Many Windows users prefer to protect their Microsoft account by blocking access to the PC with the help of a strong password or a 4-digit PIN. So if you or another user wants to access your PC, you will have to enter the PIN or password to access your account and your PC. In the same way, when you want to install a Windows Update and your PC restarts to apply the update, you get to the Windows login screen, where you will have to enter the PIN or password to access.
This can be time consuming and annoying for some users and therefore you may want to bypass the login screen and go straight to the desktop, without the need to enter your PIN or password. For this to happen, you must enable the ” Automatic sign-in after an Update ” feature in Windows settings. This allows Windows to save your login credentials which are then used to automatically log into your Microsoft account to finish installing and applying the update.
However, it should be noted that this feature applies only to Windows update and will work only when you want to finish installing an update and not under normal circumstances. You will still need to enter your PIN or password to access your account under normal circumstances.
This post will guide you on how to enable / disable the Automatic Sign-in After Update feature in Windows 11. Let’s see how:
Method 1: through the settings app
This method allows you to enable the Automatic Sign-in After Update feature on your Windows 11 PC using the Settings app in just a few quick steps. Let’s see how:
Step 1: Press the Win + I s simultaneously on your keyboard to launch the Settings .
Step 2: In Settings , click Accounts on the left side of the panel.
Step 3: Now, go to the right side of the window and click on Sign-in options .
Step 4: Next, in the Sign-in options s, go to the right side, scroll down to the bottom and under the Additional settings , go Use my sign-in info to automatically finish setting up after an update .
Now, move the toggle switch next to the right to enable the Automatic Sign-in After Update feature.
* Note – To disable the Automatic Sign-in After Update function, follow Steps 1 to 3 as shown above and then go to the right side of the panel> Additional settings> Use my sign-in info to automatically finish setting up after an update > move the toggle switch to the left to deactivate it.
Method 2: via group policy editor
Alternatively, you can use the Group Policy Editor to edit certain Windows settings and properties to enable or disable the Automatic Sign-in After Update feature. That’s how:
Step 1: Press the Win + R s on your keyboard to open the Run command .
Step 2: In the Run command that opens, type gpedit.msc and hit Enter to open the Local Group Policy Editor .
Step 3: In the Local Group Policy Editor , expand Computer Configuration on the left side of the panel.
Stage 4: Next, go to Administrative Templates and expand it.
Step 5: Next, expand the Windows Components .
Step 6: Now, go to the right side of the window and look for Windows logon s.
Double click on it.
Step 6: In the next window, under Windows Logon Options , on the right side, double click on the Sign-in and lock last interactive user automatically after a restart .
This option must be disabled for Automatic Sign-in After Update feature to be enabled.
Step 7: Now, in the Sign-in and lock last interactive user automatically after a restart , select the radio button next to Enabled .
press OK to save changes.
Now close the Local Group Policy Editor and the Automatic Sign-in After Update feature is enabled successfully.
* Note – To disable the Automatic Sign-in After Update feature at any later time, follow Steps 1 through 6 and then under Login and lock last interactive user automatically after a restart window, select the radio button next to to Disabled .
press OK to save changes.
Exit the Local Group Policy Editor and the Automatic Sign-in After Update feature is disabled.