Disable Windows 8 Welcome Screen

Question

I am developing a WPF window based application that runs in full screen. It's intended to work like an embedded system so I don't want to show any Windows logo screen or other similar information to end users.

I modified the appropriate Registry settings to automatically login an admin user. This works fine in Windows 7 32/64 bit as well as Windows 8.

I want to disable or change this Welcome Screen in Windows 8 or 8.1:

I searched for some articles and tips and tricks but no luck.

I want to make this change using the Registry.

Thanks

Answer 1

Disabling the Logon UI is not possible on desktop or server operating systems in any way supported by Microsoft. At best, you could hack it away. Since it won’t speed things up, the screen would simply be blank during that time. Not exactly what you’d call user experience.

It might be possible with Windows Embedded.

This behavior also consistent with earlier Windows NT versions. They all have the Logon UI visible after early boot processes are finished.

Here’s the relevant MSDN page about Windows 8.1 Embedded Industry. Apparently, you can get what you want simply by activating Custom Logon:

By default, Custom Logon launches directly into the shell without displaying the sign-in UI when automatic sign-in is enabled.

Answer 2

Open group policy editor(Run: "gpedit.msc")

Go to:

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel > Personalization

Double click “Do not display the lock screen,” and select Enabled from the dialog that pops up. Click OK.

Answer 3

In view of the foregoing answer, I answer this question for the welcome log-in (and NOT the lock) screen. Google effected this link that should answer your question:

Windows 8 runs a tight ship by throwing up a lock screen and a log-in screen before you can dive in. But you can easily bypass those screens so you don't have to type your password every time. Here's how:

From the Start screen, type netplwiz. The command for netplwiz, aka the User Accounts Control Panel, appears in the search results in the left pane. Click that command.

In the User Accounts Control Panel, select the account you wish to use to log in automatically.

Click off the check-box above the account that says "Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer." Click OK.

Enter your password once and then a second time to confirm it. Click OK.

Restart Windows. Windows now bypasses the lock screen and the log-in screen to automatically take you to the Start screen.

Change your mind? To re-enable the log-in screen, simply return to the User Accounts Control Panel using the steps above and click on the check-box for the "Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer" option.