Windows 7: Log On Automatically at Startup

   Information

This will show you how to select or change a user account to have Windows 7 automatically log on to at startup.

   Note

• If you only have one user account that is not password protected on the computer, then Windows 7 will automatically log on to that account at startup.
• If you have more than one user account and the user account that you want to have Windows 7 log on to automatically at startup does not have a created password, then leave the password fields blank in step 6 below.

   Warning

This can only be done while logged on to an administrator account. It cannot be done from within a standard account.

If you change the password for the user account you have set to have Windows 7 automatically log on to, then you will also need to change it here as well.


Setting your computer to automatically log on to a user account at startup could pose a security risk if you share the computer or there are other people about that could use your computer. If your computer logs on automatically, they will have the same access as whatever user account you have set to be logged on to at start up.

   Tip

Microsoft has made available a hotfix that will resolve a problem where the taskbar customizations are lost and reset to defaults when automatic logon is enabled in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2.

• Information: FIX: The Taskbar is reset to the default settings when you use the "Automatically Log On" feature in Windows 7 and in Windows Server 2008 R2
• Download link: Help and Support

1. Open the Start Menu, type netplwiz in the search box, and press Enter. (see screenshots below)

2. Do step 3, 4, or 5 below for what you would like to do.


3. To Turn On Automatic Log On for a User Account

A) Check the Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer box. (see screenshot below)

B) Click on the user account name, that you want to have automatically log on at startup, to highlight it. (see screenshot above)

C) Uncheck the Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer box. (see screenshot below)

D) Click on OK, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot above)

4. To Turn Off Automatic Log On

A) Check the Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer box. (see screenshot below step 3A)

B) Click on OK. (see screenshot below step 3A)

C) You are finished.

5. To Change the User Account to Automatically Log On to
NOTE: For this step, you would have already had a user account selected to log on to automatically in step 3.

A) Check the Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer box, and click on the Apply button. (see screenshot below step 3A)

B) Select the other user account name, that you want to have automatically log on at startup instead, to highlight it.

C) Uncheck the Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer box. (see screenshot below step 3C)

D) Click on OK, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below step 3C)

6. Enter the User Account Password

A) In the Password field, enter the selected user account's password. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: If the user account does not have a password, then leave this field empty. See the WARNING at the top of the tutorial.

B) In the Confirm Password field, enter the selected user account's password again to confirm that it is the same as in step 6A above.

C) Click on OK.