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How do I type Ctrl+Alt+Del on a Windows client?

Updated

Product: Synergy (all versions)
Operating system: Windows

 

Background

Windows users use Ctrl+Alt+Del key sequences for the following purposes:

  • Logging in and out
  • Switching between users
  • Locking the computer
  • Changing passwords
  • Launching task manager

Synergy users are especially exposed to the need to access and authenticate multiple times across their many times multiple user and service accounts. Most Microsoft Domain Admins will have certain out of the box security features in place that impact the way computers can interpret Ctrl+Alt+Del and log-in requirements.

The Ctrl+Alt+Del key sequence is considered a “Protected” action in Windows, which means anytime a Synergy user executes a Ctrl+Alt+Del command it will always be executed on the server computer.

 

Granting permission to emulate

As the Ctrl+Alt+Del key sequence is protected, Windows needs to be configured in order to allow Ctrl+Alt+Del emulation, this can either be done with PowerShell, or by accessing the Group Policy Editor.

Note - If you have a home edition of Windows, the Group Policy Editor might not be available and will have to use the PowerShell method.

 

Method 1 - Run PowerShell command (Recommended)

  1. Go to start menu (or search bar) and type "PowerShell", and the PowerShell app will appear
  2. Select the option to "Run as Administrator"
  3. Enter the following command and press enter: 
    1. Set-ItemProperty -Path HKLM:Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System -Name SoftwareSASGeneration -Value 1
  4. Restart your computer

This PowerShell command will enable software Secure Attention Sequence, which can also be done using the method below.

 

Method 2 - Group Policy Editor

  1. Press Win + R to open the Run command dialog box
  2. Type gpedit.msc and press Enter
  3. Click Computer Configuration in tree menu
  4. Click Windows Components in tree menu
  5. Click Windows Logon Options in tree menu
  6. Double-click Disable or enable software Secure Attention Sequence (see screenshot below)
  7. Click the Enabled radio button
  8. Click the drop down menu within the Options group
  9. Click the Services menu item
  10. Click OK
  11. Restart your Windows client computer



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Once following either method, you can now emulate a ctrl+alt+del on a Windows client, and it also adds the alternative sequence Ctrl+Alt+Pause/Break.

 

Depending on the operating system of the server/primary computer,

 

  • Windows server, Windows client - Press Ctrl+Alt+Pause/Break
  • Mac server, Windows client - Press Ctrl+Alt+Del
  • Linux server, Windows client - Press Ctrl+Alt+Del

Note - If you prefer to use another key sequence, it's possible to change this in the Hotkey settings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Local Group Policy Editor - Disable or enable software Secure Attention Sequence - Dialog

 

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