Sign in with User Name and Password in Windows 8

How to Require Users to Sign in with User Name and Password in Windows 8 and 8.1
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   Information

This tutorial will show you how to require users to enter both a user name and password to sign in to Windows 8 instead of the last user displaying.

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

   Note

When set to have users enter a user name and password to sign in, you will see "Other user" listed with a user name and password field like below.

You can click/tap on the Sign-in options link to select to sign in to either a local or Microsoft account.

• You will not be able to sign in to a local account if you have Microsoft selected.
• You will not be able to sign in to a Microsoft account if you have local selected.

EXAMPLE: Sign in screen in Windows 8

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OPTION ONE

To Sign in with User Name and Password using a REG File Download

   Note

The .reg files below are for the registry key and value below.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System

dontdisplaylastusername DWORD

0 = password only
1 = user name and password

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1. Do step 2 or 3 below for what you would like to do.​

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2. To Sign in to Windows 8 with User Name and Password ​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.​

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Sign-in_with_User_Name_and_Password.reg​

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3. To Sign in to Windows 8 with Password Only​

NOTE: This is the default setting.​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.​

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Sign-in_with_Password_Only.reg​

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4. Save the .reg file to your desktop.​

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5. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.​

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6. Click/tap on the Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and then OK when prompted.​

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7. If you like, sign off and sign in to see the change.​

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8. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.​

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9. You may also wish to set the same setting for the locked computer sign in screen:​

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• Set Windows 8 to Require Users to Sign in with User Name and Password on Lock Screen

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OPTION TWO

To Sign in with User Name and Password using Local Security Policy

NOTE: This option to use secpol.msc is only available in the Windows 8 Pro and Windows 8 Enterprise editions.

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1. Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog, type secpol.msc, and press Enter.​

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

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3. In the left pane, double click/tap on Local Policies to expand it, and click/tap on Security Options to open it. (see screenshot below)​

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4. In the right pane, double click/tap on Interactive logon: Do not display last user name, and do step 5 or 6 below for what you would like to do. (see screenshot above)​

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5. To Sign in to Windows 8 with User Name and Password ​

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A) Select (dot) Enabled, click/tap OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below step 6A)​

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6. To Sign in to Windows 8 with Password Only​

NOTE: This is the default setting.​

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A) Select (dot) Disabled, click/tap OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)​

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7. Close the Local Security Policy window.​

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8. If you like, sign off and sign in to see the change.​

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9. You may also wish to set the same setting for the locked computer sign in screen:​

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• Set Windows 8 to Require Users to Sign in with User Name and Password on Lock Screen

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• Set Windows 8 to Require Users to Sign in with User Name and Password on Lock Screen
• 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 to Always Show "All Users" or "Last User" in Windows 8 Sign in
• How to Change Background Color of Default Sign-in Screen in Windows 8 and 8.1
• Change Your Start and Sign in Screen Background and Color in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Have Windows 8 Log On to a User Account Automatically at Startup
• How Enable or Disable Secure Sign-in with Ctrl+Alt+Delete in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Enable or Disable the Lock Screen in Windows 8 and 8.1
• 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 Display Information about Previous Logons during User Sign-in to Windows 8 and 8.1

 

[Kan]

Nice tutorial. This also resolves the issues with last user automatically signing in when the user does not have a password. Instead of the last user signing in at startup, you will get this at startup instead:

Not sure if this will break UAC credential issues with standard users, though.

 

[Brink]

Hello Kan, and welcome to Eight Forums.

No, the method in this tutorial will not break being able to enter UAC credentials.

 

[Regagu]

What would someones username be for a Microsoft account?

 

[Brink]

Hello Regagu,

It would be the email address used for the Microsoft account.

 

[Regagu]

Hello Regagu,

It would be the email address used for the Microsoft account.

Thanks Shaun.

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome.

 

[templeofhylia]

Thanks for providing this tutorial! I was just wondering if it's possible to rename the "Other user"?

 

[Brink]

Hello templeofhylia, and welcome to Eight Forums.

I'm not aware of a way out there to rename "Other user" on the sign in screen.

 

[balubeto]

I have Windows 8.1 Update Enterprise and I applied your second method to enable the classic Login (ie insertion of the username and password).

When I do the Login to an Users local account and a command requires the UAC feature, the UAC window does not use the classic Login but still uses the default Login.

So, how should I do ensure that also this UAC window use classic Login?

Thanks

Bye

 

[Brink]

I have Windows 8.1 Update Enterprise and I applied your second method to enable the classic Login (ie insertion of the username and password).

When I do the Login to an Users local account and a command requires the UAC feature, the UAC window does not use the classic Login but still uses the default Login.

So, how should I do ensure that also this UAC window use classic Login?

Thanks

Bye

Hello Balubeto,

I'm sorry, but this tutorial is only for the Windows sign in screen and doesn't affect UAC.

For UAC, you could use step 5 in Option One below, or select "Prompt for credentials" in Option Two below.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/41136-uac-change-prompt-behavior-administrators-windows.html

 

[rsbrux]

WIll autologin still work with this option enabled? I have my HTPC configured for autologin on system start, but don't want account names to be visible when that account (or any other) has logged out

 

[Brink]

WIll autologin still work with this option enabled? I have my HTPC configured for autologin on system start, but don't want account names to be visible when that account (or any other) has logged out

Hello rsbrux,

Yes. Netplwiz will still automatically sign in an account at startup with this enabled.