Here's how to set up automatic login in Windows 11 and 10.
Use Netplwiz to automatically log in to user accounts.
The easiest way to automatically log into a Windows 11 or 10 user account is to use the Netplwiz utility. Although this seemingly outdated control panel isn't one you frequently access, you only need to adjust one option there to enable automatic login.
Before proceeding, please note that Windows Hello (including PIN, facial recognition, and fingerprint security) is not compatible with automatic login. If you are using Windows Hello, disable it in Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options .
The Sign-in options page includes all the Windows Hello methods you've set up. Select the one you want to remove and click Remove —for example, to remove the PIN in Windows 11.
You need to know your Windows username and password to continue; if you're signing in with a Microsoft account, this is your Microsoft account password. Follow these steps to automate the login process on your PC:
1. Press Windows + R , type netplwiz into the box, and press Enter.
2. On the Users tab in the dialog box that appears, select your user account from the list.
3. Uncheck the box "Users must enter a username and password to use this computer" . You will find this name at the top. After unchecking the box, click Apply .
4. A prompt will appear asking for your login information. Enter your username in the corresponding field (if it's not already filled in), enter your password in both the Password and Confirm Password fields , and then click OK .
5. Click OK on each open window.
Restart your computer and it will no longer ask for a password. To disable automatic login, simply check the box next to " Users must enter a username and password to use this computer" in the netplwiz utility.
How to bypass Windows login after waking from Sleep mode
Using Netplwiz only disables automatic login at startup. You will need to adjust some additional settings to disable automatic login after waking from Sleep or Hibernation mode.
- On Windows 10, navigate to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Require sign-in and select Never under If you've been away, when should Windows require you to sign in again?
- On Windows 11, this feature is located in Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Additional settings > If you've been away, when should Windows require you to sign in again? > Never .
Use the Windows Registry to automatically log in to user accounts.
If you don't want to use the method above, you can tweak a few registry keys to automatically log into your user account. As always with the Registry, make sure you don't touch any keys if you don't know their purpose. You should back up your registry before making any changes.
When Windows Hello is disabled and your username and password are available, follow these steps to enable automatic login for your account:
1. Press Windows + R , type regedit , and press Enter .
2. Click Yes in the pop-up prompt asking you to allow Registry Editor to make changes to your device.
3. When Registry Editor opens, navigate to the following path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionWinlogon4. Find the item with DefaultUserName on the right and double-click it.
5. Enter your username in the Value data field and click OK . If you only have one user account on your device, this option will be pre-filled.
6. Double-click on DefaultPassword on the right. If you don't see this item, right-click on any empty space on the right, click New , and select String Value . Use DefaultPassword as its name.
7. Double-click the entry and enter your password in the Value data field . Remember to use your Microsoft account password if you're not using a local account. After adding your password, click OK .
8. Find AutoAdminLogon on the right and double-click it.
9. Enter 1 in the Value data field and click OK .
10. Close Registry Editor and restart your computer.
The next time you start your computer, it will take you directly to the desktop. To disable automatic login, change the value of AutoAdminLogon to 0 .
Use the app to automatically log in to your user account.
There's even an app that helps you automatically log into your Windows 10 or 11 user account. If you frequently turn the automatic Windows 10/11 login feature on and off, you might want to use this app instead of the methods above.
Autologon lets you enable and disable automatic login with just one click. It's a free Sysinternals application that you can get from Microsoft's official website.
If you don't plan on installing the application, you can use the portable version, which works exactly like the installed tool. Follow these steps to start using it:
1. Download, extract, and launch Autologon on your Windows PC.
2. Enter your username in the Username field , enter your domain name in the Domain field (this will be automatically filled in most cases), enter your password in the Password field (whether it's your local account or your Microsoft account), and click Enable .
3. Automatic login is now enabled on your computer.
4. If you want to disable automatic login, click the Disable button in the app.
Fortunately, this application stores your passwords in the Registry using encryption. So, even if someone gains access to the Registry, they won't be able to read your passwords.
Does your user account become less secure when automatic logins are used?
It depends.
Because anyone can log into your account, your data may not be secure if you share your computer with others. This article recommends requiring a password or setting up alternative Windows Hello login options—especially if your PC has sensitive data on it.
However, if you are the only one with physical access to your computer, you'll be fine using the automatic login feature. This will save you time and reduce the inconvenience of having to enter your password every time you log in.