Configure Auto Logon in Windows Using Regedit

Configuring a standalone Windows workstation to log on automatically bypasses the standard lock screen during system startup. This process is accomplished by modifying specific registry values within the Windows Registry Editor (regedit). While this configuration streamlines access for dedicated, single-user, or kiosk machines, it stores account credentials in plain text, so it should only be implemented on physically secure systems.

Step-by-Step Registry Configuration

  1. Open the Registry Editor Press Windows Key + R, type regedit, and press Enter. If prompted by User Account Control (UAC), click Yes.

  2. Navigate to the Winlogon Key In the left-hand navigation pane, navigate to the following path:

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

  3. Configure Required String Values Look for the following values in the right pane. If any value does not exist, right-click an empty area, select New > String Value (REG_SZ), and name it accordingly:

    • AutoAdminLogon: Double-click this entry and set its Value data to 1.
    • DefaultUserName: Double-click this entry and set the Value data to the local user account name.
    • DefaultPassword: Create this string value if missing, double-click it, and enter the password for the specified user account.
    • DefaultDomainName: Double-click this entry and set the Value data to the local computer name (or use a single period . to specify the local machine).

  4. Apply and Test the Changes Close the Registry Editor and restart the computer. Windows will now bypass the login prompt and automatically sign in using the specified credentials.

How to Disable Automatic Logon

To revert the changes and restore the standard logon screen: 1. Navigate back to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon. 2. Change the AutoAdminLogon value from 1 to 0. 3. Right-click the DefaultPassword value and select Delete.