Local Accounts Not Showing At The Login Screen (Windows 10)

Separate user profiles and defined group policies help different Windows users work on the same machine while saving their files and preferences under different accounts. They offer enterprises and individuals greater flexibility and privacy when multiple users need to use the same device. However, sometimes these safeguards can cause issues.

Windows 10 may not show user account logins if the correct group policies and system registries are not set up. Software updates and glitches can also cause such issues even if everything is configured correctly.

Why Local Login Accounts Might Not Appear

If you cannot log into your profile, you lose access to your files and all the work you’ve saved on the machine. This can be frustrating and result in lost hours. Here are some common reasons why this might happen:

Group Policy Settings

Windows group policies help you define access and set up preferences for different users on the same machine. These settings can be used to add or remove user accounts and deny particular users access. If user account logins are removed by editing group policies, they will not appear at login.

System Registry Files

Changes to user accounts using group policy are recorded by your computer as registry files. If anyone modifies the relevant registry files, user account logins may not appear when your computer boots. Registry files also record information on installed applications, software configurations, and other settings, so proceed with caution when changing them.

Updates and Viruses

If you have not made any changes to group policy or registry files and your Windows 10 system is not showing user account logins at startup, the issue could be due to updates or viruses. Software updates can sometimes cause bugs, and viruses can make undesirable changes to your system.

Fixes for Missing Windows 10 Local Account Logins

Here are some ways to fix missing Windows user account logins:

1. Manually Enable the Missing User Accounts

If individual user account logins are not showing up, try enabling the accounts manually:

1. Hold down the Windows and X keys to open the quick link menu.
2. Select “Computer Management.”
3. Expand “Local Users and Groups” in the left panel.
4. Double-click on the “Users” folder.
5. Right-click on the disabled account and select “Properties.”
6. In the “General” tab, uncheck “Account is disabled.”
7. Click “Apply” and then “OK.”
8. Repeat for any additional missing accounts.
9. Sign out and restart your computer.

2. Edit the Group Policy

If group policy settings are incorrect, you can edit them to resolve the issue:

1. Hold down the Windows and R keys to open a Run dialog box.
2. Type “gpedit.msc” to open the Group Policy Editor.
3. Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Logon.
4. Double-click on “Enumerate Local Users on Domain-Joined Computers” and enable it.
5. Double-click on “Hide Entry Points for Fast User Switching” and ensure it is not enabled.
6. Log out and restart your system.

3. Assign Users to the Administrator Group

Assigning users to the administrator group can help resolve software glitches that remove user accounts from the login screen:

1. Go to Control Panel > All Control Panel Items > User Accounts.
2. Select “Manage User Accounts.”
3. Select the individual user account and click “Properties.”
4. Change the “Group Membership” tab from “Standard” to “Administrator.”
5. Click “Apply” and then “OK.”
6. Repeat for remaining user accounts.
7. Log out and restart your PC.

4. Edit Registry

You can also restore missing user accounts by enabling them via the registry files:

1. Press the Windows key to open the Start menu.
2. Type “regedit” and press enter to open the Registry Editor.
3. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > Software > Microsoft > WindowsNT > CurrentVersion > Winlogon > SpecialAccounts.
4. Click on UserList and delete the relevant entries for missing accounts.
5. Reboot your system.

5. Disable Fast Start-Up

Disabling fast start-up can sometimes resolve login issues:

1. Press the Windows key and search for Power Options.
2. Select “Power & Sleep Options” and click on “Additional Power Settings.”
3. Select “Choose What the Power Buttons Do.”
4. Click on “Change Settings That Are Currently Unavailable.”
5. Uncheck “Turn on Fast Startup.”
6. Save changes and reboot.