How to turn on automatic logon in Windows XP

This article was previously published under Q315231

Important

This article contains information about modifying theregistry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up andmake sure that you understand how to restore the registry if aproblem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, andedit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:256986

(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/256986/)

Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

INTRODUCTION

This article describes how to configure Microsoft Windows XP to automate the logon process by storingyour password and other pertinent information in the registry database. This feature permits otherusers to start your computer and to use the account that you establish to automatically log on.

Important

If you turn on autologon, using Windows XP becomes more convenient. However, usingthis feature can pose a security risk.

MORE INFORMATION

Warning

If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require youto reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that resultfrom using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.If you set a computer for automatic logon, anyone who can physically gain access to the computer canalso gain access to everything that is on the computer, including any network or networks that thecomputer is connected to. Additionally, if you turn on automatic logon, the password is stored in theregistry in plain text. The specific registry key that stores this value is remotely readable by theAuthenticated Users group. Therefore, only use this setting if the computer is physically secured and if you make sure that users who you do not trust cannot remotely see the registry.You can use Registry Editor to add your log on information. To do this, follow these steps:After your computer restarts and Windows XP starts, you can log on automatically.Article ID:315231Last Review:May 7, 2007Revision:4.61.Click

Start

, click

Run

, type

regedit

, and then click

.2.Locate the following registry key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon3.Using your account name and password, double-click the

DefaultUserName

entry, type youruser name, and then click

.4.Double-click the

DefaultPassword

entry, type your password under the value data box, andthen click

.If there is no

DefaultPassword

value, create the value. To do this, follow these steps:If no DefaultPassword string is specified, Windows XP automatically changes the value of theAutoAdminLogon registry key from

(true) to

(false) to turn off the AutoAdminLogon feature.a. In Registry Editor, click

Edit

, click

New

, and then click

String Value

.b. Type

DefaultPassword

as the value name, and then press ENTER.c. Double-click the newly created key, and then type your password in the

Value Data

box.5.Double-click the