How to automatically log on to a Windows PC

If you use your Windows device primarily at home or in another secure environment, you can enable it to automatically sign in to your administrator account. It helps you bypass system password for faster desktop access. An instant connection is also useful if you frequently restart the computer, send it to a technician, or need to re-enter the system when it’s locked. Let’s explore methods to easily enable and disable Windows automatic logon.

Windows 10 automatic login

By default, you need a system password to log into a Windows computer. You still need to configure this password if it is in its original state. Apart from that, there are several second level login options e.g. B. dynamic lock, Windows Hello PIN, picture password or a physical security key. Enabling auto-login for a Windows 10 device means removing all of these authentication steps, including the system password.

Well, why do you want to do that? Here are the top reasons why you should consider using automatic logon in Windows.

Avoid entering the user’s password/PIN: Although it’s only a few keystrokes, re-entering your password/PIN many times can seem like a waste of time. If you are sure that no one else has access to your device, it is faster to enable automatic login for Windows. Even complicated passwords and PIN codes are easy to forget. If this happens to you, make sure you have the security questions handy or you will be locked out of your Windows device – and only a factory reset can get you back. Not having to enter your password/PIN reduces the chances of being locked out of your own device.

Automatic PC restart after power failureIf you live in an area prone to unexpected power outages, enabling automatic logon in Windows allows you to quickly revert to a specific user account with a simple automatic reboot after turning it back on.

Headless server management: Headless servers are computers without peripherals such as keyboards, mice and monitors. They sit on a rack and are managed from a central console via SSH, Telnet or other network protocols. If you’re a remote administrator, it’s faster to configure Windows to automatically connect to these headless devices.

To enable automatic logon in Windows, you must first authenticate, e.g. B. Hello PIN, at a secondary level, and then revoke the system password at the primary level. To remove the PIN, go to Sign-in Options in the search box and select Windows Hello PIN. Click Delete to continue. You only need to confirm the PIN removal once with your system password.

In addition to the Hello PIN, the same mechanism is used to remove picture passwords, Windows Hello fingerprints, or other secondary authentication tools.

Once the secondary authentication has been removed, it’s time to revoke the system password. In the login options, navigate to the Password field and click Edit to continue. Enter your current system password for the next step.

You will now see three empty fields: “New Password”, “Confirm Password” and “Password Hint”. The trick to enabling auto-login is to just leave all three fields blank and skip them by clicking Next.

It only takes a few seconds for the password (“no password”) to change. Click “Finish” when you’re done.

You should be able to see the changes in the Login Options Password field. It should read, “Your account does not have a password. You must add a password before you can use the other login options.

After that, the Windows automatic logon screen will appear. All you have to do is click on the “Connect” button and no need to enter any passwords/PINs here either.

Let Windows 10 sign in automatically

The auto-login steps above are sufficient for most casual users. However, if you need a truly fully automated login, like with headless servers, you can remove username and password permissions from the system. This way you don’t even have to worry about the lock screen.

Open a run command called “netplwiz” using the search box or the keyboard shortcut Win+R.

For automatic login, all you have to do is uncheck the “Users must enter a username and password to use the computer” check box.

Aren’t you in favor of removing username/password requirements entirely? There is another method of auto logon using the Sysinternals Autologon utility, which we will cover below.

Enable auto login for Windows 10 with Sysinternals auto login

Windows 10 has its own native security utility called Sysinternals Autologon that encrypts user credentials for smooth and fully automated Windows access. This is the safest way to enable Windows Auto-Logon as it doesn’t interfere with your device’s default system configurations. In addition, you can enable/disable it with just one click.

Download the ZIP file and extract the folder. Run the exe file compatible with your operating system architecture (mainly x64).

Enter the system password to allow automatic login to access the system automatically. Click on “Activate” to confirm the operation.

You’ll see a notification that says “Automatic login has been configured successfully. Note: The password for automatic login is encrypted. »

For security reasons, it is important to know how to disable automatic login in Windows 10. If you use the Sysinternals Autologon utility, you don’t have to frequently disable/enable passwords.

Go back to the sign-in options screen and click Add in the Password section. The order is reversed from enabling automatic login: you must first set the primary system password before you can add a PIN and other secondary authentication mechanisms.

After the password is confirmed, click “Finish” to enable the password feature.

A new status should appear in the Password section of the sign-in options screen: “Your account password is set to sign in to Windows, apps, and services.”

Also add the Hello PIN with the system password. It must be between 4 and 127 characters long and can contain alphanumeric characters and special characters.

frequently asked Questions

Windows lock remains unchanged with Win + L keyboard shortcut. To unlock the device, you just need to click on the “Sign In” page, which does not require a password/PIN.

2. What security precautions should be taken before enabling automatic Windows logon?

The following safety precautions are useful before enabling automatic login:

Make sure you use your Windows computer in a private location, preferably at home or in another secure environment, as disabling passwords and username/password access should be done discreetly.

If you go to a public place with your laptop, you should disable the automatic connection.

Write down passwords or PINs somewhere, e.g. B. on a phone in case you easily forget them. Too many authentication errors can prevent access to your PC.

If you have forgotten your PIN, you can reset it. However, you need a system password for this.

Make sure your Microsoft account password (which you’ll need in case you forget your PIN) is long, alphanumeric, uses special characters, and contains mixed-case letters.

3. What is the safest way to connect to your Windows PC?

All Windows Hello techniques are the most secure method of accessing Windows devices. The Windows Hello program has received FIDO2 certification, which makes the whole authentication process extremely secure. But if your camera or touch scanner isn’t up to par, using the Windows Hello PIN is just as safe, as long as you don’t forget it and share it with others.

Although we recommend having a system password or PIN to protect against intruders, automatic Windows login can be very handy for limited use. Many of Windows’ default settings can be customized to suit your temporary tasks: for example, you can turn off the SmartScreen Filter and turn it back on later.

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