Enable Auto Login on Ubuntu Linux: Step-by-Step Guide

Auto login in Ubuntu Linux lets your computer skip the password screen and open straight to your desktop as soon as you turn it on. Recent versions such as Ubuntu 22.04 LTS and later handle this sign-in step through a configuration file named custom.conf. The Settings app edits that file for you, so most people never need to touch it.

Auto login saves time on a single-user computer where you are the only person using the PC. You can set it up through the standard Settings app or by editing the system files directly. This guide covers the Settings method, which is the safer and simpler of the two.

How to automatically sign into Ubuntu without a password

With automatic login on, Ubuntu skips the sign-in screen and opens the desktop every time you turn the computer on. The whole change takes four moves: open the Settings app, go to the Users panel, unlock it with your password, and switch on the automatic login option for your user account.

No restart is needed to save the change. It takes effect the next time the computer boots.

Before you start, check two things. First, you need to know the password of an administrator account, because the Users panel stays locked until you enter it. Second, you should be logged in to the account you want to sign in automatically, or at least be an administrator who can edit it. Here’s how to set up the account for automatic login.

Ubuntu Linux keeps most configuration in one central place. System preferences, user accounts, and software updates are all managed from the System Settings panel. You will use it for every step below.

There are two ways to open Settings. The first is to find it in the app launcher. The second is the System menu, which is quicker if you already have the desktop open.

1. Click the System menu in the top-right corner of the desktop top bar. This is the small group of icons for network, sound and power.
2. Look for the menu that drops down. You should see quick controls such as volume and network, with a Settings entry in the same menu.

3. From the System menu, select Settings, like the example shown here.

The Settings window should now open, with a list of categories on the left.

The Users entry in the Settings app opens the user account panel. This panel lets administrators manage login preferences, including enabling auto login.

4. Scroll down the list on the left side of the Settings⚙️ window until you see Users. It sits near the bottom of the list, so you may need to scroll.
5. Click Users. The right side of the window should now show your account name and picture, along with options such as the password and Automatic Login.

In the Settings › Users panel, pick the account that should sign in automatically at startup. Only one account can be set for automatic login at a time. If you turn it on for a second account, the first one loses it.

If the panel lists several users, make sure you are looking at the right account before you change anything. You can only change the setting for other accounts once the panel is unlocked.

6. Click Unlock in the top right of the window.
7. Enter your password when prompted, then confirm. The Unlock button should change to a state showing the panel is unlocked, and the options that were greyed out should now respond to clicks.

If the options stay greyed out or the password is rejected, the account you used is probably a standard user and not an administrator. Authenticate with an administrator account instead.

8. Find the Automatic Login toggle inside the Users panel.
9. Switch it to the On position. The toggle should change colour to show it is active.

This setting allows Ubuntu to bypass the password prompt when the computer starts, saving a manual step on every boot. The same screen can still ask for your password for other things, such as installing software.

Keep in mind that anyone who can physically turn on your computer can now reach your desktop and files. On a laptop that leaves the house, think twice. Also, if you encrypted your disk during installation, you will still be asked for the disk passphrase at boot. Auto login only skips the user sign-in screen.

System startup now proceeds directly to the desktop without manual intervention. To test it, restart the computer and watch the boot. You should land on your desktop without seeing the password screen.

One side effect to expect: because you no longer type your password at sign-in, the saved passwords keyring may not unlock by itself. Some apps, such as web browsers or Wi-Fi connections, might ask for a keyring password the first time you use them after boot. That is normal behaviour.

Close the Settings app to finish the process. To undo the change later, open Settings › Users again, click Unlock, and switch Automatic Login back to Off. The password screen will return on the next boot.

Conclusion:

• Ubuntu Linux provides the option to automatically log in to your account without having to type a password every time you start your computer.
• You can easily enable or disable automatic login for your user account by navigating to the System Settings and then the Users panel.
• This feature can save time and streamline the login process for users who prefer not to enter their password each time they boot up their PC. Use it only on computers that other people cannot reach.