How to Log Into Your Computer Automatically

Automatic sign-in takes you to your desktop when your computer starts, without asking you to enter your account password at that point. It is convenient for a personal computer in a private, controlled location, but anyone who can turn it on may gain access to your files and account. The steps depend on whether you use Windows or macOS.

What You’ll Need

Physical access to the computer and permission to change its sign-in settings.
An administrator account on the computer. You may need its password to change some settings.
Your account password, if Windows or macOS requests it. This is the password for the computer account, not necessarily a PIN, fingerprint, or device-unlock code.
A private, secure location. Do not enable automatic sign-in on a shared, portable, or work computer unless your organization allows it.

Step-by-Step

Check whether automatic sign-in is appropriate. Anyone with access to a computer that signs in automatically may be able to use its open account. Keep this feature off on a laptop you carry, a shared family computer, or a device containing sensitive work or personal information. If the computer is managed by an employer or school, ask the administrator before changing sign-in settings.
Identify your operating system. On Windows, open Settings > System > About and look under Windows specifications. On a Mac, open the Apple menu and choose About This Mac. Menu names can vary slightly between releases, so use the equivalent Settings or System Settings screen if needed.
On Windows, open the sign-in options. Go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options. Find Additional settings and check the option that says something like For improved security, only allow Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts on this device. If it is enabled, turn it off. This setting can hide the automatic sign-in control in the next step. If your organization controls the setting, do not try to bypass its restrictions.
Open the Windows user-account dialog. Press Windows key + R, type netplwiz, and press Enter. If a permission prompt appears, approve it only if you are authorized to make this change. In the User Accounts window, select the account that should sign in automatically.
Enable Windows automatic sign-in. Clear the box labeled Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer, then select Apply. In the confirmation dialog, enter the selected account’s user name and its actual account password in both password fields, then select OK. Do not enter a PIN in place of the password. If the checkbox is absent, see Troubleshooting rather than changing unrelated security settings.
On macOS, open the automatic-login setting. Choose the Apple menu, then System Settings > Users & Groups. Find Automatically log in as, choose the account, and enter that account’s password if requested. On older macOS releases, the control may be in System Preferences > Users & Groups > Login Options. If the menu is unavailable or dimmed, check the conditions in Troubleshooting.
Restart and verify the result. Save your work, restart the computer, and watch whether the selected account opens without asking for credentials. If it still requests a password, sign in normally and review the setting, account selection, and password. Automatic sign-in may not skip disk-encryption unlock, a firmware password, or every wake-from-sleep prompt.

Common Mistakes

Using a PIN instead of the account password. Windows Hello PINs and biometrics are separate from the account password. The automatic sign-in dialog generally needs the password associated with the account.
Selecting the wrong account. Check the account name before applying the change, especially if the computer has several users. Automatic sign-in opens only the selected account; other people may not see their usual sign-in screen.
Assuming startup and wake are the same. Automatic sign-in settings usually apply when the computer starts. A separate requirement may still ask for a password after sleep, a screen lock, or a security event.
Turning off protections to make the option appear. Do not disable device encryption, organizational controls, or other safeguards just to force automatic sign-in. If policy blocks the setting, leave it disabled and contact the administrator.
Forgetting the physical-access risk. A password may still protect some services, but automatic sign-in exposes the local session to anyone who can use the computer. Lock the device when unattended if you decide the convenience is worth the risk.

Tips

Use automatic sign-in only on a stationary computer in a genuinely secure place, such as a private room where visitors cannot access it.
Keep the computer’s account password strong and unique, even though you will not type it at each startup. A weak password can still put accounts and files at risk.
Consider using a standard, non-administrator account for everyday activities. Keep a separate administrator account for changes that require elevated permission.
To undo the Windows change, reopen netplwiz, select the account, check Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer, and apply the change. On a Mac, return to Users & Groups and set automatic login to off, if that option is available.
If convenience is the goal rather than unattended startup, consider a shorter sign-in process such as a supported PIN or biometric sign-in. These still require authentication and are generally a safer compromise than automatic login.

Troubleshooting

The Windows checkbox is missing. In Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options, look under Additional settings for the Windows Hello-only sign-in option and turn it off if you are allowed to. Restart or reopen netplwiz. If the option remains missing, Windows edition, account setup, or organizational policy may prevent this method. Do not use unofficial registry changes; use your administrator’s guidance or keep normal sign-in enabled.
Windows says the password is incorrect. Confirm the selected account and enter its current password, not its PIN. For a Microsoft account, check that you know the account password and that the keyboard layout, Caps Lock, and network sign-in conditions are not causing an error. If you recently changed the password, update the saved automatic sign-in details by applying the setting again.
The Mac automatic-login menu is unavailable. Automatic login may be blocked when FileVault disk encryption is enabled, when the Mac is managed by an organization, or when there are account or security restrictions. Do not turn off encryption simply to enable automatic login. Check with the administrator, or continue signing in normally.
The computer still asks for a password after restarting. Confirm you restarted rather than merely waking the computer, and verify that the correct account is selected. A full-disk encryption prompt, work policy, or another pre-login security feature can appear before the desktop and is not the same as the normal account sign-in screen.
You cannot change the setting. Make sure you are using an administrator account and that the computer is not subject to workplace or school controls. If you are unsure, stop and ask the device owner or administrator rather than trying to circumvent the restriction.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does automatic login remove my account password?
No. It stores or uses sign-in information to open the selected account automatically; it does not necessarily remove the account password. You may still need the password for account changes or other services.

Will this make my computer start faster?
It can remove the need to enter credentials after startup, but it does not make the computer itself boot faster. Startup time depends on the device, operating system, and apps that load.

Does it work when I wake the computer from sleep?
Not necessarily. Startup automatic sign-in and the setting that requires credentials after sleep are separate. Check your operating system’s lock and sign-in settings if wake behavior is the issue.

Can more than one account sign in automatically?
Usually automatic sign-in is configured for one selected account at a time. Other accounts may still be available from the sign-in screen, depending on the device’s setup.

Is automatic login safe on a laptop?
It is generally a poor choice for a portable computer because it can expose the signed-in session if the laptop is lost or accessed by someone else. Keep sign-in protection enabled on devices that leave your control.

How do I turn automatic login off?
On Windows, use netplwiz and restore the requirement to enter a user name and password. On macOS, return to Users & Groups and disable automatic login if the control is available.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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