How to automatically sign-in to an account

Yep - Windows 11 can log into a specific local account automatically at startup. The simplest way is to use the built-in user accounts tool. Press Win + R, type netplwiz, and press Enter. In the window that opens, select the account you want to log into automatically. Then uncheck the box that says “Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer” and click Apply. You’ll be prompted to enter that account’s password to confirm. After that, Windows will sign into that account automatically on boot.

If you don’t see that checkbox, it’s usually because Windows Hello sign-in is enabled. You can disable it by going to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options and turning off the setting that requires Windows Hello for Microsoft accounts, even if you’re using local accounts. Then run netplwiz again and the option should appear.

Another method is through the registry, which is more manual but works reliably. Press Win + R, type regedit, and navigate to:

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

Set or create these string values:

AutoAdminLogon = 1
DefaultUserName = your_username
DefaultPassword = your_password

If your PC has a name or you’re not using a Microsoft account, you can also add:

DefaultDomainName = your_computer_name

Restart the PC and it should log in automatically to that account.

Be aware that this stores your password in a way that someone with access to the system could retrieve it, so it’s best used only on a personal machine where security isn’t a concern.

If the above response helps answer your question, remember to "Accept Answer" so that others in the community facing similar issues can easily find the solution. Your contribution is highly appreciated.

hth

Marcin