How to enable automatic logon in Windows

This article describes how to configure Windows to automatically perform the logon process by storing passwords and other related information in the registry database. This feature allows other users to start your computer and automatically log on using your established account.

IMPORTANT: If you enable automatic logon, you can make it easier to use Windows, but this feature can pose a security risk. If the computer is set to log on automatically, any person who can actually touch the computer can access all of it, including any network content it is connected to. In addition, if automatic logon is enabled, the password is stored in the registry as plain text. The authenticated Users group can read a specific registry key that stores this value remotely. This setting is recommended only if the computer is physically protected and takes measures to ensure that the non-creditworthy user cannot remotely access the registry.

To enable automatic logon using Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe)

Warning: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can resolve problems that result from improper use of the Registry Editor. Using Registry Editor requires you to be at your own risk.

To enable automatic logon, follow these steps:

Start Regedt32.exe, and then locate the following registry subkey:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows Ntcurrentversionwinlogon

With your account name and password, double-click the DefaultUserName entry, type your user name, and then click OK.

Double-click the DefaultPassword entry, type your password, and then click OK.

Note: If the "DefaultPassword" value does not exist, follow these steps:

On the Edit menu, click Add Value.

In the Value Name box, type DefaultPassword, and then click REG_SZ for Data type

Type your password in the string box, and then save the changes.

In addition, if you do not specify a DefaultPassword string, Windows automatically changes the value of the "AutoAdminLogon" entry from 1 (true) to 0 (false), thereby disabling the AutoAdminLogon feature.

Click Add Value on the Edit menu, enter AutoAdminLogon in the Value name box, and then click REG_SZ for data type.

In the String box, type 1, and then save the changes.

Exit Regedt32.

Click Start, click Close, and then click OK to close the computer.

Restart the computer and Windows. You can now log in automatically.

Note: To skip the AutoAdminLogon process and log on as a different user, hold down the Shift key after logging off or Windows restart.