If typing a password every time you turn on your PC gets tedious, Windows 11 and 10 include built-in tools that let you skip the sign-in screen and go straight to your desktop. Here is how to set up automatic sign-in on Windows 11 and 10 to make your PC easier to use.
Use Netplwiz to automatically sign in to your user account
The easiest way to sign in automatically to a user account on Windows 11 or 10 is with the Netplwiz tool. Its interface looks dated and it isn't somewhere you visit often, but changing a single option here is enough to turn on automatic sign-in.
Before you begin, keep in mind that Windows Hello and its security options, such as a PIN, facial recognition, and fingerprint, don't work together with automatic sign-in. If you use Windows Hello, turn it off in Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
The Sign-in options page lists every Windows Hello method you have set up. Select the one you want to delete and click Remove - for example, to remove the PIN in Windows 11.
To keep using your PC, you need to remember your Windows username and password. If you sign in with a Microsoft account, use your Microsoft account password. To set up automatic sign-in on your PC, follow the steps below.
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 Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer. You'll find it at the top. After unchecking the box, click Apply.
4. A prompt will appear asking for your sign-in details. Enter your username in the corresponding field (if it isn't already filled in), type your password in both the Password and Confirm Password fields, then click OK.
5. Click OK in each open window.
Restart your computer and it will no longer ask for a password. When you want to turn automatic sign-in off, just check Users must enter a user name and pass to use this Computer again in the netplwiz utility.
How to skip the Windows sign-in after resuming from Sleep
Netplwiz only turns off the sign-in prompt at startup. You'll need to adjust a few more settings to skip it after waking from Sleep or Hibernation:
- On Windows 10, go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Require sign-in and choose Never under If you’ve been away, when should Windows require you to sign in again?
- On Windows 11, this setting is 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 sign in to your user account
If you'd rather not use the method above, you can edit a few registry keys to sign in to your account automatically every time you start your PC. When working with the Registry, make sure you only edit keys you understand. And don't forget to back up the registry before changing anything.
When Windows Hello is off and your sign-in details have already been saved, you can follow these steps to enable automatic sign-in for your account.
1. Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
2. Click Yes in the pop-up prompt asking for permission to let Registry Editor make changes to your device.
3. When Registry Editor opens, navigate to the following path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionWinlogon4. Find the entry named DefaultUserName on the right and double-click it.
5. Enter your username in the Value data field and click OK. If you have only one user account on your device, this field will be filled in already.
6. Double-click DefaultPassword on the right. If you don't see this entry, right-click any empty space on the right, click New and choose String Value. Use DefaultPassword as its name.
7. Double-click the entry and enter your password in the Value data field. Be sure to use your Microsoft account password if you aren't 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 turn on your PC, it will take you straight to the desktop. To stop automatic sign-in, just change AutoAdminLogon to 0.
Does automatic sign-in make your user account less secure?
It depends on the situation.
Since anyone can get into your account, your data may not be safe if you let other people use your computer. It's a good idea to set a password or use the Windows Hello sign-in options, especially if your computer holds sensitive data.
However, if you are the only person with physical access to your computer, using automatic sign-in is perfectly fine. It saves you time and spares you the hassle of typing a password every time you sign in.
