Log On Automatically at Startup

How to Automatically Log On a User Account at Windows 7 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

EXAMPLE: Log On Screen
NOTE: With Automatic Log On, you will not see this anymore. Windows 7 will boot into the desktop of the selected user account instead.

OPTION ONE

To Turn On or Off Automatic Log On at Startup in Netplwiz

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)

   Note

If your computer is joined to a domain, then you will not have the Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer option.

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)

   Note

If your computer is joined to a domain, then you will not have the Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer option.

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.

OPTION TWO

To Turn On or Off Automatic Log On at Startup in Registry Editor

   Warning

:busted: This option is not as secure as using OPTION ONE above.

It is recommended to use OPTION ONE above if you are able to instead. OPTION ONE will save the password in the Credential Manager where it's encrypted and cannot be viewed by anyone.

This option (OPTION TWO) will save the entered password (steps 4G-4H) in the DefaultPassword string value in Registry Editor where it can be seen by anyone with access.

1. Press the :winkey: + R keys to open the Run dialog, type regedit, and click on OK.

2. In Registry Editor, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon


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


4. To Turn On Automatic Log On for a Domain, Local, or Microsoft Account
NOTE: You could also use this step to change what user account you would like Windows 8 to sign-in to automatically at startup.
A) In the right pane on Winlogon, double click/tap on the AutoAdminLogon string value to modify it. (see screenshot below step 2)

B) Type 1, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

C) Double click/tap on the DefaultDomainName string value to modify it. (see screenshot below step 2)

D) Type the computer name (if local) or domain name, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

E) Double click/tap on the DefaultUserName string value to modify it. (see screenshot below step 2)

F) Type the user name (ex: Shawn) of the account you want to automatically be signed in to at startup, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

NOTE: This will be the same name as the user account's C:\Users\(UserName) profile folder.

G) Double click/tap on the DefaultPassword string value to modify it. (see screenshot below step 2)

NOTE: If you do not have a DefaultPassword string value, then right click or press and hold on an empty area in the right pane of the Winlogon key, click/tap on New and String Value, type DefaultPassword, and press Enter.

H) Type the password of the user account you want to automatically be signed in to at startup, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

I) Go to step 6 below.
5. To Turn Off Automatic Log On for All Users
A) In the right pane on Winlogon, double click/tap on the AutoAdminLogon string value to modify it. (see screenshot below step 2)

B) Type 0 (zero), and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below step 4B)

C) Right click or press and hold on the DefaultPassword string value, and click/tap on Delete. (see screenshot below step 2)

NOTE: If you do not have a DefaultPassword string value, then that's ok, and go to step 6 below.

D) Click/tap on Yes to confirm. (see screenshot below)

E) Go to step 6 below.
6. When finished, close Registry Editor.
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Temporarily Bypass Automatic Logon at Startup in Windows
• How to Enable or Disable Require Password on Wakeup in Windows 7
• How to Enable or Disable Windows 7 Screen Saver Password Protection
• How to Create a Password for a Windows 7 User Account
• How to Enable or Disable Secure Logon CTRL+ALT+DELETE in Windows 7
• How to Add Advanced User Accounts to the Windows 7 Control Panel
• How to Change the Windows 7 Log On Screen Background
• How to Change the Windows 7 Log On Screen Text Shadow
• How to Make Windows 7 Require a User Name and Password at Log On
• How to Add or Remove Ease of Access Center from Windows 7 Log On Screen
• How to Set Account Lockout Threshold for Invalid Logon Attempts
• How to Set Account Lockout Duration for Locked Out User Accounts
• How to Set the Reset Account Lockout Counter After Setting
• How to Create a Advanced User Accounts Shortcut in Windows 7
• How to Display Information About Previous Logons During User Logon in Vista and Windows 7
• How to Turn On or Off Automatic Log On for a Remote Desktop Connection
• Allow or Prevent Remote Desktop Connection Clients to Automatically Log On to Host Computer
• How to Remove the Password for Your or Another User Account in Windows 7​
• How to Fix Windows 7 Logon Screen Showing Only "Other User" and Last Logged On User Icon​
• How to Set a Startup Password to Lock or Unlock Windows​

 

[Brink]

You might go through the steps again turn off and then back on to automatically log on to that user to see if that may toggle it to work again.

 

[WFH]

Thanks for the tip.

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome William.

 

[rohack]

auto login after logout

The procedure does work, but only at reboot. We use machines on shop floor (kiosk type application). We have a large base of XP machines and with XP we utilize the logout functionality for the users to initialize if something does not work. In XP the system will login automatically after a logout (unless the shift key is held down). Is this possible in Win7? Major change to system's if necessary.
thxs in advance.

 

[Brink]

Hello Rohack, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Yes, this only works for the log on at startup on the local computer instead.

 

[seth500]

Nice tut Brink

 

[Brink]

Thank you Seth.

 

[unown]

thanks for the tutorial, Brink
saves some seconds and clicks
i created this account to thank you

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome unown, and welcome to Seven Forums.

 

[severedsolo]

Would just like to say, this method also works on the Windows 8 Developers Preview, even if you are using a Live ID.

Log On User Account Automatically at Windows 8 Startup - Windows 8 Forums

 

[gzt7d8]

Hello Brink,
I used this procedure for my Mom's computer and due to some circumstances, I want to undo these steps. It might be the chicken or the egg, but I'm not sure what to do first or in what order it should be done.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Greg

 

[Brink]

Hello Greg,

No worries. You would just need to check the Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer box to turn off automatic log on to a user account.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[gzt7d8]

Hello Greg,

No worries. You would just need to check the Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer box to turn off automatic log on to a user account.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Daaa.....that's way to easy. I might even fumble through that one.

As usual, this site has come through again for me. Thanks so much, I'll take care of that this weekend.

Thanks Brink!

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Greg.

 

[roberto07]

Just wanted to thank you for this post. Using a HTPC and set it up so it shuts down automtically at night and boots up by it self in the morning. The login screen was a real nuisance!!

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Roberto, and welcome to Seven Forums.

 

[andreasandrews]

Hello Tang,

The only downside would be that if you have a computer trying to log on to your via a network, they will be able to easily log on to your computer with your account since it did not have a password. I would recommend to create a password for your account, then apply this tutorial for auto logon. This way you can still have your computer log on to your account automatically, but no computer on a network will be able to without your password.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

This was massively important for me to read! I have a network that may allow for possible security risks, but being the only user of my computer and working down the list found here:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/11728-optimize-windows-7-a.html

I decided to turn off my password...

...then I found this step in the list shortly afterwards. Kind of funny, and so I followed the steps to allow automatic log-in, but what I am going to do now is make sure I create a password for my administrator account again to provide added security over the network.

Thanks

 

[clayp]

I cant get this to work..There are different things other the sc shots and I'm very computer smart to start with.....

 

[Brink]

Hello Clayp,

Could you post back with a few screenshots showing what you are seeing instead?

 

[clayp]

Brink I got it to work..Thank you.