How do I set a user as the default user when booting up Windows 11 Pro

Question

How do I set a user as the default user when booting up Windows 11 Pro

Fred Schmid 66

My computer used to boot up to my Windows user but now it boots up to a local user. I am not sure what I did to change it but I would like to change it back to my Windows user. How can I do this? I am not finding a place to set a user as the default user when booting up.

Fred Schmid 66 Reputation points

2026-06-14T01:54:38.2166667+00:00

After booting up it wants me to login to a local user account. I select the Windows user account and login into it. When I look at Settings>Accounts>Your info it has the Windows user account selected. Then if I reboot it still boots up to the local user account.
Fred Schmid 66 Reputation points

2026-06-19T16:53:35.0266667+00:00

Originally, I set it up so it would boot up and automatically login into my Windows account. This was working for a long time but than I don't know what happened, it started trying to log in with my local user account. It failed because it say the password was wrong.

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Fred Schmid 66 Reputation points

2026-06-14T01:54:38.2166667+00:00

After booting up it wants me to login to a local user account. I select the Windows user account and login into it. When I look at Settings>Accounts>Your info it has the Windows user account selected. Then if I reboot it still boots up to the local user account.
Fred Schmid 66 Reputation points

2026-06-19T16:53:35.0266667+00:00

Originally, I set it up so it would boot up and automatically login into my Windows account. This was working for a long time but than I don't know what happened, it started trying to log in with my local user account. It failed because it say the password was wrong.

Answer 1

Marcin Policht 109.5K MVP Volunteer Moderator

There are two main account types for signing into a personal Windows PC:

A local account. This account exists only on that computer. The username and password are stored locally and are not connected to Microsoft’s online services. Example: a username like “John” or “Admin” with no email address attached.

A Microsoft account. This is an online Microsoft identity such as Outlook.com, Hotmail.com, Live.com, or another Microsoft-linked email address. When you use it to sign into Windows, the PC still creates a local profile on the machine, but authentication is tied to Microsoft’s online account system and can sync settings, passwords, OneDrive, Store apps, and other Microsoft services.

In your original description, the system is likely showing a local account first at boot while your preferred Microsoft account is still available as another sign-in option.

You most likely have two accounts on the PC: A local account and a Microsoft account.

Windows is currently remembering the local account as the last-used sign-in and showing it first at boot.

To fix this, press Windows+R, type netplwiz, and press Enter. Make sure “Users must enter a username and password to use this computer” is checked. Click OK and reboot.

Then fully sign into the Microsoft account and restart again. Windows will often begin showing that account first.

If the above response helps answer your question, remember to "Accept Answer" so that others in the community facing similar issues can easily find the solution. Your contribution is highly appreciated.

hth

Marcin

Fred Schmid 66 Reputation points

2026-06-15T15:55:37.6866667+00:00

The netplwiz command does not allow me to make any changes. Currently it has my local admin account selected. I do have several accounts that I created for different purposes. But that program does not allow me to access any other accounts. I found out that if “Users must enter a username and password to use this computer” is unchecked, you cannot make changes to the accounts.
Marcin Policht 109.5K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2026-06-15T16:39:17.01+00:00
Follow https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/accounts-billing/manage/change-from-a-local-account-to-a-microsoft-account-in-windows

Change from a local account to a Microsoft account

You can use the Settings app to switch your local account to a Microsoft account.

In the Settings app on your Windows device. Select Accounts > Your info, or use the following shortcut:

Your info

Select Sign in with a Microsoft account instead. You'll see this link only if you're using a local account.

Follow the prompts to switch to your Microsoft account.

Select Next, then select Sign out and finish. Sign back in with your Microsoft account.

If the above response helps answer your question, remember to "Accept Answer" so that others in the community facing similar issues can easily find the solution. Your contribution is highly appreciated.

hth

Marcin
Fred Schmid 66 Reputation points

2026-06-19T13:19:24.9533333+00:00

I tried this but it still reverts back to the local account next time I boot up.
Fred Schmid 66 Reputation points

2026-06-20T21:38:51.29+00:00

When I checked the box for “Users must enter a username and password to use this computer” and rebooted the computer, it asked to log in with the local account. Then I went into Settings>Your info and selected "Sign in with a Windows account instead" and rebooted the computer. It now boot up selecting the Windows account.

How do I set a user as the default user when booting up Windows 11 Pro

Change from a local account to a Microsoft account

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