Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Windows 10 has separate controls for signing in after sleep and for stopping automatic sign-in at startup. Choose the steps for the moment when the prompt is missing. A sign-in prompt may accept a PIN or Windows Hello instead of a password; use the password-specific section if you need to type your password.
Require sign-in after waking from sleep
To have Windows ask you to authenticate when the PC wakes, open Start > Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options. Under Require sign-in, choose the option that requires Windows sign-in when the device wakes from sleep. The available choices can vary by device configuration. Microsoft recommends requiring sign-in after sleep as a way to protect the device. Microsoft’s Sign-in options guidance
Stop Windows from signing in automatically at startup
If Windows goes straight to the desktop when the computer starts, automatic logon may be enabled. First make sure the account has a password. If you used Microsoft Sysinternals Autologon, open the utility and choose Disable to turn off its automatic-logon configuration. If another utility or account-management setting enabled automatic logon, reverse that setting there.
There is no single startup checkbox or procedure that applies to every Windows 10 configuration, so avoid assuming that the same option will appear on every PC. Microsoft documents Autologon as a utility for configuring Windows automatic logon, rather than as a universal Windows startup-settings walkthrough. Microsoft Learn: Autologon – Sysinternals
#1 Best Overall
Understand the security trade-off
Automatic logon can let anyone with physical access to the computer use the signed-in account. Sysinternals Autologon encrypts credentials in the registry, but Microsoft warns that an administrator can retrieve and decrypt the stored password. Avoid automatic logon on a shared or physically accessible computer. Microsoft Learn: Autologon – Sysinternals
Make Windows offer a password instead of only Windows Hello
A sign-in prompt does not necessarily mean Windows will ask for a password. Depending on the account and device, you may be able to sign in with a password, PIN, face recognition, fingerprint, or another configured method. A PIN is specific to the device and is not the same thing as the Microsoft account password. Microsoft’s User Account Access guidance
Rank #2
- 15.6" diagonal, HD (1366 x 768), micro-edge, BrightView, 220 nits, 45% NTSC.
For a Microsoft account, check Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options for Require Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts. When this restriction is enabled, password sign-in is removed for that Microsoft account on the device, leaving Windows Hello methods such as a PIN, face, or fingerprint. Turning off the restriction may restore password availability, depending on the account and device configuration. Microsoft’s passwordless guidance
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #4
- Latitude 7480 Laptop 14"
- Intel Core i7 6th Gen i7-6600U -Core Processor 2.6GHz (3.4GHz With Turbo Boost)
- 256 GB SSD Hard Drive & 16GB Memory
- 1920x1080 FHD resolution Non-Touch with Webcam and an integrated graphics chip
- Wireless Wifi & Bluetooth
Rank #3
- 10th Generation Intel Core i5-1035G1 processor
- 12GB system memory for full-power multitasking
- 256GB Solid State Drive
- 15.6" Micro-edge touchscreen display
If the sign-in setting is missing or unavailable
- Check which event you mean. The Require sign-in setting concerns waking from sleep; automatic logon concerns startup. Changing one does not necessarily change the other.
- Consider device policy. Work- or school-managed devices may restrict sign-in options. Contact the organization’s administrator if a setting is unavailable or cannot be changed.
- Check whether the PC is sleeping or showing a screen saver. For behavior specifically after a screen saver resumes, Windows has a separate On resume, display logon screen option in screen-saver settings. That is distinct from the sleep wake setting. Microsoft: Configure a Screen Saver in Windows
Choose the setting for the sign-in you want
| When you want Windows to ask | What to change | What you may use to sign in |
|---|---|---|
| After waking from sleep | Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Require sign-in | Password, PIN, or configured Windows Hello method |
| At startup, when Windows currently signs in automatically | Disable the automatic-logon configuration; for Sysinternals Autologon, use its Disable control | Depends on the account and available sign-in methods |
| After a screen saver resumes | Enable On resume, display logon screen in screen-saver settings | Depends on the account and available sign-in methods |
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
