How to Enable Windows 10 Auto Login Feature in 2021

Windows 10 auto login feature allows you to log in to Windows 10 without typing your user name and password. This feature is very useful if you are using your computer in a safe space where you don’t need to type passwords every time you log in to Windows 10.

In the previous versions of Windows 10, it was so easy to enable the automatic login feature. However, after the 2004 update, Microsoft has disabled the option that allows Windows 10 auto login.

Worry no more because in this article, I will show you how to enable automatic login for any Windows 10 version and even in server operating systems and domain accounts!

How to Enable Auto Login in Windows 10

The easiest way to enable the automatic login feature is to use user account settings (netplwiz). In case you are using 2004 update or an older one, you may not be able to see the check box that is mentioned below. In that instance, go to the next section to make the check box reappear and then come back to here.

Here is what you need to do:

1. Open Run dialog box;
2. Type “netplwiz” and click OK;
3. Uncheck the box “Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer”;
4. Click apply and then OK; and
5. Restart the computer to see the changes

Let’s do this!

Step 1– Open Run Dialog Box

You can use search option or just press Windows key + R button to open Run Dialog Box.

Step 2 – Type “netplwiz” and click OK

This will open Windows 10 user account settings Window.

Step 3 – Uncheck the box “Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer”

This will bypass Windows 10 login screen and enable automatic login. Click apply and then OK to apply and save new changes.

If the “Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer” check box is missing here. Don’t worry, you can go to the next section to know how to make the check box reappear.

Step 4 – Restart your computer to see the changes.

After you restart the computer, you’ll see the sign-in screen but you won’t need to enter a password anymore to log in to the desktop.

How to Enable Windows 10 Auto Login If “Users must enter a user name…” Checkbox is Missing

If the “Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer” check box is missing when you open “netplwiz”, it is because of the new passwordless sign-in feature introduced to Windows 10 which allows you to sign in using a fingerprint, PIN, or Windows hello face without the need of a password.

Even you did not enable this feature, it can be enabled automatically based on your device’s hardware.

For example: if you have a laptop that has an in-built fingerprint scanner, Windows 10 will automatically activate the new feature and turn off the “Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer” check box automatically.

Therefore, to make the check box reappear, you have to disable this new passwordless sign-in feature. Here are the 2 methods to do that.

Method 01 – Fix the Missing Checkbox in Windows 10 Settings

You can disable Windows hello sign-in feature in Windows 10 settings to make the “Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer” check box reappear.

Here are the steps that you need to follow:

1. Open Windows 10 Settings App;
2. Go to Accounts and then Sign in options;
3. Disable the “Require Windows Hello Sign-in for Microsoft Accounts” option; and
4. Open “netplwiz” again and enable the automatic login feature

Step 1 – Open Windows 10 settings app

Use search feature or just press Windows key + I on your keyboard to open Windows 10 settings.

Step 2 – Go to Accounts and then Sign in option.

Once you open the settings app, go to Accounts settings. From there, you will see a list of settings in the left panel then just click on the “Sign in option”.

Step 3 – Disable the “Require Windows Hello Sign-in for Microsoft Accounts” option

Depending on what Windows 10 version you have, the option will be “Make your device passwordless” or “Require Windows Hello Sign-in for Microsoft Accounts”; whatever it is, turn it OFF.

Now you can open “netplwiz” again and enable auto login feature as explained above.

Method 2 – Fix the missing check box using Windows Registry Editor

If method 01 didn’t work for you, that’s the time that you can use Registry Editor to disable the passwordless feature and make the check box reappear. Just follow the simple steps below:

1. Open registry editor;
2. Navigate to “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\PasswordLess”;
3. Change the value of “DevicePasswordLessBuildVersion” to 0; and
4. Restart your computer

Step 1 – Open registry editor

Use Windows search or Run dialog box (Win key + R) to open Windows Registry Editor. (Type registry editor if you are going to use Search to open registry editor.)

Type “regedit” and click on the OK button.

Step 2 – Navigate to “Device” registry key

Go to “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\PasswordLess”

From the drop down option on “Passwordless” folder, click on Device folder

If you find it difficult to find the registry key, copy the location listed below:

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\PasswordLess\Device

And then, paste it to the address bar in the registry. After that, press enter on your keyboard to go straight to the registry folder.

Step 3 – Change the value

Once you are in the Device registry folder, open “DevicePasswordLessBuildVersion” and change the value to 0 (Zero).

Once you are done, click OK to save the changes and close the registry. You are now ready to restart your computer.

After restarting your computer, open “netplwiz” again and enable the auto login feature as described above .

How to Enable Auto Login for Windows Server Operating Systems

This method is only applicable to Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2012 R2 Operating Systems.

Note: Remember that if you make any mistake here, it may lead to system failures and errors. Therefore, follow the instructions given below carefully.

1. Open Registry Editor
2. Navigate to the following Registry Key
3. Change “DefaultUserName” registry key
4. Change “De” registry key

Step 1 – Open Registry Editor

Use Windows search to open Registry Editor.

Step 2 – Navigate to the following Registry Key

Once you open Registry Editor, from its left panel, navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

Note: You can go to the key folder quickly by copying the address and pasting it in the address bar. Then, press the Enter button on your keyboard.

Step 3 – Change “DefaultUserName” Registry Key

Once you go to the registry folder, there will be a list of registries on the right panel. What you need to do is to change the “DefaultUserName” registry and add your user name.

Step 4 – Change “DefaultPassword” Registry Key

Just like what you did for DefaultUserName, add your password to “DefaultPassword” entry.

If there is no “DefaultPassword” entry, you must create one. To do that, here’s how:

A. – From the top bar, click on Edit > New > String value

B. – Give a name to value as “DefaultPassword”

C. – Open the value and enter your password, then click OK

How to Enable Windows 10 Auto Login for Domain Account

If you use a computer as a domain user, you can also enable the automatic login feature as a domain user. To do that, you need domain administrator access to enable the feature then you can:

1. Open Registry Editor;
2. Navigate to the registry (given below);
3. Add your domain name in “DefaultDomainName” key;
4. Add your user name in “DefaultUserName” key;
5. Add your domain password in “DefaultPassword” key;
6. Add new key as “AutoAdminLogon” and set the value to 0; and
7. Restart your computer

Step 1 – Open Registry Editor

Type “Registry Editor” in search bar and from the results, open Registry Editor.

Step 2 – Navigate to the following registry

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

(Copy the address and paste it in the address bar, then hit the Enter button to navigate easily.)

Step 3 – Change the Value ‘DefaultDomainName’

Once you are in the registry folder (Winlogon), open “DefaultDomainName” value from the right panel and type your domain name there. And, click on the OK button.

Step 4 – Change the Value ‘DefaultUserName’

Open “DefaultUserName” registry and add your user name there. Click the OK button afterwards.

Step 5 – Change the Value ‘DefaultPassword’

Open “DefaultPassword” and add your user password there, then click OK.

Step 6 – Add a new string value

Now, you need to add a new value. To do, that click on edit on the top bar and select New > String Value

Provide “AutoAdminLogon” as a value name and give “1” as its value. Click OK to save the new key.

Step 7 – Restart your computer

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If you have any problems, queries, or clarifications regarding this article, don’t hesitate to leave a comment below.

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