How to Enable or Disable Automatic Sign-in After Windows 11 Update

Security Risks of Automatic Login

Automatic login stores your sign-in details on the PC, where someone with physical access may be able to find them. It also bypasses your lock screen, so anyone who powers on or restarts the device can reach your desktop without a password.

That puts your personal files, email and apps at risk if the device is lost, stolen or simply left on a desk. The registry method is the worst for this because it keeps the password as plain text. Think hard before using automatic sign-in on a laptop, or on any PC in a shared or public space.

Method 1Using the Settings App

The Settings app ⚙️ lets you manage this preference without installing 💿 anything extra. The control sits in your account options. This is the safest method because it only affects the sign-in after an update. Microsoft sometimes moves or renames these toggles between releases, so your screen may look slightly different from the steps below.

1. Open the Settings app. Press Win+I, or click Start and select the Settings icon. The Settings ⚙️ window should open with a list of categories on the left.

2. Click Accounts in the left-hand menu.
3. Select the Sign-in options tile on the right side of the screen. A list of ways to sign in, such as Face, Fingerprint, PIN and Password, should appear.

4. Scroll down to the section labeled Additional settings.
5. Find the option “Use my sign-in info to automatically finish setting up after an update”.
6. Set the switch to On to enable it, or Off to disable it. The switch should change position straight away. You do not need to restart, because the setting is used the next time an update installs.

If you cannot find this option, check a few things. Another setting in the same section, which only allows Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts on the device, can hide it. Turn that setting off and look again. A work or school PC managed by an organization may also hide it through policy. In that case only your administrator can change it.

Method 2Using netplwiz for Automatic Logon

The netplwiz command is a quick way to set up automatic sign-in when the Settings menu does not show the option. This hidden User Accounts tool has one checkbox that makes Windows skip the sign-in screen. Unlike the Settings toggle, it removes the password prompt at every startup, not just after updates. You need an administrator account to use it.

1. Press Windows key + R to open the Run box.
2. Type netplwiz and press Enter. The User Accounts window should open.
3. Select your user account from the list.
4. Uncheck the box that says "Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer". If the box is missing, the Windows Hello-only setting described above is probably turned on. Turn it off in Settings, then reopen netplwiz.
5. Click Apply. A dialog should ask for your account details, so enter your current password twice to confirm. Then click OK.

The change takes effect the next time you restart. To undo it, open netplwiz again and tick the box back on.

Method 3Using Sysinternals Autologon

For a more reliable method, use the official Microsoft Sysinternals Autologon tool. It encrypts your login information, which makes it safer than manual registry edits.

Method 4Registry Editor (Advanced)

Registry Editor (a database that stores low-level settings for Windows and apps) lets you force automatic sign-in when other methods fail. You add specific values to a registry key so Windows signs in without asking for a password. This is an advanced fix. A wrong edit can cause system errors, so type carefully. Before you start, you can back up the key by selecting it and using File › Export

1. Press Windows key + R, type regedit, and press Enter. Click Yes if User Account Control asks for permission.
2. Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
3. Locate AutoAdminLogon in the right-hand pane, double-click it and set the value to 1.
4. Make sure DefaultUserName and DefaultPassword are set correctly. If an entry does not exist, create it as a new String Value with that exact name. DefaultPassword is stored as readable text, so anyone who can open the registry can see it.

Restart the PC to test it. To undo the change, set AutoAdminLogon back to 0 and delete the DefaultPassword value.

Troubleshooting and Tips

If you need to bypass automatic login temporarily, hold the Shift key during the boot process. This forces Windows to show the login screen for that session, so you can sign in as a different user. Automatic sign-in stays configured for the next restart.

Summary

Automatic sign-in can speed up your day, but it comes with real security trade-offs. Weigh the convenience of a faster login against the risk of someone else getting into your PC. For the best balance, use the official Sysinternals tool or stick to the built-in update-only setting. Avoid the registry method unless nothing else works, and keep it to a PC that stays in a secure place.