8 Ways to Fix Windows Login Screen Missing

The login screen helps keep unauthorized individuals from accessing your Windows computer. It pops up as soon as your PC boots up, but sometimes due to system bugs or other issues, you may not see this screen at all. This tutorial gathers some general and problem-specific fixes to help you solve no login screen in Windows.

Tip: if you’re experiencing any issues on your PC after an update, here’s how to resolve the latest Windows update problems.

Preliminary Fixes to Try

Before going any further, try a few simple fixes first to see whether these can help you solve the issue.

• Restart the PC.
• Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and enter your credentials to log in.
• Update your drivers.
• Update your Windows operating system to the latest version available.
• Perform a System File Checker.

If none of the fixes are effective, apply the tried-and-true solutions listed below.

1. Perform Startup Repair

Startup repair is your best option regarding startup or login issues, as it is designed to diagnose and fix these problems. You must hard reboot your PC two times to enter the Windows Recovery Environment.

1. Turn your PC on, and as soon as it boots up, turn it back off by holding the power button. Repeat this process twice. The next time you boot up your PC, you should see a screen with some options.
2. Click on “Troubleshoot -> Advanced Repair -> Startup Repair.”

3. Select an account, then enter the password to proceed.

4. The repair process will begin automatically and fix any startup issues.

2. Turn Off Startup Programs in Safe Mode

Startup programs may interfere with the correct Windows boot-up process, thus disabling them may help you fix the issue. To do so, you will need to switch to Safe Mode first:

1. Enter the Windows Recovery Environment as previously explained.
2. Navigate to “Troubleshoot -> Advanced Options -> Startup Settings,” then “Restart.”

3. Your System will restart and display a list of options. Select option #5 from the list to enter Safe Mode.

4. Type “Startup Apps” if you are on Windows 11 or “Startup Tasks” on Windows 10 in the search box and select the best match.

5. The Settings app will open with a list of all the startup programs. You can disable each by clicking the toggle next to their name.

Good to know: change the way you log in to your PC with Windows Hello.

3. Turn Off Fast Startup in Safe Mode

1. Boot In Safe Mode as shown previously.
2. Search “Control Panel” in the search box and select the best result.

3. Navigate to “System and Security -> Power options.”
4. Click “Choose what the Power buttons do” on the left.

5. Click on “Change settings that are currently unavailable.”

6. Uncheck the “Turn on fast start-up (recommended)” box.

4. Create a New User Account in Safe Mode

When you create a new account in Safe Mode on your local computer, it starts fresh with default settings.

1. On your PC, open “Settings -> Accounts -> Family and other users.”

2. Click on “Add account” under “Other users.”

3. When the Microsoft account registration window opens, you can add an account online or opt for “I don’t have this person’s sign-in information” to do it offline.

4. Press the “Add a user without a Microsoft account” option.

5. The system will ask you to fill in your information. When done, click “Next” to finish adding a new account to your PC.

Tip: want to change your Windows account or user name? We show you how!

5. Enable Automatic Login in Safe Mode

Auto Login is a handy feature that will remove the need for a login screen so that you can access your computer without entering a password.

Note: the “Users and Group” section might not be available on earlier versions of Windows 10 Home Edition and Windows 11.

1. Boot In Safe Mode.
2. Right-click on the Start button and select “Computer Management.”

3. Choose the “Local Users and Group” option on the left and select “Users.”

4. Right-click on the account where you want to enable auto-login and click “Set Password.”

5. Click “Proceed” in the next window and select “OK” without entering a password.

6. Rebuild MBR

The Master Boot Record (MBR) is the information present in the first sector of any hard disk. It contains data regarding how and where the operating system is located. Corruption of this data can cause various problems, including a missing login screen. Rebuilding the MBR might be a viable solution in this case.

1. Enter the Windows Recovery Environment once again.
2. Click on “Troubleshoot -> Advanced options -> Command Prompt.”

3. Type the following commands in order and hit Enter after each.

bootrec /fixmbr
bootrec /fixboot
bootrec /rebuildbcd

4. Restart your PC to see if the problem persists.

7. Change User Accounts Settings

If your PC has one user, turning off a particular setting under User Accounts will remove the need for a login screen altogether, which can prevent the issue from manifesting in the future.

1. Press Windows + R keys simultaneously to launch the Run application.
2. Type in netplwiz and press Enter.

3. In the newly opened window, uncheck “Users must enter a username and password to use this computer.”

4. If you can’t see this option, then you must disable Windows Hello first. To do so right-click on the Start menu and select “Settings.”

5. Go to “Accounts -> Sign-in options.”

6. Turn off the “For improved security, only allow Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft account on this device” toggle.

8. System Restore or Reinstall Windows

If the steps outlined so far have proven ineffective, you can try to perform a System Restore. As a last resort, you may want to reinstall Windows altogether. If you opt for that route, make sure you create a backup of your data in case something unexpectedly happens.

Tip: want to try Windows 11 but are not sure about leaving Windows 10? Here’s how you can get a taste of the new experience without getting rid of the old one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Image credit: Pexels. All screenshots by Farhad Pashaei.

Farhad Pashaei

As a technophile, Farhad has spent the last decade getting hands-on experience with a variety of electronic devices, including smartphones, laptops, accessories, wearables, printers, and so on. When he isn’t writing, you can bet he’s devouring information on products making their market foray, demonstrating his unquenchable thirst for technology.