Windows 11 25H2 logging in by itself when it's not meant to?

Question

Windows 11 25H2 logging in by itself when it's not meant to?

Brett Williams 45

Hi everyone,

I am having a weird issue. I have Windows Hello set up (fingerprint sensor). When I first fire up my laptop for the day, Windows 11 automatically logs in by itself. If I reboot, it asks for my fingerprint. It's meant to always require my fingerprint.

I have tried

Made sure fast startup is turned off
Checked with netplwiz to see if requiring a password is turned on
Checked the "use my sign-in info to automatically finish setting up" option is off
Made sure Automatic Restart Sign-On (ARSO) is off

When it logs in by itself, it says "Hello" as if I provided biometric authentication. Also, the installation is only about 6 weeks old.

Can anyone help? This is really annoying. TIA for any help :)

--

Windows 11 25H2. Build 26200.9168. I'm on a local account if that makes any difference.

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Answer 1

EmilyS_726 27,470 Volunteer Moderator

Hello Brett

I've run into other users with this same behavior in the past, turned out their model' power on button also serves as the fingerprint reader. Any chance his is your case for your specific model?

Brett Williams 45 Reputation points

2026-08-29T03:36:16.6633333+00:00

Yes, but I've never had this issue before. Thanks.
EmilyS726 264.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-08-29T04:48:49.48+00:00

It’s not a feature managed via Windows though. This is a device feature. You have a Lenovo by chance? See if you have the Lenovo fingerprint manager pro app. You want to disable single touch authentication feature. If you don’t have the app I believe it can be disabled in the device firmware /bios level.
Brett Williams 45 Reputation points

2026-08-29T07:29:46.73+00:00

I've had a look in my BIOS (and asked AI for help), but I cannot find any setting for this :(
EmilyS_726 27,470 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-08-29T12:53:22.8566667+00:00

What's your computer's brand and model? This is not a Windows feature, so it is brand/model specific.
Brett Williams 45 Reputation points

2026-08-29T13:39:12.8766667+00:00

Hi. It's a Lenovo E15 Gen 1. (20RDCTO1WW). Thanks for the help!
EmilyS_726 27,470 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-08-29T14:00:34.83+00:00

You are welcome.

I cannot seem to find any Lenovo article specifically for this model, but the general instructions I found is possibly this path

Single-touch authentication" under "Security > Fingerprint"

Do you have this option in BIOS?
Brett Williams 45 Reputation points

2026-08-30T02:43:49.5466667+00:00

Hi. No, it's not there. There is one weird thing I have noticed. It seems if I wait more than 24 hours, it prompts me for the fingerprint. If it's less time since my last boot, it logs in by itself.
EmilyS_726 27,470 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-08-30T02:49:58.59+00:00

Shut the computer down completely. Then turn it on by pressing the power button with a finger that you have NOT enrolled in Windows Hello, or press it with the tip of a pen/cap or something similar so the fingerprint sensor cannot read an enrolled finger. Let me know if it then prompts for fingerprint.
Brett Williams 45 Reputation points

2026-09-04T05:47:05.81+00:00

Hi @EmilyS_726. It seems you were right. I've been booting my laptop with a different finger and I'm getting the fingerprint prompt every time. Many thanks for your help. It's very much appreciated.
EmilyS_726 27,470 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-09-04T12:30:11.1666667+00:00

You are welcome.

And it also appears to me that this model doesn't provide a pathway/firmware settings option to turn this off. Sorry. So using a different finger seems to be the only workaround. If all is good, feel free to mark the answer for this thread, or let me know if you need anything else from me.