How to Restore a Missing “Users Must Enter a User Name and Password” Option in Windows 11

zulqarnayniApril 28, 2022Last Updated: April 28, 2022

0 3 minutes read

Both Windows 11 and 10 have a “Users must enter a user name and password option to use this computer” option. Deselecting this option enables users to bypass the login screen. Thus, you won’t need to manually enter a password to log in to Windows when that setting isn’t selected.

However, the “Users must enter a user name and password option to use this computer” option disappeared on more recent Windows 10 versions after Microsoft introduced new sign-in features. And it has remained missing in Windows 11 for many users. Fortunately, you can restore that missing login setting in two ways.

A Windows Hello sign-in setting is what caused the Users must enter a user name and password option to disappear. Turning off the only allow Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts option will restore the missing login setting for most users. This is how you can disable that option in Settings.

Click Start on Windows 11’s taskbar.
Select to open the Settings app that’s pinned to your Start menu.
Then click Accounts in Settings.
Select Sign-in options to bring up the settings shown directly below.
Click the toggle switch for the only allow Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts on this device option to turn off that setting.

Alternatively, you can manually edit the registry to restore the missing login option. However, it’s recommended users try the method above first. If that doesn’t do the trick, edit the registry as follows.

Bring up the Power User menu (you can access it with its special Win + X hotkey).
Select Run from the menu.
Open the Registry Editor by entering its regedit Run command and clicking OK.
Navigate to a HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\PasswordLess\Device key within the Registry Editor.
Select the Device key within the left navigation pane.
Double-click the Device key’s DevicePasswordLessBuildVersion DWORD.
Erase the number in the Value data box. Then input 0 there to replace the deleted value.
Click OK to save the new value.

When you’ve restored the missing Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer setting, you can change Windows 11’s login configuration with it. That option is selected by default in Windows. Therefore, you’ll need to deselect it to enable the auto-login. These are the steps for enabling auto-login.

If you currently log in with a Windows Hello sign-in method, you’ll need to remove that first (you can skip to step four if otherwise). Open Sign-in options in Settings as outlined in steps one to four of the first method above.
Select your current Windows Hello sign-in method there, and click the Remove button. Click the second Remove button to confirm.
Then verify your account password in the prompt that opens, and select OK.
Open up the Run dialog in Windows 11.
Type netplwiz within the Open box.
Click OK to open the User Accounts window shown directly below.
Now uncheck the checkbox for the restored Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer option there.
Select your user account listed within the window.
Click the Apply option.
A Sign in automatically window will then open. If you log in with a Microsoft account, you’ll need to enter its email address for it within the user name field.
Then input your account password within the two password text boxes.
Press the OK button on the “Sign in automatically” window.
Now restart your PC to try out the automatic login. Windows will automatically log you in, which means you don’t have to enter anything anymore.

Log Into Windows 11 Automatically

Restoring the missing Users must enter a user name and password option will enable you to disable manual login requirements within Windows 11. If you don’t think it’s necessary to have manual login on your desktop or laptop, go ahead and deselect that setting. However, activating automatic login will also enable anybody to sign in to Windows on your PC.