You may need to setup a machine to to automatically login to windows in order to always have the machine logged in after a reboot. This is handy for environments like a Library where that are large numbers of public machines or in cases where machines may be used as digital signage and need auto login and then run a specific application.
Allowing a machine to login with credentials without a user present creates a number of security concerns and thus Microsoft does not make it easy to configure automatic logon. Additionally, they make it especially hard to login to a domain connected machine since this will allow possible access to domain resources without a password.
The steps below show methods for configuration on automatic login on domain and non-domain machines and breaks out the process to configure both 32 bit (x86) and 64 bit (x64) machines in a domain environment.
Auto Logon - Non Domain Machines
The setup process on a stand alone (non-domain attached) computer is much easier than when the machine is domain attached.
1. From a command prompt or Start/Run type "netplwiz.exe"
2. Select the Users or User Accounts Tab
3. Select the account that you want to Auto Logon
4. Unselect the check box for "Users Must Enter A User Name And Password To Use This Computer"
5. Click "OK"
6. In the dialog box "Automatically Log On" you will need to enter the users password and then verify the password.
7. Close the dialog boxes when completes and reboot to verify that the machine logs on
NOTE: if you do not see the "Users Must Enter A User Name And Password To Use This Computer" option then it is likely you will need to use the appropriate domain solution for your machine. These solutions can be found below.
Auto Logon - Domain Connected x86 Machines
1. Open the Registry Editor with the command regedit.exe
2. Navigate to the key:
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
3. Modify or create the following values in the winlogon key:
Name: AutoAdminLogon
Type: REG_SZ (String Value)
Data: 1
Name: DefaultDomainName
Type: REG_SZ (String Value)
Data: <Domain Name> or <Local Host Name>
Note: This will be the domain name of the domain account that you are logging in as.
If you want to login as a local user account you can use the Host Name of the local machine
Name: DefaultUserName
Type: REG_SZ (String Value)
Data: <Login User Name>
Name: DefaultPassword
Type: REG_SZ (String Value)
Data: <Account Password>
Name: ForceAutoLogon
Type: REG_SZ (String Value)
Data: 1
Name: AutoLogonCount
Note: Delete this value if it exists
4. Close the registry Editor
5. Reboot the machine and verify that the machine logs onto the correct account
Auto Logon - Domain Connected x64 Machines
1. Open the Registry Editor with the command regedit.exe
2. Navigate to the key:
HKLM\software\WOW6432NODE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
3. Modify or create the following values in the winlogon key:
Name: AutoAdminLogon
Type: REG_SZ (String Value)
Data: 1
Name: DefaultDomainName
Type: REG_SZ (String Value)
Data: <Domain Name> or <Local Host Name>
Note: This will be the domain name of the domain account that you are logging in as.
If you want to login as a local user account you can use the Host Name of the local machine
Name: DefaultUserName
Type: REG_SZ (String Value)
Data: <Login User Name>
Name: DefaultPassword
Type: REG_SZ (String Value)
Data: <Account Password>
Name: ForceAutoLogon
Type: REG_SZ (String Value)
Data: 1
Name: AutoLogonCount
Note: Delete this value if it exists
4. Close the registry Editor
5. Reboot the machine and verify that the machine logs onto the correct account