In Windows 8.0 there was an option in "Change PC settings" (the metro-style modern mode settings) to lock the screen after the screen has been off a certain amount of time. If you turn the screen on before the time expires, you could simply swipe up without requiring a password.
But now in Windows 8.1 (6.3, Build 9600) I can't find this feature. How do you do this in Windows 8.1?
I've seen that changing the power settings to "Balanced" has pseudo-enabled this functionality. The screen turns off, and turning it back on does not require a password until some further time after the screen has been off. I believe this is because the screen timeout is sooner than the sleep timeout, and so the password is required after sleeping only.
My ideal functionality would be that a password is not required until some specified timeout even if the machine has gone to sleep. This would make the power button tons more useful.
Best Answer
If I understand it correctly, you want to be able to 'quickly react to' the screen going blank due to timeout WITHOUT having to reenter your password, but at the same time have the security of a locked screen after further inactivity.
I solved this setting the energy option 'screen off' to 10 minutes WITH password and activating a screen saver after 9 minutes WITHOUT password. This way, I have 1 minute to quickly reactivate by moving the mouse or pressing a key.
Maybe this helps someone out there.