Set windows 11 to require a username and password to login

Thanks Derrick,

I tried the above and when I restart or shut down and turn the computer back on my username is still displayed. I'm having the same issue with another computer so I think it's more of a setting issue than a possible software glitch. But I could be mistaken. The only way it doesn't remember my username is if I sign out before restarting or shutting down.

Hi Welcome to Microsoft community. To ensure that Windows 11 always requires you to enter both your username and password upon startup, you'll need to tweak some settings. By default, Windows 11 may remember the last logged-in user, even if you configure it to require a username and password. Here are the steps to ensure it doesn't remember the username after a shutdown or restart:

1. Group Policy Editor (Windows 11 Pro and above)

If you're using Windows 11 Pro or a higher edition, you can use the Group Policy Editor to change this behavior.

Open Group Policy Editor: Press Windows + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.

Navigate to the Policy: Go to Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Local Policies > Security Options.

Interactive Logon: Find the policy named Interactive logon: Do not display last user name.

Enable the Policy: Double-click on this policy and set it to Enabled.

2. Registry Editor (For all Windows 11 Editions)

If you're using Windows 11 Home, you can achieve this by editing the registry.

WARNING: Editing the registry can have serious consequences if not done correctly. It's recommended to back up the registry before making any changes.

Open Registry Editor: Press Windows + R, type regedit and press Enter.

Navigate to the Key: Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System.

Add a New DWORD: Right-click on the right pane, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it DontDisplayLastUserName.

Set the Value: Double-click on the newly created DontDisplayLastUserName DWORD and set its value to 1.

Disclaimer: Generally, modifying registry subkeys or work group is intended for advanced users, administrators, and IT Professionals. It can help fix some problems, however, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For further protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click How to back up and restore the registry in Windows - Microsoft Support to view the article. 

3. Disable Fast Startup

Sometimes, Fast Startup can cause Windows to remember the last user. Disabling it might help.

Open Control Panel: Press Windows + R, type control, and press Enter.

Power Options: Go to System and Security > Power Options.

Choose What the Power Buttons Do: Click on Choose what the power buttons do on the left side.

Change Settings: Click on Change settings that are currently unavailable.

Disable Fast Startup: Uncheck Turn on fast startup (recommended) and click Save changes.

4. Local Security Policy

If you're still having issues, you might want to double-check these settings in Local Security Policy.

Open Local Security Policy: Press Windows + R, type secpol.msc, and press Enter.

Navigate to Security Options: Go to Local Policies > Security Options.

Check Interactive Logon Policies: Ensure that Interactive logon: Do not display last user name is enabled.

5. Test the Settings

After making these changes, restart your computer to see if it prompts for both the username and password without showing the last logged-in user.

If the problem persists, double-check each step to ensure all settings are correctly applied.

Let me know if you need further assistance. Best regardsDerrick Qian | Microsoft Community Support Specialist