Want your Windows 10 PC to skip the sign in screen and go straight to the desktop? This guide shows you three clear ways to turn on auto login and one quick way to turn it off again. You will also see when this is safe to use and when it is a bad idea.

Before you start, know that auto login trades some security for speed. Anyone who can sit at your computer can open your files without a password.

When Auto Login Makes Sense

Auto login can help in simple home setups, for example:

  • You are the only person who uses the PC and it stays in a safe place at home.

  • You want the computer ready to use as soon as it starts, without typing a password every time.

  • You use the PC as a media or game machine in the living room where fast start is more useful than extra security.

For stronger safety, you can still lock the screen when you step away. Press the Windows key and the L key together to lock, even after you turn on auto login.

Method 1: User Accounts Settings

Start with this method. It works on most Windows 10 Home, Pro, and Enterprise PCs and does not change the registry.

  1. Open the Run box. Press Win + R on your keyboard.

  2. Open User Accounts. Type netplwiz and press Enter. The User Accounts window appears.

  3. Turn off the password prompt at startup. Select your user name. Clear the check box that says "Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer."

  4. Confirm your sign in details. A box opens and asks for your password. Type your password in both boxes and click OK. If you use a Microsoft account, this is the same password you use for email or the Store.

  5. Restart and test. Restart the PC. It should now sign you in to that account without asking for a password on startup.

Method 2: Registry Editor (Advanced)

Use this only if Method 1 does not work or the check box is missing. This method tells Windows to use saved sign in details from the registry.

Be careful here. Wrong registry changes can stop Windows from starting. If you know how, create a System Restore point first by searching for "Create a restore point" in the Start menu.

  1. Open the Registry Editor . Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter. Accept any prompt that appears.

  2. Go to the Winlogon key.

    In the left pane, browse to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon.

  3. Set the user name. Double click DefaultUserName and check that it matches the account you want to sign in.

  4. Add or update the password value. Look for DefaultPassword. If it is not there, right click in the right pane, choose New > String Value, and name it DefaultPassword. Double click it and enter your account password.

  5. Turn on auto admin login. Double click AutoAdminLogon, set the value to 1, and click OK.

  6. Restart and check. Close the Registry Editor and restart the PC. It should sign you in to that account on its own.

Note that the password you set in DefaultPassword is stored in plain text in the registry. Only use this on a PC that other people you do not trust cannot access.

Method 3: Group Policy Editor (Pro and Enterprise)

This method is only for Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise. It changes how the sign in screen looks but does not turn on auto login by itself. Use it if you want the classic style sign in screen while still using Method 1 or 2 for auto login.

  1. Open the Group Policy Editor. Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.

  2. Go to the Logon policies.

    In the left pane, browse to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Logon.

  3. Use the classic logon option.

    Find the policy named "Always use classic logon." Double click it and set it to "Enabled." Click OK.

  4. Restart to see the change. Restart the computer. The sign in screen now uses the classic style, but you still need Method 1 or 2 for full auto login.

Important Things to Keep in Mind

  • Security risk. Anyone who can sit in front of your PC can open your files. This is not safe for work or school devices or for shared family computers.

  • Password changes. If you change your account password, update it in netplwiz or in the registry values so auto login keeps working.

  • Domain PCs. If your PC is joined to a work domain, company rules may block auto login. In that case talk to your IT team before you try any method here.

How to Turn Auto Login Off

Want to go back to the normal sign in screen? Use these steps.

  • User Accounts method. Run netplwiz again and check the box that says "Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer."

  • Registry method. In the same Winlogon key, set AutoAdminLogon to 0. You can also clear the DefaultPassword value if you do not want the password stored there any more.

  • Group Policy method. In the Logon policy list, set "Always use classic logon" to "Not Configured."

After these changes, Windows will ask for your password again at startup.

Still Not Working? Extra Fix to Restore the Check Box

On some newer builds of Windows 10, the check box in netplwiz that controls the password prompt can vanish. In that case the first method will not work until you change a related setting.

You can bring that check box back with a small registry change through an elevated Command Prompt.

Open Command Prompt as administrator by right clicking the Start menu icon and choosing Command Prompt (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin), then enter this command:

reg ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\PasswordLess\Device" /v DevicePasswordLessBuildVersion /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

Press Enter to run it. This resets the passwordless device setting and should make the check box in netplwiz show again.

Run Method 1 once more and set auto login as before.

Which Method Should You Use?

Quick decision guide:

  • Method 1 (User Accounts): Best for most home users on a single PC.
  • Method 2 (Registry): Use it when the check box in Method 1 is missing or you need more control.
  • Method 3 (Group Policy): Optional visual change for Pro and Enterprise. It does not create auto login on its own.

Security: When Auto Login Is Fine and When It Is Not

Cases Where Auto Login Is Reasonable

  • Single user at home: You live alone or only trusted family members use the PC.
  • Strong physical security: The computer is in a private room that guests cannot reach.
  • Drive encryption on: A feature like BitLocker protects the drive if the machine is stolen while it is shut down.
  • No sensitive work data: You use the PC for games, streaming, and web browsing rather than banking or client work.

Cases Where You Should Avoid Auto Login

  • Shared PCs: Family computers with many accounts, library machines, or office workstations.
  • Laptops taken outside: If someone steals the laptop, they get straight into your desktop.
  • Work or school devices: These often must follow sign in rules and audits.
  • Sensitive files on disk: Tax records, client data, health files, or company documents stored locally.
  • Public or semi public spaces: Computers used in coffee shops, labs, or shared offices.

Safer Speed Boost Alternatives

If you want faster sign in but do not want to give up password protection, try these options instead.

  • PIN with 4 to 6 digits: Go to Settings, then Accounts, then Sign in options, and set a PIN. It is quick to type and easier to remember than a long password.
  • Windows Hello face sign in: With a supported camera, you can unlock the PC just by looking at it.
  • Fingerprint sign in: Many laptops and some keyboards have a reader that signs you in when you touch it.
  • Picture password: You can draw simple gestures on a picture to unlock the PC instead of typing a full password.

Check That Auto Login Works

After you set everything up, test that the change behaves as you expect.

  • Full restart test: Click Start, then Power, then Restart. The PC should start and go straight to the desktop for the account you chose.
  • Cold start test: Shut the PC down, wait a short time, then power it on. Auto login should also work from a cold start.
  • Sleep and wake test: Auto login does not change how wake from sleep works. You may still be asked for a password after sleep, which you can change under Settings, then Accounts, then Sign in options.
  • Simple time check: Notice how long it takes to reach the desktop now. In many cases you save a few seconds and one extra step each time the machine starts.

Final Recommendation

Auto login in Windows 10 is most useful for a personal PC that stays at home and does not hold important work or money related data. In that case, Method 1 using netplwiz is usually enough and takes only a short time to set up.

If you run into missing options, the registry method and the extra command line fix in this guide can restore them. For laptops, shared computers, or any machine that holds private or work data, it is much safer to leave the password prompt on and use a PIN, face sign in, or fingerprint to keep sign in both fast and secure.