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]

Anytime John.

LOL, I hear you. I hope you have a Merry Christmas as well.

 

[Rose1]

I don't if I can post here for this problem. When I did the tutorial and log on automatically it took me to the windows basic theme. I can't change it back to customize. Let me see if I can go back to other way to log on with my user account without password.

 

[gelsner]

Thanks to Shawn

Shawn,


Your suggestion is right-on!! I used it and it worked perfectly!!
Thanks very much for your fine help!


/ Gary E.

 

[Brink]

Hello Gary,

You're most welcome. I'm happy to hear that it was able to help.

 

[HoneycombAG]

That's good to know.

I was planning on running Folding@home when I'm off somewhere and realized that Windows has to perform updates as well and needs to restart the machine and the other program simply can't run from the login prompt. Now I turned automatic log-in on, now how do I turn it back off?

 

[Brink]

Hey Honeycomb,

Checking the box and clicking on OK (step 4 in Option One) will turn it off for you.

 

[nissimezra]

Wow I was looking for this tuot

Many Many thanks

 

[GanjaZz]

Hello i have a massive problem, i set my automatical Login and now few days later i restarted my Server/pc and the Auto Login didnt work and every password i try is wrong?!?!?! I had no password before i did the Auto Login and now i cant Login in my freaking Computer?! Wtf is that, the password is set and the progress of setting the automatical Login went as usual?!

Pls help me fast

 

[GokAy]

Are you sure your server is secure? If no password and you have rdp going on, someone might have just logged in and changed the password?

Try Offline Password Reset Offline Windows Password & Registry Editor to reset your password

Even better - http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/238737-user-account-reset-password-windows-7-a.html, includes Offline password reset

 

[nissimezra]

Hi @GanjaZz
Please try your user name and blank filed you should be able to login.

thanks

 

[GokAy]

Shawn, please check http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/375752-always-getting-log-screen.html#post3109961. OP didn't have the checkbox to enable/disable automatic log on (screenshot on post #9 of this tutorial), and managed to get it back.

It is a bit vague what he did, I asked for more info. I looked through all pages and didn't see a mention of how to fix this, so wanted to let you know.

 

[Brink]

Posted there.

 

[WildWilly]

Suggested enhancement to the tutorial

I used this tutorial & it works great. But only for logging on following a boot, reboot, restart. If you are resuming after a hibernate, this tutorial is not enough. This is something I find totally counterintuitive. You'd think they're all the same. It's the same logon screen whether you reboot or resume so why are there 2 completely separate settings? That's a rhetorical question. I know there's various configurations that might justify it. But from the point of view of a dumb end user (moi) it should have all been taken care of with this tutorial. But n o o o o o o o o . . . .

So my suggestion is that somewhere near the top of this tutorial, make it clear that it covers only the fresh boot/restart scenario and make a reference to the other tutorial for covering resume from hibernate or sleep. The other tutorial is here:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/10024-password-require-wakeup.html

By the way, that other tutorial says there's an Option One, and an Option One, and an Option Three. I've heard of a phobia about the number 13 but I've never heard of a phobia about the number 2. Then again, I suppose it takes all kinds to make the world go 'round . . .

 

[DiwakarM]

Hi,

i have tried this approach for Windows server 2012 R2 and is not working.

My actual scenario is, i need to run UFT scripts through windows scheduler in Virtual Machine and i have scheduled the task for the same which is working fine when VM is logged in. But i suppose to automatically login to the VM only at the task scheduled time and starts the execution. Please let me know whether the auto login is possible through Task scheduler or..

Thanks

 

[Brink]

Hello Diwakar, and welcome to Seven Forums.

If you use this method in the VM, the VM will automatically log in whenever the VM starts.

I suppose you could schedule to start the VM a few minutes before it's time to run the UFT scripts, then schedule to stop the VM when the scripts should be finished running.

 

[RoWin7]

I'm the only user aside from the Hidden Admin. I don't use passwords.

Just did steps 3,4,5 on the first page of this thread. Now I can't open any folders, getting "No mapping between account name and security IDs was done." I haven't changed any usernames. I tried reversing it by checking "must use a username and password." but it didn't work.

My user name has been removed from netplwz--User Accounts. I added it back in and it says I can't because I already have permission to use the computer. I looked this over, but it's too technical. Don't know what a GPO and AD are.
How to fix error “No mapping between account names and security IDs” in Active Directory - RebelAdmin.com

I don't care anymore if it's not automatic, just want to get control back.

 

[Brink]

Hello [MENTION=512917]RoWin7[/MENTION],

Odd. This should have no affect on anything other than having it automatically log in to your account at startup or not.

Did you do anything else other than this before this issue happened?

Any error messages when you logging in?

For now, you might see if doing a system restore using a restore point dated before this happened may be able to undo it.

 

[RoWin7]

Sys restore keeps failing, 2 restore points. I can get into the Start Menu, but not Control Panel or anything on the Desktop. Can get into MS services at the top of the Start Menu and Elevated Command Prompt

I did nothing else except MS Updates

I don't log in. I usually keep the computer in sleep and wake it in the morning, so I don't have to log in to a few other programs every day.

My users are Prize-02 (myself), Hidden Admin, and Test User, none needing passwords (yes, i know, don't say it.) Can we fix this with the Hidden Admin?

Logging out and in. If it locks, I'll get you on my other machine.

 

[Brink]

You might also test with a restart and manually logging in to the account without netplwiz.

 

[RoWin7]

I logged off, restarted Win, everything's fine. So back to the tute. Is it possible to have automatic logon for Prize-02? All 3 ID's are mine.