This article explains how to auto log on to Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP. It also includes information on using an auto login in a domain scenario and tips for when the domain setup doesn’t work.

What to Know

  • Open the Advanced User Accounts program by entering the netplwiz command in the Run dialog box.In the User tab, uncheck Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer. Select OK.Enter the username and password for the automatic login. Select OK to save. Restart your computer.

How to Automatically Log On to Windows

There are plenty of good reasons to auto log in to your computer, and there are several reasons not to set up your computer to auto log in. The most important is that you lose the ability to secure your files from others who have physical access to your computer.

If security isn’t an issue, being able to have Windows fully start, without having to sign in, is handy and easy to do. You do it by making changes to a program called the Advanced User Accounts Control Panel applet (which, depending on your version of Windows, is neither an applet nor available in Control Panel).

  • Open the Advanced User Accounts program.
  • To do this in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, or Windows Vista, enter the following command in the Run dialog box (open that with WIN+R or the Power User Menu in Windows 11/10/8), followed by a tap or click of the OK button:
  • netplwiz
  • Advanced User Accounts Window (Windows 10).
  • A different command is used in Windows XP:
  • control userpasswords2
  • You can also open Command Prompt and do the same if you’d rather, but using Run is probably a bit quicker overall. In Windows 10, you can also just search for netplwiz using the search/Cortana interface.
  • Technically, this program is called the Advanced User Accounts Control Panel, but it’s not really a Control Panel applet and you won’t find it in Control Panel. To make it more confusing, the title of the windows says just User Accounts.
  • Uncheck the box next to Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer from the Users tab.
  • Select OK at the bottom of the window.
  • When the password prompt appears, enter the username you wish to use for your automatic login, followed by the password in the next two boxes.
  • In Windows 11, 10, and 8, if you’re using a Microsoft account, be sure to enter the entire email address that you use to sign in to Windows with, in the User name field. The defaults there might instead be the name associated with your account, not your actual username.
  • Select OK to save and close the open windows.
  • Restart your computer and make sure that Windows automatically logs you in. You may catch a glimpse of the sign-in screen, but only long enough to see it log you in without you having to type anything!

How to Use Auto Login in a Domain Scenario

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.

One of the steps involved in configuring Windows to automatically log in differs depending on the Windows operating system you use. The command used to launch the Advanced User Accounts Control Panel applet is different in Windows XP than in Windows 11 and other newer Windows versions.

Open the Advanced User Accounts program.

To do this in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, or Windows Vista, enter the following command in the Run dialog box (open that with WIN+R or the Power User Menu in Windows 11/10/8), followed by a tap or click of the OK button:

netplwiz

A different command is used in Windows XP:

control userpasswords2

You can also open Command Prompt and do the same if you’d rather, but using Run is probably a bit quicker overall. In Windows 10, you can also just search for netplwiz using the search/Cortana interface.

Technically, this program is called the Advanced User Accounts Control Panel, but it’s not really a Control Panel applet and you won’t find it in Control Panel. To make it more confusing, the title of the windows says just User Accounts.

Uncheck the box next to Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer from the Users tab.

Select OK at the bottom of the window.

When the password prompt appears, enter the username you wish to use for your automatic login, followed by the password in the next two boxes.

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

Select OK to save and close the open windows.

Restart your computer and make sure that Windows automatically logs you in. You may catch a glimpse of the sign-in screen, but only long enough to see it log you in without you having to type anything!

See What Version of Windows Do I Have if you’re not sure which of those several versions of Windows is installed on your computer.

Are you a Desktop lover looking to speed up your Windows 8 boot process even more? In Windows 8.1 or later, you can make Windows start directly to the Desktop, skipping the Start screen. See How to Boot to the Desktop in Windows 8.1 for instructions.

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:

  • Open Registry Editor which, in most versions of Windows, is 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, it’s highly recommended that you back up the registry prior to making the changes.
  • 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.
  • Continue drilling down through the nested registry keys, first to Microsoft, then Windows NT, then CurrentVersion, and then finally Winlogon.
  • With Winlogon selected on the left, locate the registry value of AutoAdminLogon on the right.
  • Double-click AutoAdminLogon and change the Value data to 1 from 0.
  • Select OK.
  • Restart your computer and then follow the standard Windows auto-login procedure outlined above.

When the Auto Log In Domain Setup Doesn’t Work

That should work, but if not, you may have to manually add a few additional registry values yourself. It’s not too difficult.

Open Registry Editor which, in most versions of Windows, is 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, it’s highly recommended that you back up the registry prior to making the changes.

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.

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

With Winlogon selected on the left, locate the registry value of AutoAdminLogon on the right.

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

Select OK.

Restart your computer and then follow the standard Windows auto-login procedure outlined above.

  • Work back to Winlogon in the Windows registry, as outlined above from Step 1 through Step 3.
  • Add the string values of DefaultDomainName, DefaultUserName, and DefaultPassword, assuming they don’t already exist.
  • You can add a new string value from the menu in Registry Editor through Edit > New > String Value.
  • Set the Value data as your domain, user name, and password, respectively.
  • Restart your computer and test to see that you can use the auto login without entering your normal Windows credentials.

Is It Safe to Auto Log In to Windows?

As great as it sounds to be able to skip over that sometimes-annoying login process when Windows starts, it’s not always a good idea. In fact, it may even be a bad idea, and here’s why: computers are less and less physically secure.

Work back to Winlogon in the Windows registry, as outlined above from Step 1 through Step 3.

Add the string values of DefaultDomainName, DefaultUserName, and DefaultPassword, assuming they don’t already exist.

You can add a new string value from the menu in Registry Editor through Edit > New > String Value.

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

Restart your computer and test to see that you can use the auto login without entering your normal Windows credentials.

Security Risks and Auto Log In

If your Windows computer is a desktop and that desktop is in your home, which is probably locked and otherwise secure, then setting up automatic logon is probably a relatively safe thing to do.

On the other hand, if you’re using a Windows laptop, netbook, tablet, or another portable computer that often leaves your home, we highly recommend that you don’t configure it to automatically log in.

The login screen is the first defense your computer has from a user that shouldn’t have access. If your computer is stolen and you’ve configured it to skip right over that basic protection, the thief will have access to everything you have on it—email, social networks, other passwords, bank accounts, and more.

Multiple User Accounts and Auto Log In

Also, if your computer has more than one user account and you configure an auto login for one of those accounts, you (or the account holder) will need to log off or switch users from your automatically logged in account to use the other user account.

In other words, if you have more than one user on your computer and you choose to auto log in to your account, you’re actually slowing down the other user’s experience.

  • How do I log in as administrator in Windows 10?
  • To log in as an administrator in Windows 10, you first need to turn on the administrator account. Open the Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator, then enter net user administrator /active:yes. Wait for confirmation, then restart you computer and log in under the admin account.
  • How do I change my login password in Windows 10?
  • To change a user password in Windows 10, open Control Panel > User Accounts > User Accounts > Manage another account > choose the user. Select Change the password, then set your new password and follow the instructions that appear on-screen. Restart your computer and log in using your new password.

To log in as an administrator in Windows 10, you first need to turn on the administrator account. Open the Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator, then enter net user administrator /active:yes. Wait for confirmation, then restart you computer and log in under the admin account.

To change a user password in Windows 10, open Control Panel > User Accounts > User Accounts > Manage another account > choose the user. Select Change the password, then set your new password and follow the instructions that appear on-screen. Restart your computer and log in using your new password.

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