Log On Automatically at Startup

Page 1 of 15 12311 ... LastLast
    Log On Automatically at Startup

    Log On Automatically at Startup

    How to Automatically Log On a User Account at Windows 7 Startup
    Published by
    Designer Media Ltd


    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.

    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.
    Log On Automatically at Startup-log-on_screen.jpg



    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)
    Log On Automatically at Startup-start_menu.jpgLog On Automatically at Startup-start_menu2.jpg
    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.

    Log On Automatically at Startup-select_user_name.jpg
    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)
    Log On Automatically at Startup-uncheck_box.jpg
    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.
    Log On Automatically at Startup-password.jpg



    OPTION TWO

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



       Warning
    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

    Log On Automatically at Startup-automatic_log_on_regsitry-1.png
    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)
    Log On Automatically at Startup-automatic_log_on_regsitry-1a.png
    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)
    Log On Automatically at Startup-automatic_log_on_regsitry-2.png
    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.
    Log On Automatically at Startup-automatic_log_on_regsitry-3.png
    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)
    Log On Automatically at Startup-automatic_log_on_regsitry-4.png
    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)
    Log On Automatically at Startup-automatic_log_on_regsitry-5.png
    E) Go to step 6 below.
    6. When finished, close Registry Editor.
    That's it,
    Shawn
















  1. Posts : 575
    7600 x86
       #1

    will this work with the Administrator account? i'm the only person that uses my machine, and i hate the idea of having to tell the computer to run things as administrator all the time, it's ridiculous.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 71,976
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    Hello Garbanzo,

    Yes, it will work for any user account. :)

    Shawn
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 1,797
    Windows 7 Ulti. x64
       #3

    Hi Shawn
    Is this password now encrypted? Or can it be seen someplace in registry? No big deal for me with my home pc and network,just curious. thanks larry
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 71,976
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Hi Larry,

    Yes, all user passwords are automatically encrypted in Windows 7 without a way to be able to see them by default. :)
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 38
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64 OEM
       #5

    At risk?


    Because I am the only user of my home PC - when I installed the RC, I left the password empty. This way I did not have to sign on every single time I started up. By having the administrator account automatically sign in like this, is there any security risk? or have I .. made a change that will not really effect anything? It does not look any different at startup - and I had Admin status beforehand as well...

    Can you think of any downside to doing this?
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 71,976
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Hello Tang,

    The only downside would be that if you have a computer trying to log on to your via a homegroup, 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
    Last edited by Brink; 16 Nov 2012 at 14:34. Reason: clarify
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 2
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64 Build 7100 RC
       #7

    Ok . . .

    What if the "check box" isn't there?

    RowZ
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 71,976
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Hello RowZ, and welcome to Seven Forums.

    Strange, could you post a screenshot of this?

    Are you doing this from within a administrator account?
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 2
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64 Build 7100 RC
       #9

    I'm definatley an administrator, as there are no non-administrator accounts right now. Here is the netplwiz image requested:
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Log On Automatically at Startup-gfx.netplwiz.capture.jpg  
      My Computer


 
Page 1 of 15 12311 ... LastLast

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:37.
Find Us