While Windows 7/10 offers a level of security that was not available in previous versions of the operating system, there are times when having to log in every time you restart your computer can be annoying. Fortunately, Microsoft offers a solution to let you sign in every time. Learn how to set up Windows 7/10 to automatically sign in to your account.
A word or two of warning
Obviously, by configuring Windows 7/10 to automatically sign in to your account, you are giving anyone who has access to your computer the ability to use your computer. Setting the administrator account as the default is probably not the best idea, however convenient it may be for you.
One way to work around this problem is to configure it so that Windows will automatically log into a Guest or Standard account. Remember that if you set up an account with administrative privileges to log in automatically, anyone can set a password for the account and completely block access to your computer. Carefully select the account that Windows will automatically log into when you restart your computer.
Set up automatic login in Windows 7 and 10
To set up automatic logon to Windows 7/10, start by logging in to Windows with an account with administrator rights and click “Start” and then “Run.” If there is no Run command on the Start menu, you can also hold down the Windows key on your keyboard and press the R key.
Either method will bring up the Run dialog box. Enter the following line in the Run dialog box and click OK. On Windows 10, you can also type netplwiz and the same dialog will appear.
control userpasswords2
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The “User Accounts” window opens, where you can control various aspects of users and their properties. Click the Users tab and find the option titled Users must enter a username and password to use this computer. This option forces you to select a user and then enter a password to log into your computer.
Clear this check box and click OK. Windows will immediately open another dialog box asking if you want to select an account that the operating system will automatically log into when Windows starts up.
Enter the username and password you want to use as your auto login account. You must confirm the password and then click OK. By default, the username that you selected in the previous window is loaded. If you want to use a non-administrator account, make sure you have created an account before starting this process.
Restart Windows and make sure the operating system automatically logs into the account above.
While this is a handy feature, there are some caveats about automatically logging Windows into an account. Some people use this feature temporarily to save some steps during a specific project. Others use a guest or other limited account as their default account to set up a public or kiosk computer in a public place or home.
Whatever your reasons, be careful not to accidentally give someone unlimited access to your computer and cause yourself a lot of grief! Enjoy!
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