If you share your computer with others or just want to keep your privacy, you might want to hide the name of the last person who signed in on the Windows 11 sign-in screen. This guide will show you simple steps to do just that.

What is the Lock Screen and Sign-In Screen?

When you start your computer or lock it using Windows key + L, you first see the Lock Screen. It’s like a welcome curtain. After you click or swipe it away, the Sign-In Screen appears where you enter your password or PIN.

By default, Windows shows the full name and icon of the last user who signed in on this screen. You can also pick other users if you want to switch accounts.

Why Hide the Last Signed-In User?

Showing the last signed-in user’s name is convenient but can be a privacy concern, especially on shared or public computers. Windows has a security setting that lets you hide this information, so no one can see who last used the PC.

How to Hide or Show the Last Signed-In User Name

You can change this setting in two easy ways: using the Local Security Policy Editor or the Windows Registry Editor. Follow the steps below.

Method 1: Using Local Security Policy Editor

1. Open Local Security Policy Editor:
   • Press Windows key + S, type secpol.msc, and press Enter.
   • If you don’t see it, your version of Windows might not have this tool (common in Home editions).
2. In the window, on the left side, click the arrow next to Local Policies to expand it, then click Security Options.
3. On the right side, scroll down and double-click Interactive logon: Don’t display last signed-in.
4. In the window that pops up, choose:
   • Enabled to hide the last signed-in user’s name.
   • Disabled to show the last signed-in user’s name (default).
5. Click OK to save.
6. Restart your computer to apply the change.

Method 2: Using Windows Registry Editor

If you can’t use the Local Security Policy Editor, try this method carefully:

1. Open the Registry Editor:
   • Press Windows key + R, type regedit, then press Enter.
   • If prompted by User Account Control, click Yes.
2. In the Registry Editor, go to this folder:
   

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

   
   
3. If you don’t see the System folder, create it:
   • Right-click CurrentVersion, choose New > Key, and name it System.
4. Click the System folder. On the right side, right-click and choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
5. Name the new value: dontdisplaylastusername
6. Double-click this new value, set the Base to Decimal, and set the Value data to:
   • 1 to hide the last signed-in user name.
   • Delete the dontdisplaylastusername value to show the last signed-in user name again.
7. Click OK, close the Registry Editor, and restart your computer.

Summary

• You can hide the last signed-in user’s name on the Windows 11 sign-in screen to protect your privacy.
• The easiest way is through the Local Security Policy Editor, but if that’s not available, you can use the Registry Editor.
• After making changes, always restart your PC to see the effect.
• These settings help keep your computer more secure and private.

For more details, you can check the official Microsoft page: Interactive logon: Do not display last user name – Microsoft Docs

If you have questions or want to share your experience, feel free to leave a comment below!