Tips

Tips

Optional Windows tweaks that make a boot-to-Steam PC feel more like a console.

Auto-login

Method A (UI):

1. Win+R → netplwiz
2. Uncheck “Users must enter a user name and password…”
3. Apply → enter password → reboot

If the checkbox is missing, disable Windows Hello-only sign-in in:

• Settings → Accounts → Sign-in options

Method B (registry / AutoAdminLogon):

⚠️ Security warning: this stores your password in the registry (reversible). Only do this on a trusted, physically secure machine.

Steps (manual)

1. Press Win+R, type regedit, press Enter.
2. Navigate to:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
3. Create or set these String (REG_SZ) values:

Value name	Example	What it does
AutoAdminLogon	1	Enables automatic logon
DefaultUserName	UserNameHere	Account username
DefaultPassword	yourPasswordHere	Password for the account
DefaultDomainName	DOMAINNAMEHERE	PC name (or domain). For most home PCs, this is your computer name

4. Reboot to test.

“Code” option: .reg file (easy copy/paste)

Create a file like Enable-Autologin.reg with this content (edit the placeholders), then double‑click it:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
"AutoAdminLogon"="1"
"DefaultUserName"="YOUR_USERNAME"
"DefaultPassword"="YOUR_PASSWORD"
"DefaultDomainName"="YOUR_PC_NAME"

“Code” option: command line (no Regedit)

Run these from an Administrator Command Prompt (edit placeholders):

reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon" /v AutoAdminLogon /t REG_SZ /d 1 /f
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon" /v DefaultUserName /t REG_SZ /d "YOUR_USERNAME" /f
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon" /v DefaultPassword /t REG_SZ /d "YOUR_PASSWORD" /f
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon" /v DefaultDomainName /t REG_SZ /d "YOUR_PC_NAME" /f

To disable auto-login later:

• Set AutoAdminLogon to 0 (or delete it), and delete DefaultPassword.

Black wallpaper

• Settings → Personalization → Background → Solid color → Black

Require sign-in after sleep → Never

• Settings → Accounts → Sign-in options → Require sign-in → Never

Hide desktop icons

• Desktop right click → View → uncheck “Show desktop icons”

Disable unnecessary startup items

• Settings → Apps → Startup (or Task Manager → Startup apps)

Reduce UAC prompts (optional)

• Control Panel → User Accounts → Change User Account Control settings → Never notify

Reduces security; only for a dedicated couch PC.

Reduce distractions

• Disable noisy notifications
• Keep display scaling consistent
• Enable Do Not Disturb