6 Ways to Fix Login Screen Not Showing in Windows 11

Quick Fixes
  • Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete on the login screen.
  • Disable Fast Startup.
  • Run the Start-up Repair utility.

Common Fixes

  • Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete – This shortcut refreshes the login interface to bring up the login screen.
  • Install pending system updates – Open the Settings app (press Windows + I keys simultaneously), click Windows Update in the left sidebar, and install new updates.

Prerequisite: Boot Into Safe Mode

If you’re stuck on the login screen, boot Windows 11 in safe mode to apply nifty fixes to troubleshoot the issue.

Step 1: Press and hold your PC’s physical power button until it shuts down. Turn it on after a few seconds.

Step 2: Press and hold the power button while booting to restart the PC again. Repeat this step to interrupt the boot process three times till Windows displays the Automatic Repair wizard and select Advanced options.

Windows Automatic Repair

Step 3: Click Troubleshoot in the next menu and press Advanced options.

Advanced Options in Troubleshooting

Step 4: Click Startup Settings under Advanced options and press Restart when prompted.

Launch startup settings

Step 5: Finally, press 4 or F4 on your keyboard to restart your PC in Safe Mode.

Turn on Safe Mode

Now that you’ve entered in the Safe Mode, apply the following fixes:

Fix 1: Disable Secure Sign-In

When Secure Sign-in is enabled, you need to press a certain key combination (Ctrl + Alt + Delete) to view the login screen. Disabling it will remove this security layer to see the login screen directly.

Step 1: Right-click the Start icon and select Run from the Power User menu.

Windows Power user menu

Step 2: Type netplwiz and press Enter.

Run dialog

Step 3: Switch to the Advanced tab, uncheck Require users to press Ctrl+Alt+Delete, and click Apply followed by OK.

disable secure-sign in

Fix 2: Turn Off Automatic Login

If you’ve enabled the automatic login feature before, you won’t see the login screen when you boot your Windows 11 machine. Turning it off should restore the login screen in no time.

Step 1: Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog, type netplwiz, and press Enter.

run dialog

Step 2: In the User Accounts window, check the Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer option and click Apply.

disable automatic login

Fix 3: Disable Fast Startup

Fast startup can sometimes create issues with the boot process and prevent Windows from showing the login screen. Turning off this feature should resolve the issue.

Step 1: Click Windows Search in the taskbar and search Control Panel to open it.

open control panel app

Step 2: Open Power Options in the Control Panel menu and click Choose what the power buttons do in the left sidebar.

manage power button settings

Step 3: Click Change settings that are currently unavailable and approve the UAC prompt when it appears.

change power settings

Step 4: Uncheck Turn on fast startup (recommended) and click Save Changes.

disable fast startup

Fix 4: Run Start-up Repair

Running the Start-up Repair utility can resolve issues preventing Windows from booting correctly such as the absence of a login screen.

Step 1: Open the Windows Settings app, click System in the left sidebar, and select Recovery.

configure Recover in Windows Settings

Step 2: Click Restart Now next to Advanced startup. Press the Restart Now button when prompted.

Launch advanced startup menu

Step 3: Wait for your PC to boot into the Advanced Startup environment and click Troubleshoot.

launch troubleshoot in advanced startup

Step 4: Press Advanced options in the next menu and select Start-up Repair. The utility should run and fix the login screen issue.

load the start-up repair utility

Fix 5: Do a System Restore

If you’ve enabled System Restore on Windows 11, you can revert bad system-level changes causing login screen issues. Follow these steps to restore Windows 11 with this feature:

Step 1: Click the Windows Search icon in the taskbar, search create a restore point, and hit enter.

open System restore settings

Step 2: Switch to the System Protection tab and click System Restore.

perform a system restore

Step 3: Click Next, select a restore point before the issue first appeared, and press Next.

select a restore point

Step 4: Click Finish to restore Windows to the previous restore point.

confirm windows restore

Fix 6: Reset Windows While Keeping Your Files

If nothing works, resetting Windows 11 while keeping your files will fix the login screen not showing error.

Step 1: Press the Windows key, search Reset this PC, and click to open it.

Step 2: Click Reset PC under Recovery options.

reset PC settings

Step 3: Select Keep my files and follow the on-screen instructions.

reset PC while keeping files

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Last updated on 19 April, 2024

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