Log On User Account Automatically at Windows 8 Startup

[Brink]

ByLine

How to Automatically Sign in to User Account at Startup in Windows 8 and 8.1

Synopsis

This will show you how to have Windows 8 or 8.1 sign in to a local user account or Microsoft account of your choice automatically at startup without the user needing to enter a user name and password.

How to Automatically Sign in to User Account at Startup in Windows 8 and 8.1​

   Information

This will show you how to have Windows 8 or 8.1 sign in to a local user account or Microsoft account of your choice automatically at startup without the user needing to enter a user name and password.

You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

   Note

If you only have one user account on the computer that is not password protected, then Windows 8 will automatically log on to that account at startup by default.

   Warning

If you change the password for the local account or Microsoft account that you have Windows 8 set to sign in to automatically at startup, then you will need to turn off automatic log on for this user, and turn it back on to enter the new password.

If you connect though RDP (remote desktop), have automatic log in set on for your MS account and change it to a local account, then you can't sign in. RDP prompts for your user and password but doesn't accept the new one on the Windows log-in screen. You need to sign in directly (not through RDP) and turn off automatic log on for the user, and turn it back on to enter the new password.

   Tip

You may also wish to set:

How to Enable or Disable Password Protection on Wakeup in Windows 8

How to Enable or Disable Screen Saver Password Protection in Windows 7 and Windows 8

How to Require a Password after Display is Off for Specified Time in Windows 8.1

EXAMPLE: Windows 8 Sign in Screen

OPTION ONE

To Turn On or Off Automatic Sign-in at Startup in Netplwiz

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1. Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog box, type netplwiz or control userpasswords2, and press Enter.​

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2. If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on Yes.​

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3. Do either step 4 or 5 below for what you would like to do.​

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4. To Turn On Automatic Sign in for a Local User Account 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.​

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A) Check the Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer box. (see screenshot below step 3)​

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   Note

Is your PC is a member of a domain by chance, then the "Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer." box will not be available.

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B) Select the User Name of the local user account or Microsoft account that you want to have Windows 8 log on to automatically at startup. (see screenshot above)​

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   Note

If this is for a Microsoft account, then you do not want to select the one that is only a member of the HomeUsers group. You would want to select the one listed that is part of both the HomeUsers and Administrators or Users group instead.

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C) Uncheck the Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer box, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below step 3)​

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D) Enter the password of the selected local user account or Microsoft account twice, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)​

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   Note

If the selected local user account does not have a password created for it, then leave the password fields empty. Microsoft accounts will always have a password.

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5. To Turn Off Automatic Sign in for All Users​

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A) Check the Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer box, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below step 3)​

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OPTION TWO

To Turn On or Off Automatic Sign-in 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.

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1. Press the :winkey: + R keys to open the Run dialog, type regedit, and click/tap on OK.​

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2. In Registry Editor, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)​

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

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3. Do step 4 or 5 below for what you would like to do.​

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4. To Turn On Automatic Sign in 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.​

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A) In the right pane on Winlogon, double click/tap on the AutoAdminLogon string value to modify it. (see screenshot below step 2)​

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B) Type 1, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)​

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C) Double click/tap on the DefaultDomainName string value to modify it. (see screenshot below step 2)​

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D) Type the computer name (if local) or domain name, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)​

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E) Double click/tap on the DefaultUserName string value to modify it. (see screenshot below step 2)​

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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)​

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NOTE: This will be the same name as the user account's C:\Users\(UserName) profile folder.​

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G) Double click/tap on the DefaultPassword string value to modify it. (see screenshot below step 2)​

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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.​

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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)​

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I) Go to step 6 below.​

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5. To Turn Off Automatic Sign in for All Users​

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A) In the right pane on Winlogon, double click/tap on the AutoAdminLogon string value to modify it. (see screenshot below step 2)​

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B) Type 0 (zero), and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below step 4B)​

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C) Right click or press and hold on the DefaultPassword string value, and click/tap on Delete. (see screenshot below step 2)​

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NOTE: If you do not have a DefaultPassword string value, then that's ok, and go to step 6 below.​

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D) Click/tap on Yes to confirm. (see screenshot below)​

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E) Go to step 6 below.​

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6. When finished, close Registry Editor.​

