How to Configure a User Account to Automatically Log On

Requiring users to enter credentials when their computers start is an important part of Windows security. If a user account automatically logs on, anyone who has physical access to the computer can restart it and access the user's files. Nonetheless, in scenarios in which a computer is physically secure, automatic logon might be preferred. To configure a workgroup computer (you cannot perform these steps on a domain member) to automatically log on, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, type netplwiz, and then press Enter.
2. In the User Accounts dialog box, click the account you want to automatically log on to. If it is available, clear the Users Must Enter A User Name And Password To Use This Computer check box.
3. Click OK.
4. In the Automatically Log On dialog box, enter the user's password twice. Click OK.

The next time you restart the computer, it will automatically log on with the local user account you selected. Configuring automatic logon stores the user's password in the registry unencrypted, where someone might be able to retrieve it.