Automatic login signs in to a user account when your Mac starts up, without asking for a password. It can be convenient, but anyone who turns on the Mac may be able to access your files, apps, saved passwords, and personal information.
You can turn off automatic login from System Settings or System Preferences, depending on how your Mac is configured. After you disable it, macOS will display the login window at startup and require an account password.
Quick Answer
On a newer Mac:
- Open the Apple menu and choose System Settings.
- Select Users & Groups.
- Find Automatically log in as, open the menu, and choose Off.
- Enter an administrator password if macOS requests one.
On an older Mac:
- Open the Apple menu and choose System Preferences.
- Select Users & Groups.
- Click Login Options.
- Set Automatic login to Off.
If the setting is unavailable or already set to Off, FileVault, a management policy, or another security configuration may already be preventing automatic login.
Why Turn Off Automatic Login?
With automatic login enabled, your Mac goes directly to a user account after startup. The account’s desktop and files become available without requiring a password at the login window.
Turning it off adds a sign-in step when the Mac starts. This is especially useful if:
- Other people can physically access your Mac.
- You use a MacBook in public or shared spaces.
- You store private documents, photos, or work files on the computer.
- You want to prevent someone from accessing your account after restarting the Mac.
- You are preparing to sell, give away, or hand over the Mac.
Automatic login is separate from locking the screen after you are already signed in. To protect your Mac while you are away, lock it before leaving it unattended. You can also review Apple’s guide to locking a Mac quickly.
Turn Off Automatic Login in System Settings
Use these steps if your Mac has System Settings. The exact appearance can vary depending on your macOS configuration, but the setting is located under user account options.
- Open the Apple menu in the upper-left corner of the screen.
- Choose System Settings.
- Scroll down the sidebar and select Users & Groups.
- Look for Automatically log in as.
- Click the menu next to it and select Off.
- If prompted, enter an administrator name and password, then follow the on-screen instructions.
The change usually takes effect the next time the Mac starts. To test it, choose Restart from the Apple menu after saving any open work. When the Mac starts again, it should display a login window instead of opening the account automatically.
If “Automatically log in as” Is Not Visible
The setting may appear lower in the Users & Groups pane, so scroll through the page if necessary. You may also need to click an information button next to a user account or unlock settings before making changes.
If the option is missing, unavailable, or permanently set to Off, automatic login may be disabled by FileVault or by an administrator policy. See the troubleshooting section below before changing other settings.
Turn Off Automatic Login in System Preferences
Older versions of macOS use System Preferences instead of System Settings.
- Open the Apple menu.
- Choose System Preferences.
- Click Users & Groups.
- Select Login Options in the sidebar.
- Find the Automatic login menu.
- Choose Off.
- If required, click the lock button and authenticate with an administrator password before changing the setting.
Close System Preferences when you are finished. Restart the Mac to confirm that it now asks for an account password.
What Happens After You Disable Automatic Login?
The next time the Mac starts, macOS shows a login window. You must select a user account, if necessary, and enter its password.
This affects startup login only. It does not:
- Change your account password.
- Delete your user account or files.
- Remove apps or personal data.
- Turn off screen locking.
- Sign you out of iCloud or other services.
- Prevent you from using Touch ID, if your Mac supports it.
If you restart or shut down the Mac while apps are open, macOS may ask whether you want to reopen windows or confirm that you want to quit certain apps. Save your work before restarting.
Automatic login also does not protect a Mac that is already unlocked and signed in. If you walk away from the computer, use Lock Screen from the Apple menu or press Control-Command-Q.
Check Whether FileVault Is Affecting Automatic Login
FileVault encrypts the startup disk, helping protect its contents if the Mac is lost or someone removes the storage device. When FileVault is enabled, the Mac may require a password at startup to unlock the disk before macOS can finish starting.
Because of this, automatic login may be unavailable or may behave differently when FileVault is active. The startup password prompt can also resemble the normal macOS login window, but these are separate stages:
- The startup disk is unlocked.
- macOS starts.
- The user account is signed in.
If your goal is to require a password before anyone can access the Mac, leaving automatic login disabled is the important step. FileVault provides additional protection for data stored on the startup disk.
To check FileVault:
- Open the Apple menu.
- Choose System Settings or System Preferences.
- Open the privacy or security settings area.
- Look for FileVault or FileVault Disk Encryption.
Do not disable FileVault simply to change automatic-login behavior. Turning off disk encryption can reduce protection for files stored on the Mac.
Turn Off Automatic Login with Terminal
Terminal is usually unnecessary for this task, but it can help advanced users inspect or change the automatic-login setting when the graphical option is difficult to find.
Warning: The following command changes a system login preference. Enter it exactly as shown. If you have unsaved work in Terminal or other apps, save it before restarting or logging out.