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Temporarily Bypass Automatic Logon at Startup in Windows
• How to Enable or Disable Password Protection on Wakeup in Windows 8 and 8.1
• Enable or Disable Screen Saver Password Protection in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Require a Password after Display is Off for Specified Time in Windows 8.1
• How to Sign in to Windows 8 and 8.1
• How Enable or Disable Secure Sign-in with Ctrl+Alt+Delete in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Create a Password for a User Account in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Change or Remove a Local Account Password in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Change or Reset Password of Your Microsoft Account in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Always Show "All Users" or "Last User" at Sign in for Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Require Users to Sign in with User Name and Password in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Go to Desktop or Start when You Sign in or Close Apps in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Boot Directly to Desktop using a Scheduled Task in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Turn On or Off Automatic Log On for a Remote Desktop Connection
• How to Display Information about Previous Logons during User Sign-in to Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Add or Remove Fingerprints for Your Account in Windows 8.1

 

[Avalon]

Very handy, thanks. Certainly beats typing it in every time, especially seeing as I am the only one who has access to my computer.
I have a question, though. Is this just for system startup, or is it global for every log on process?

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Avalon,

Yeah, it would only automatically log on at startup. If you log off, switch user, lock, etc...., you would still have to log on as usual.

 

[whs]

Excellent, thank you Shawn. Just did it and have the added benefit of my Num lock behaving - see here: http://www.eightforums.com/general-discussion/2900-num-lock-always-boot.html

 

[Avalon]

Interesting you should say that, because mine is always off at boot... Maybe if I turn this on, it will always be on at boot? I guess there's only one way to find out... :3

 

[Brink]

Excellent, thank you Shawn. Just did it and have the added benefit of my Num lock behaving - see here: http://www.eightforums.com/general-discussion/2900-num-lock-always-boot.html

Interesting. I left a post in your thread that may be worth a play with.

 

[chev65]

I was hoping there was a way to do this. It seems that the Windows 8 installation requires you to use a password when you set it up.

 

[whs]

This worked perfectly well when I had Win8 in a partition and also with my Win8 in vBox. But my installation on the USB3 stick does not cooperate. I made the setting, but I still have to log in with the password. I wonder why.

 

[Brink]

Hello Wolfgang,

I haven't played with Windows To Go on a USB stick yet, but it's probably treating it like a network login where you must sign in with a password.

 

[whs]

Thanks Shawn. It is not a big deal. Just thought to report the oddity. Else it runs very well from my USB3 stick. If you want to do it, get one of those sticks: Newegg.com - Computer Hardware, Flash Memory & Readers, lexar triton I got the 16GB one. It has a 0.5ms access time and this Atto profile:

 

[SmartEyeball]

Thanks Shawn. I've been meaning to get around to this

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Patrick.

 

[whs]

I just discovered that you can also get there when you type control userpasswords2 into cmd. Method 2 - LOL.

 

[Brink]

Hello Wolfgang,

Ah, they got that one working again. Nice.

 

[whs]

Just my little contibution of the day, LOL.

 

[webtax]

anybody found a way to disable auto sign in without passwords ? (local accounts)

so when an user boots up the pc doesn't find itself logged in another user's account.

 

[Brink]

Hello webtax,

I believe using step 7 in OPTION ONE of the tutorial below is what you are after to always show all users at sign in.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/14632-sign-show-all-users-last-user-windows-8-a.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[webtax]

thanks! i will see if the side effects are deal breakers for my scenario, for the options Two/Three.

I was already using option one (winaero), but looks like it isn't working anymore (reported on winaero website, found there a post of an user with the same problem)


edit: seems i can live with the cons, as we don't use remote desktop for now, won't be using the store, and there's no big deal on setting the accounts as admins.

tough i fear for more yet unknown side-effects, so i'll keep a lookout for the winaero method

 

[Brink]

If you use OPTION ONE again, then be sure to use step 1 in to undo the side effects from the other options.

Your images are broken. If you like, you can use the method in the tutorial below for how to upload and attach them directly to the site instead.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2598-screenshots-files-upload-post-eight-forums.html

 

[Hunk4TH]

This works perfectly on my laptop. However no matter what I try it just doesn't work on my desktop. I've tried it with both local and Microsoft accounts. Any ideas?