How to Hide the Welcome Logon Screen on Windows 10 Pro

If you're looking to add an extra layer of security to your Windows 10 Pro computer or simply want to make the login process more seamless, you may be interested in hiding the welcome logon screen. This screen, which displays a list of user accounts and requires you to select an account and enter a password before accessing the desktop, can be bypassed by configuring a few settings in the Windows Registry.

Before we begin, it's important to note that editing the Windows Registry can be risky if not done correctly. Always make sure to back up your registry before making any changes, and proceed with caution. With that said, let's get started!

Step 1: Open the Windows Registry Editor

To open the Windows Registry Editor, press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box. Type regedit in the box and press Enter. If prompted by the User Account Control, click Yes to allow the app to make changes to your device.

Step 2: Navigate to the Appropriate Registry Key

In the Windows Registry Editor, navigate to the following key:

HKEY\_LOCAL\_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

This key contains various settings related to the Windows logon process. To hide the welcome logon screen, we'll need to add a new value to this key.

Step 3: Add a New Value to the Winlogon Key

Right-click on the Winlogon key and select New > String Value. Name the new value AutoAdminLogon and press Enter.

Next, double-click on the new value and set its value data to 1. This will enable automatic logon, bypassing the welcome logon screen.

Step 4: Set the Default User Account

To specify the default user account that will be logged on automatically, we'll need to add another new value to the Winlogon key. Right-click on the Winlogon key and select New > String Value. Name the new value DefaultUserName and press Enter.

Double-click on the new value and set its value data to the username of the account you want to use for automatic logon. For example, if your username is jdoe, set the value data to jdoe.

Step 5: Set the Default User Account's Password (Optional)

If you want to secure the default user account with a password, you can add another new value to the Winlogon key. Right-click on the Winlogon key and select New > String Value. Name the new value DefaultPassword and press Enter.

Double-click on the new value and set its value data to the password of the default user account. For example, if your password is password123, set the value data to password123.

Note: If you don't set a password for the default user account, anyone who has physical access to your computer will be able to log on automatically. It's recommended to set a strong password for added security.

Step 6: Restart Your Computer

Once you've made the necessary changes to the Windows Registry, restart your computer for the changes to take effect. After your computer restarts, you should be automatically logged on to the default user account, bypassing the welcome logon screen.

By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily hide the welcome logon screen on your Windows 10 Pro computer. This can be useful for adding an extra layer of security or for making the login process more seamless. Just remember to always proceed with caution when editing the Windows Registry, and make sure to back up your registry before making any changes.

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