Disable automatic login
- Open Terminal from Applications > Utilities.
- Enter this command:
sudo defaults delete /Library/Preferences/com.apple.loginwindow autoLoginUser
- Press Return.
- Enter an administrator password when prompted. The password will not appear on screen as you type.
- Restart the Mac and confirm that the login window appears.
This removes the autoLoginUser preference from the system login settings. It does not delete the user account or its files.
Check the current automatic-login setting
To check whether a user is specified for automatic login, run:
sudo defaults read /Library/Preferences/com.apple.loginwindow autoLoginUser
If the preference does not exist, Terminal may report that the domain or key cannot be found. That generally means no automatic-login user is configured in that preference file.
Restore automatic login
Only restore automatic login if you intentionally want the Mac to sign in without asking for a password. Replace username with the short account name of the account that should sign in automatically:
sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.loginwindow autoLoginUser -string "username"
You may also need to configure the corresponding password setting through the normal macOS user-account interface. Because storing or changing automatic-login credentials can reduce security, using System Settings or System Preferences is the safer way to manage the feature.
Troubleshooting Automatic Login
The Mac still logs in automatically
Restart the Mac rather than simply closing the settings window. If automatic login continues:
- Reopen Users & Groups.
- Confirm that Automatically log in as or Automatic login is set to Off.
- Check whether another user-account setting or management profile is controlling login behavior.
- Restart again after making the change.
If the Mac is managed by an employer, school, or organization, an administrator may have applied a policy that controls login settings. Contact that organization before removing profiles or changing security settings.
The automatic-login menu is dimmed
A dimmed or unavailable menu commonly indicates that a security feature or management policy controls the setting. FileVault is one possible reason. A configuration profile can be another.
Do not attempt to bypass a management policy on a work or school Mac. Ask the administrator to disable automatic login if the organization permits it.
The Mac asks for a password before the normal login screen
This may be the startup disk-unlock prompt rather than the regular account login. FileVault can require authentication before macOS finishes starting.
After entering the first password, check whether the Mac also displays a user login window. If it does, automatic login may still be enabled and should be disabled in Users & Groups.
You forgot the account password
Disabling automatic login means you must know the password for the account you want to use. It does not reset or bypass that password.
If you cannot sign in, use Apple’s available account-recovery options from the login window, such as a password-reset prompt, if one is offered. If the Mac belongs to an organization, contact its administrator.
You want to protect the Mac while it is running
Turning off automatic login protects startup, but it does not lock a Mac that is already signed in. Use Lock Screen from the Apple menu whenever you leave the computer.
You can also configure a password requirement after the screen saver begins:
- Open System Settings or System Preferences.
- Open Lock Screen or the relevant security settings.
- Find the option that requires a password after the screen saver begins or the display is turned off.
- Choose an appropriate delay, such as immediately or after a short period.
The available wording can vary. A shorter delay provides stronger protection but may require more frequent authentication.
You need to remove a user account
Turning off automatic login does not remove the account that was previously used. If you are preparing the Mac for another person, back up any files you need before deleting an account.
Deleting a user account can remove that user’s home folder and personal files. Do not remove an account until you have confirmed that important data is backed up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does turning off automatic login delete my files?
No. It changes how macOS signs in at startup. Your account, documents, apps, and settings remain in place.
Will I need to enter my password every time I wake the Mac?
Not necessarily. Disabling automatic login primarily affects startup and restart. Whether macOS asks for a password after sleep, the screen saver, or locking depends on your Lock Screen settings and how you locked the Mac.
Is automatic login the same as not requiring a password?
No. Automatic login signs in one account automatically during startup. Other security settings control whether macOS asks for a password after sleep, screen locking, or the screen saver.
Can I turn off automatic login without an administrator account?
You may be able to view the setting, but changing system-wide login behavior can require administrator authentication. If macOS asks for an administrator name and password, an administrator must authorize the change.
Does turning off automatic login enable FileVault?
No. These are separate settings. Automatic login controls account sign-in, while FileVault encrypts the startup disk. You can review FileVault separately in the Mac’s privacy or security settings.
Can I use Touch ID after disabling automatic login?
On a compatible Mac, Touch ID may still be available for sign-in and authentication after startup, depending on the security state and macOS settings. You should still keep your account password available because macOS periodically requires it.
What if I share the Mac with other people?
Disabling automatic login is recommended for a shared Mac because it lets each person choose an account at the login window. Each user should have a separate account instead of sharing one password.
Final Thoughts
Turning off automatic login is a simple way to add a password requirement when your Mac starts. Open Users & Groups, set automatic login to Off, and restart to verify the change. For broader protection, also lock the Mac when you step away and consider using FileVault to protect data stored on the startup disk.