has been disabled by your administrator
• Microsoft Learn: Ctrl+Alt+Del Options policies
• Microsoft Learn: Remote Desktop Services shortcut keys

Frequently asked questions

How do I open Task Manager if Ctrl+Alt+Del doesn’t work?

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc, right-click Start and choose Task Manager, or run taskmgr from Win + R. If none of these work, the Remove Task Manager policy is probably on.

How do I send Ctrl+Alt+Del in Remote Desktop?

Press Ctrl + Alt + End. It opens the security screen on the remote PC instead of your own.

Why does my PC ask me to press Ctrl+Alt+Del to sign in?

That’s an optional secure sign-in setting, often turned on by organizations. If it’s your own PC, you can change it in netplwiz on the Advanced tab, where the option is Require users to press Ctrl+Alt+Delete.

Can a virus stop Ctrl+Alt+Del from working?

It can’t easily block the key combination itself, but malware often sets the policies that hide Task Manager and other options. If those settings keep coming back, scan the PC.