How to Set Up Auto Login in Windows

This article explains how to automatically log in to Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP, while also providing information on using auto login in a domain scenario and offering tips for when the usual steps don't work.

How to Automatically Log On to Windows

There are many valid reasons to auto log in to your computer, but there are also reasons to avoid it (see the Is It Safe section below). If security isn't a concern, follow these steps to make Windows log in automatically:

1. Press Win+R to open the Run dialog box. Enter this command and press Enter to open the Advanced User Accounts program:
   

    netplwiz
   

   In Windows XP, use a different command:
   

    control userpasswords2
   

   This program is technically called the Advanced User Accounts Control Panel, but it's not a Control Panel applet and isn't found in Control Panel. To add to the confusion, the window is titled User Accounts.

2. In the Users tab, uncheck the box next to Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer.

   Can't find that option? Skip to the next section below these steps to learn how a small Windows Registry tweak can reveal this checkbox.
   

3. Select OK at the bottom of the window.

4. When prompted for a password, enter the username and password you wish to use for your automatic login.

   In Windows 11, 10, and 8, if you're using a Microsoft account, be sure to enter the full email address used to sign in to Windows in the User name field. The defaults there might instead display the name associated with your account, not your actual username.
   

   
   

5. Select OK to save your settings and close the open windows.

6. Restart your computer to ensure that Windows automatically logs you in. You might briefly see the sign-in screen before it logs you in without requiring input from you.

Is the Automatic Login Checkbox Missing?

Follow these registry editing steps if you don't see the automatic login option in Windows 10 or Windows 11:

1. Open Registry Editor. It's most easily done by executing regedit from the search box after you select the Start button.

   While following the steps below exactly should be perfectly safe, we always recommend that you back up the registry before making changes.

2. Paste this path into the navigation bar at the top of the editor:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\PasswordLess\Device
   

3. Right-click the value called DevicePasswordLessBuildVersion, then choose Delete and confirm by pressing Yes. You can now repeat the above steps.

How to Set Up Auto Log in for Domain Scenarios

You won't be able to configure your Windows computer to use an auto-login in exactly the way described above if your computer is a member of a domain. In a domain login situation, which is common in larger business networks, your credentials are stored on a server run by your company's IT department, not on the Windows PC you're using. This complicates the Windows auto login setup process a little bit, but it's still possible.

Here's how to get that checkbox from Step 2 (instructions above) to appear so that you can check it:

1. Open Registry Editor by searching for it from the taskbar.

2. From the registry hive listing on the left, choose HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, followed by Software.

   If you're in an entirely separate location in the Windows Registry when you open it, just scroll to the very top on the left side until you see Computer, and then collapse each hive until you reach HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.

3. Continue navigating through the nested registry keys, first to Microsoft, then Windows NT, then CurrentVersion, and finally Winlogon.

4. With Winlogon selected, find the registry value named AutoAdminLogon on the right.

5. Double-click AutoAdminLogon and change the Value data from 0 to 1.

6. Click OK.

7. Restart your computer and follow the standard Windows auto-login procedure mentioned earlier.

That should work; if not, you might need to manually add some additional registry values. It's a manageable task.

1. Navigate back to Winlogon in the Windows registry, following the steps from 1 to 3 above.

2. Add the string values DefaultDomainName, DefaultUserName, and DefaultPassword,  if they don't already exist.

   You can add a new string value in Registry Editor via Edit > New > String Value.

3. Set the Value data to your domain, user name, and password, respectively.

4. Restart your computer and check if you can use auto-login without entering your Windows credentials.

Is It Safe to Auto Log In to Windows?

While skipping the sometimes annoying Windows login process seems appealing, it's not always advisable due to physical security concerns.

Security Risks and Auto Log In

If your Windows computer is a desktop within your secure home, enabling automatic logon is relatively safe.

However, for a Windows laptop, tablet, or another device that frequently leaves your home, it's recommended not to configure auto-login.

The login screen serves as your computer's first line of defense against unauthorized access. If stolen, a computer with auto-login enabled may grant the thief access to sensitive information such as emails, social networks, and bank accounts.

Multiple User Accounts and Auto Log In

If your computer has multiple user accounts and you set up auto login for one account, the account holder or you will need to log off or switch users to access another account.

Opting for auto-login on your account can inadvertently slow down other users' experience on the same device.