Windows 10 Auto Login (Easy Step-By-Step Set Up Guide)

If your computer is used in an environment where you are happy for all users to have easy access, you can enable Windows 10 auto-login.

It is useful to have the option, especially when a PC is used in a trusted family environment.

You can enable Windows Auto Login by opening the User Accounts window (Press the Start Button, select run and type in netplwiz, and press enter). Uncheck Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer checkbox and enter your login credentials when asked.

If it is set, you won’t be bothered by an annoying lock screen whenever you turn on or restart your computer.

Here we will show you how to enable it using two different methods (one of them is a Registry method) and some extra tips at the end if you find that these steps don’t work.

Enable Windows autologon (The easy method)

1. Open the Run command window

Open the Run command window in Windows 10 by pressing and holding down the Windows key ⊞, then tapping R and releasing the Windows key.

2. Open the User Accounts panel

Left-click in the text box next to Open:. Type in netplwiz and click the OK button. The User Accounts Panel should now be open.

3. Remove the password requirement for user accounts

In the User Accounts Window, press the left mouse button on the checkbox to uncheck Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer.

If it is already unchecked, check it, then uncheck it.

4. Enter your login credentials

After you uncheck the checkbox as instructed in the previous step, you will be presented with a small new window asking for your login username and password for your account.

Enter your username and password and click the OK button.

Enable automatic login via the Registry Editor in Windows 10

This is another method to accomplish the same thing in the steps above but in more of a manual fashion in Windows 10 by making use of the Registry.

You are about to edit the Windows Registry, so I advise you to make a restore point on your computer before continuing. This way, you can always restore your computer to this point if anything gets messed up.

1. Open the Registry Editor in Windows

Open the run dialog in Windows 10 by pressing and holding the Windows key ⊞ on your keyboard and tapping the R key, then release the Windows key.

Left-click in the text box next to Open. Type in regedit. Select the OK button.

The Windows Registry Editor will now be open.

2. Navigate to the Winlogon subkey

Within the newly opened Registry window, click on the expansion markers (>) down the navigation tree on the left to open the following key branches:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows NT \ CurrentVersion

Left-click on the Winlogon key itself to display its values in the right pane.

3. Edit keys

Right-click on the value called DefaultUserName. Click on the Modify… item in the contextual menu.

Edit the value data text box to match your user name. Click on the OK button to save the value.

If the DefaultPassword value doesn’t exist

There is a chance that the DefaultPassword value doesn’t exist in Windows. In this case, create a new string value like this:

1. Select the Edit item in the menu across the top area of the Registry Editor.
2. Hover your mouse pointer over New and left-click on the String Value item in the pop-out menu.
3. Type DefaultPassword into the name box without the quotes and press the Enter key on your keyboard.
4. Right-click on the value called DefaultPassword. Click on the Modify… item in the contextual menu.
5. In the Value Data text box, type your password and hit the OK button to save it.

4. Create the AutoAdminLogon value if it’s missing

1. Left-click on the Edit item in the main menu area. Hover your mouse pointer over New and left-click on the String Value item in the pop-out menu.
2. Type in AutoAdminLogon for the value’s name and press enter.
3. Right-click on the AutoAdminLogon value and select the Modify… item listed in the contextual menu.
4. In the Value data text box, ensure its value is 1. If it has a 0, erase it, and type in 1. Select the OK button.

5. Select restart in the Windows Start Menu to test login

Close the Windows Registry Editor and restart your computer to test that the auto-login is working for your account. If it is, you shouldn’t have to enter your password to get to your desktop.

What to do when none of these work

In some cases, you may run into a situation where the checkbox for users requiring to enter a password (shown in the first example) is missing in Windows 10.

The registry method may not work either. Restoring the checkbox option to turn off the requirement for a password for your account is key for this to work effectively.

To fix this, open the Windows Command Prompt window (right-click the Start Menu icon and select Command Prompt (Admin) or Powershell (Admin) ) and enter the following:

reg ADD “HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\PasswordLess\Device” /v DevicePasswordLessBuildVersion /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

After you press enter, this command will change a registry setting for you, allowing the checkbox for users to always enter a password to return.

Follow the first method again, and Microsoft Windows automatic logon will work as it should with every login.

If you experience Windows logging you out all the time, please read this article I wrote explaining what to do if Microsoft Windows keeps logging you out.

What is the Windows 10 Autologon feature?

Microsoft Windows 10 has the ability to bypass the standard login screen, where you’re required to enter your account user name and password.

This means that every time Windows 10 starts up after turning on your PC, you won’t need to enter your user name and password, and Windows will launch straight to your desktop.

Having your computer automatically go straight to your desktop on your PC saves startup time and gets you straight into the action with no fuss.

This is applied to the default startup account out of the collection of user accounts.

It is usually not necessary to enable this option in the Windows Registry, but sometimes it is necessary when the easy method doesn’t work.

I am thankful to Microsoft for retaining the ability to enable the option as I am a big desktop person and don’t have anyone around my PC that I don’t want. It adds an extra bit of convenience every morning when I start up my PC without needing to enter a password.

Conclusion to enable automatic login in Windows

So there you have it. Your copy of Microsoft Windows will now have the ability to automatically login for you without the need to enter account information or password in a login screen every time you start your computer up.

But you might want to consider this feature to enable auto login for Windows 10. As it isn’t for everyone when thinking about user account security.

For example, you may want to reconsider the option to enable Windows 10 auto-login if you are using a laptop. With increased vulnerabilities, more security measures are required.

So it’s up to you to weigh up the situation to meet your needs. If you are interested, I recommend you read my other article about using a password to log into Microsoft Windows 10 instead of a pin.

However, I’m sure you will enjoy the automatic login option in Microsoft Windows. I know I love the fact that I don’t need to enter my password every time.