[adinserter name=”TopOfPost”]It’s very common to want to login to windows without entering a password or to do what is called auto-login after Windows boots up.  With Windows 10 auto-login you can bypass the login screen completely and go straight to your desktop.

Windows 10 auto-login is a fantastic feature if you don’t want to remember a password, or if you have something like a mining PC that you need to automatically start doing work after it boots up.  There are some security caveats that you should be aware of though and we’ll discuss those at the end of this article.

How to set Windows 10 to Automatically Login

Setting up Windows 10 to automatically login is very similar to the same process used previously on Windows 7 and Windows 8. I would point out that there are a few different ways to setup autologin on Windows 10, but the way we’re going to show is by far the simplest method. The other methods are usually for more advanced users and require editing of the registry or third party applications.  You can avoid all of that with these simple steps.

Step 1: Run NetPlWiz

From your windows desktop press the Windows Key + R. In the run box type netplwiz and press enter. (The Windows Key is the the key with the Windows logo on it.)

Step 2: Disable Password Requirements

To setup Windows 10 auto-login we’re going to tell Windows that it should not require a users to enter a password at boot.  After running netplwiz a User Accounts dialog bot will open.  Uncheck the box that says “Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer” and then click the Apply button.

Step 3: Enter your Credentials

After clicking Apply, you will be prompted to enter and confirm your password.  Enter your password, and confirm it again in the second box.  Finally, click the OK button.

Step 4: Reboot your Windows 10 PC

To test that your Windows 10 auto-login settings worked, reboot your PC.  Windows 10 should boot to the desktop, completely skipping the login screen.

A Word of Caution about Auto-Login on Windows 10

Setting up Windows 10 to auto-login should be done with caution.  Anyone who has access to this computer will be able to login and access any information on the computer.  This might be fine if you live alone or are the only one who ever uses this PC. In a more public setting however, anyone can gain access to the computer with a simple reboot, even if you’ve locked the PC with the Windows Key + L. I don’t recommend you set any PC in a business environment to auto-login unless you are aware of the consequences and have them mitigated with other security measures.

For PC’s in secured environments such as mining machines, or digital signage this is probably a safe setting.