Turn off auto sign-in & lock at startup

Question

I can't recall what the proper name for this feature is or how to enable/disable it.

When I turn off or reboot a Windows 10 or11 computer, upon turning it back on it will automatically log in the last user that logged on to the computer, and then lock the computer, so that you need to log in, but the computer will load anything in the startup items for that user as well as get started on autocratic updates for both Windows and any antivirus or other apps that feel the need to update at login.

Unfortunately, I have a couple with a low-end laptop running Windows 11 Home that are sharing it and it seems like it is always the wrong user account that logs in and ties up too much memory.

Is there any way to turn this auto login behavior off?

I don't see anything in netplwiz or "control userpasswords2" about this, and the way that control panel is set up it looks like in previous versions nobody would be automatically logging in.

Could somebody remind me of the proper name and how to disable it so the right user account gets signed in when they want to use the laptop? The laptop only has 8gb of RAM so memory is a concern. Yes, I know they should upgrade, but it's one of those HP laptops where the RAM is sealed in place and you can't open the darn thing to upgrade it without destroying the rubber padding on the bottom and voiding the warranty.

Answer 1

Edit: I found out, there's another policy with very similar effects, so I updated this post to include that too.

You need to disable "Sign-in and lock last interactive user automatically after a restart" and "Configure the mode of automatically signing in and locking last interactive user after a restart or cold boot" policies in Group Policy. There supposed to be a more user friendly place for this somewhere but I couldn't found it. I guess Group Policy is the solution then. Or manually modify the registry keys.

If you have access to Group Policy edit

1. Open Start Menu
2. Search for "Edit Group Policy"
3. Navigate on the left part of the window to Local Computer Policy -> Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates ->Windows Components -> Windows Logon Options
4. In the center/right part of the window, double click "Sign-in and lock last interactive user automatically after a restart" to edit
5. Select "Disable"
6. Click OK
7. Double click "Configure the mode of automatically signing in and locking last interactive user after a restart or cold boot" to edit
8. Select "Disable"
9. Click OK

If you don't have access to Group Policy edit, then edit the registry

1. Open Start Menu
2. Search for regedit
3. Select Registry Edit
4. Now your computer will prompt for administrator rights if UAC is enabled. Click Yes
5. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System on the left part of the window.
6. Double click on "DisableAutomaticRestartSignOn" the right-center part of the screen. If it does not exist, Right click->New->DWord (32 bit) Value enter the name, and press enter. Now you can double click it
7. To Value data field enter 1, and check Hexadecimal radio button.
8. Click OK
9. Right click on "AutomaticRestartSignOnConfig" -> Delete -> Yes

For the curious minded I can recommend reading the information you can see in Group Policy Editor or visit the official documentation: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/identity/ad-ds/manage/component-updates/winlogon-automatic-restart-sign-on--arso-

Maybe it's a bit late, but hopefully it will help someone. I always forget it, so at least I have it written down for myself :D

Have a nice day! ^^

Answer 2

Hmm.. It sounds like it might be user profile not configured correctly.

When you launch netplwiz, how many users are listed there? Do you mind sharing a screenshot of that page and hide part of the email (if email address is listed)?

Then another screenshot of the lock screen upon sign in, where it lists identical users.

Thanks!

Answer 3

I did see that you mentioned netplwiz, but I want to make sure that's the checkbox you used since you didn't mention that checkbox in netplwiz. When you said auto sign in, that's really the only place that would have been relevant.

Could you possible mean the start up settings instead? That's the one in Task Manager > Start up tab, where you can disable start up apps?

Answer 4

Please reread the original post, I already checked and it is set to "users must enter a user name and password to use this computer", which is true.

The issue is that whoever last used the computer has their account automatically signed in, taking up memory when the computer is next rebooted.

The name will appear with "signed in" under it on the Welcome screen, and they show up as logged in in the Administrator's Task Manager even if that person hasn't touched the computer since it was shut down.

How do I turn that "auto-login" feature off? I know that is the wrong word, which is why those with reading comprehension problems tell me "check netplwiz" because I used the wrong term, they did a bing search on the term and gave me info on what that term is for.

I'm sorry, I don't know what the feature is called. I can't remember.

Answer 5

Hello, this is Emily.

If you tpe netplwiz in the search on the taskbar and hit enter, it should launch that Accounts windows. Do you see the check box for "Users must enter a username and password to use this computer"? Select each user, and then make sure this box is checked for each user, and then click OK to save it. Restart. And it should ask for sign in for each user instead of auto signing in.