How to Enable Automatic Login in Windows 11 | Auto Sign-In After Restart

🔐 How to Enable Automatic Login in Windows 11

Configure Windows 11 to automatically sign in after restarting your computer

Windows 11 automatic login allows a user account to sign in automatically when the computer starts or restarts. This can be particularly useful for dedicated media center computers, home servers, kiosk systems, test machines and computers that are used by a single trusted person.

In this guide, we will explain how to configure automatic sign-in in Windows 11 using netplwiz and how the DevicePasswordLessBuildVersion Registry setting can affect the availability of the traditional automatic-login option.

Important: The Registry setting described in this guide does not automatically configure Windows to log in by itself. It can help make the traditional user-account configuration available in some Windows 11 configurations. Automatic sign-in must still be configured separately.

What Is Windows 11 Automatic Login?

Normally, Windows 11 displays the sign-in screen after the computer starts or restarts. The user must then enter a password, PIN or use another configured authentication method.

With automatic login enabled, Windows can automatically sign in to a selected local or Microsoft account without requiring the user to manually interact with the sign-in screen.

This feature can be useful when Windows 11 is being used as a:

Home media center
TV-connected computer
Dedicated kiosk system
Digital signage device
Testing computer
Single-user home PC
Local server or automation machine

How to Enable Automatic Login with netplwiz

One of the traditional ways to configure automatic login in Windows is the netplwiz utility.

Step 1: Open netplwiz

Press:

Windows + R

Type the following command:

netplwiz

Then press Enter.

Step 2: Select Your User Account

The User Accounts window will open. Select the account that you want Windows 11 to sign in automatically.

Step 3: Configure Automatic Sign-In

Depending on your Windows 11 configuration, you may see an option similar to:

Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer.

If this option is available, clear the checkbox and select Apply.

Windows may then ask you to enter and confirm the account password. After completing the process, restart the computer and test the automatic sign-in.

Security warning: Automatic login reduces the physical security of the computer. Anyone who can physically access the device may be able to access the Windows account without entering the account password.

Why Is the Automatic Login Option Missing in Windows 11?

One common issue is that the traditional automatic-login checkbox does not appear in netplwiz.

This can happen because of Windows 11 passwordless sign-in settings and the way the operating system handles certain authentication configurations.

One Registry value that can affect this behavior is:

DevicePasswordLessBuildVersion

What Is DevicePasswordLessBuildVersion?

DevicePasswordLessBuildVersion is a Windows Registry value associated with passwordless sign-in behavior.

On some Windows 11 systems, changing this value can cause the traditional netplwiz automatic-login option to become available again.

It is important to understand that this Registry value does not mean “automatically log in to Windows”. It influences the availability of a particular Windows user-account configuration.

How to Change DevicePasswordLessBuildVersion

Step 1: Open Registry Editor

Press:

Windows + R

Enter:

regedit

Press Enter and approve the User Account Control prompt if requested.

Step 2: Navigate to the Registry Location

Navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\PasswordLess\Device

Step 3: Find the Registry Value

Look for:

DevicePasswordLessBuildVersion

If the value exists, double-click it and check its current value.

Step 4: Set the Value to 0

In configurations where this change is applicable, set the value to:

The Registry value should be configured as a DWORD (32-bit) Value.

Note: Windows versions and account configurations can behave differently. Setting this Registry value to 0 is commonly used to make the traditional automatic-login option available, but it is not a guarantee that every Windows 11 installation will expose the same interface.

Automatic Registry File Method

Advanced users can create a .reg file to apply the Registry change more quickly.

Create a new text file and save it with a .reg extension, for example:

enable-netplwiz.reg

Add the following content:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\PasswordLess\Device]
"DevicePasswordLessBuildVersion"=dword:00000000

Double-click the file and confirm the Registry changes. Restart Windows and check netplwiz again.

Before modifying the Registry: Create a System Restore Point or export the relevant Registry key. Incorrect Registry changes can cause unexpected Windows behavior.

netplwiz vs DevicePasswordLessBuildVersion

Feature	netplwiz	DevicePasswordLessBuildVersion
Purpose	Configures user-account sign-in behavior	Affects passwordless sign-in configuration behavior
Automatic login by itself	Can configure it	No
Registry modification	No	Yes
Requires account credentials	Yes, when configuring automatic sign-in	No direct credential configuration
Useful when netplwiz option is missing	Not by itself	May help in some Windows 11 configurations

What Happens After Restart?

After automatic sign-in has been correctly configured, Windows 11 can perform the following sequence:

The computer starts or restarts.
Windows loads the operating system.
The configured user account is automatically selected.
Windows signs in without requiring manual interaction at the sign-in screen.
The Windows desktop becomes available.

This is particularly useful for computers connected permanently to a television or used as a media center.

Windows 11 Automatic Login for a Media Center PC

If you are converting a Windows 11 laptop or desktop into a dedicated TV media center, automatic login can simplify the startup process.

For example, a computer connected to a television through HDMI can automatically start Windows, sign in to the configured account and launch the desired media application.

This can be combined with:

Automatic application startup
Fullscreen media applications
Wireless mouse control
Remote desktop or remote-control software
Google Cast or other media streaming technologies
Windows virtual keyboard

Security Considerations

Automatic login is convenient, but it should not be enabled blindly on computers that contain sensitive information.

Consider the following before enabling the feature:

Anyone with physical access may gain access to the Windows session.
Stored credentials may create additional security risks.
Automatic login is more appropriate for trusted environments.
It should generally be avoided on shared or publicly accessible computers.
Full-disk encryption should be considered for devices containing sensitive data.
Important files should still be protected using appropriate Windows permissions.

Best practice: Use automatic login primarily on dedicated, physically controlled devices such as a home media center. For laptops and computers used outside a trusted environment, requiring authentication provides stronger protection against unauthorized physical access.

Useful Windows 11 Commands and Settings

Command / Setting	Purpose
`netplwiz`	Opens the classic User Accounts configuration window.
`regedit`	Opens Windows Registry Editor.
`DevicePasswordLessBuildVersion`	Registry value related to passwordless sign-in behavior.
Windows + R	Opens the Run dialog.
Windows + L	Locks the current Windows session.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does DevicePasswordLessBuildVersion enable automatic login?

No. The Registry value does not independently configure automatic login. In some Windows 11 configurations, it can affect whether the traditional automatic-login option is available in netplwiz.

Is netplwiz still available in Windows 11?

The netplwiz utility remains available on Windows 11 systems, although the options displayed can vary depending on Windows configuration and authentication settings.

Will automatic login remove my Windows password?

No. Automatic sign-in and removing an account password are different things. Automatic login can use stored account credentials while allowing Windows to sign in without asking you to manually enter them at every startup.

Can I disable automatic login later?

Yes. You can return to the relevant user-account configuration and restore normal authentication behavior.

Is automatic login safe?

It depends on the environment. It can be convenient on a physically secure home media center, but it reduces protection against someone who has physical access to the computer.

Conclusion

Windows 11 automatic login can be useful when a computer needs to start and become ready for use without requiring manual interaction at the sign-in screen.

The traditional netplwiz method is one of the main ways to configure automatic sign-in. If the expected automatic-login option is missing, the DevicePasswordLessBuildVersion Registry setting may affect its availability on some Windows 11 configurations.

However, the Registry modification alone does not configure automatic login. It should be viewed as a configuration step that may restore access to the traditional user-account setting.