Hello Arkady,
Thank you for posting question on Microsoft Windows Forum!
Based on the issue description, the issue is most likely of that a peripheral device connected to your docking station that is sending phantom input, preventing your computer from becoming idle. The fact that the screen locks when undocked but not when docked might be a key piece of evidence. Your Group Policy settings rely on the system's idle timer. If a connected device constantly sends small input signals (even ones you can't see), the idle timer continuously resets and never reaches the 300-second threshold required to trigger the lock. You can try the following steps to see if it could resolve the issue on the affected laptops.
1.Isolate Peripheral “Jitter” Inputs.
- Simplify the Docked Setup: Disconnect all USB devices from your docking station (and laptop), including your external mouse, keyboard, headset, webcam, etc. Leave only the power and monitor(s) connected.
- Wait and See: Wait for 5-6 minutes. If the screen now locks as expected, you have confirmed the issue is one of the disconnected peripherals.
- Identify the Culprit: Reconnect one device at a time, waiting 5-6 minutes after each one. The device that stops the screen from locking is the source of the problem.
2.Check with PowerShell.
- Open PowerShell or Command Prompt as an administrator.
- Run the following command: powercfg /requests
- Look at the output. If a specific driver or device is listed under the SYSTEM or DISPLAY categories, it is actively preventing sleep and idle requests. This will often point you directly to the culprit.
3.Check Presentation Settings on Affected Laptops.
- When you dock, Windows often assumes you’re giving a presentation and disables screen savers and auto-locks.
- Open Windows Mobility Center (Win+X → Mobility Center)
- If Presentation Settings shows “On,” click Turn off.
- To permanently disable:
- In Group Policy Editor:
- On command prompt, type gpedit.msc
- Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → Presentation Settings
- Enable Turn off presentation settings.
- This blocks auto-activation when you dock.
- In Group Policy Editor:
- Open Windows Mobility Center (Win+X → Mobility Center)
4.Verify Lid-Close & Display Behavior.
- With the lid closed, the internal panel is off—some drivers will not start the saver on external monitors.
- Go to Control Panel → Power Options → Choose what closing the lid does
- When Plugged in, set Do nothing (to keep the session alive).
- In Advanced Power Settings → Display → Console lock display off timeout
- Ensure it’s ≤ 300 seconds. (This hidden setting governs how long after locking the display actually turns off.)
- Go to Control Panel → Power Options → Choose what closing the lid does
Hope the above information is helpful!