default user 0 password during start up

Question

i got my dell laptop from P.C's for people and it was completly sanitized and windows 11 installed. it never asked me to set up a password but everytime i turn it on ''defaultuser0'' is asking me to sign in. i have to hit shift powerdown into boot mode just to bypass putting the password for default user0. i have created my account as the admistrator but still cant get rid of defaultuser0

Answer 1

It seems like your laptop is set to log in with a default user account named "defaultuser0" which is likely a remnant from the setup process. To resolve this issue, you can try the following steps:

1. Disable Automatic Logon for Default User: You may need to adjust the registry settings to prevent the system from automatically logging in with "defaultuser0". You can do this by:
   • Pressing Win + R, typing regedit, and hitting Enter to open the Registry Editor.
   • Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon.
   • Look for the AutoAdminLogon key and set its value to 0 (zero).
2. Create a New User Account: If the above does not work, consider creating a new user account and setting it as an administrator. You can do this by going to Settings > Accounts > Family & other users > Add someone else to this PC. Make sure to set this new account as an administrator.
3. Remove Default User Account: If you still see "defaultuser0" after creating a new account, you may need to remove it from the system. This can be done through the Local Users and Groups management console (if available) or using command line tools to delete the account.
4. Check for Group Policies: Sometimes, group policies can enforce logon settings. Check if there are any policies that might be affecting the logon process.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, you might consider reaching out to Dell support or the organization that provided the laptop for further assistance.

---

References:

• Enable and disable the built-in administrator account
• Automate reboots before you run an assessment

Answer 2

I have a feeling Microosft broke some something back in October/ November 2025.

Research took me to a setting in Security baseline policies, because during AutoPilot provioning any apps that require a restart, needs to automatically log back in using DefaulUser0, but is disabled by baseline policy.

This was the setting, not to be confused with a setting underneath Internet explorer settings.

This setting no longer appears, like MS have removed / fixed the issue.

I'd appreciate if anyone was to drop a message to at least say they saw the issue also.