how to Configure Autologin for a VM in VMware Workstation

In this article, we shall discuss how to configure Autologin for VM in VMware Workstation. The autologin feature is a convenient option you can set up for a VM in VMware Workstation. Once configured, this feature allows you to log into the VM automatically each time you boot it up. Please see How to install Windows Server 2022 on VMware Workstation, and how to fix “The security database on the server does not have a computer account for this workstation trust relation [Part 1]“.

It is worth mentioning some of the prerequisites that are needed to implement autologin.

If you are to use the VMware Workstation Autologin features. Please ensure you take the following to hearth when configuring automatic login.

It is not possible to configure the Autologin feature for a shared or remote VMs,
The VM Autologin feature does not support domain accounts. To use this feature, you need to create a local user account. If the local account is not found, the system will prompt you to enter the password, but it will fail because the account is not available on the PC.
Lastly, the latest version of VMware Tools should be installed on the VM.

When you create a VM and set a password for your account, you must enter that password each time you power on the VM. This repetitive task can be tedious, requiring you to input your password at every login.

Please see “Single App Kiosk Mode: Setup Assigned Access using Local Settings“, how to setup Windows Single or Multi App Kiosks, and how to Delete AssignedAccess applied via MDM WMI bridge Provider.

Why Enable Autologin for a VM in Workstation?

When managing multiple VMs, entering the password each time you power the VMs on can become cumbersome.

Enabling the autologin feature in VMware Workstation streamlines this process by automating the login for your virtual machines. Here are some reasons to enable autologin:

Autologin eliminates the need to manually enter passwords every time you start a VM as mentioned above. It allows for quicker access, thereby reducing downtime.
By automating the login process, you can focus on your tasks without the interruption of entering credentials. This makes the workflow more efficient.
If you frequently test applications or configurations in your VMs. Autologin allows for faster restarts and smoother testing processes.
If you access your VMs remotely, autologin ensures that you can quickly access the environment without needing to manage passwords. Which improves accessibility.
For automated scripts or processes that require VM interaction. Enabling autologin simplifies the setup, and ensures that these tasks run smoothly without manual intervention.

Please see Setup Kiosk Mode on Windows 10 with AD User Account, How to fix VMware and HyperV are not compatible, and How to Install Windows on VMware Workstation.

Enable Autologin FOr VMware Workstation VM

Configuring autologin for a Windows virtual machine is straightforward and user-friendly.

Note: When you create a new virtual machine, the VM autologin feature is disabled by default. To enable auto login, the Virtual Machine must be up and running and has an up to date VMware tools installed

Launch the VMware workstation and power on the VM. Open the VM menu, and then select Settings to open the VM settings window as shown below.

On the Virtual Machine Settings window, click Options tab and select Autologin settings. Click Enable button to configure the Autologin as shown below.

Next, you will be presented with the Autologin User window. Enter the local user (standard or administrator account).

Note: As mentioned above, a domain account will not work using the VMware Workstation Autologin feature.

Set Autologin user — Ensure the account is valid, else you will be prompted to enter your password upon powering the VM

Enter the username and password and click on OK.

Autologin is now enabled for this VM. Click OK to close the Virtual machine settings window.

Please see how to Disable or Remove Kiosk Mode Via the Local Settings, and how to set up a Single App Kiosk Mode Configuration using a Local Account / MDM Bridge WMI Provider.

Test Autologin

To test the Autologin feature, power off the VM as shown below.

Power on the VM again, and if the credentials are correct, you will no longer need to enter your password. The system will automatically log you into the guest operating system.

Here is Single App Kiosk Mode Configuration using MDM Bridge WMI Provider, and How to extend a VM Hard Disk on VMware Workstation.

After enabling AutoLogin using the VMware default settings. You can Change the user or disable autologin as shown in the image below.

Please specify a local account and ensure it exists on the VM.

Change auto login account to a different one

Shut down or power off the Guest VM

Power on the VM again

The system will automatically log you into the guest operating system. To detrmine the login account, you can run the “whoami” command as shown below.

Enable Autologin on VM with Windows User Account Settings

Boot the VM where you want to enable autologin, and access the User Accounts. Press Windows + R, type netplwiz, and press Enter. Alternatively, you could do this via the PowerShell as shown below.

In the User Accounts window, uncheck the box that says “Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer.” Click Apply.

Enter the username and password for the account you want to automatically log in and click OK.

In a nutshell, enabling autologin in VMware Workstation significantly enhances user experience and efficiency when managing multiple virtual machines.

I hope you found this article on how to Configure Autologin for a VM in VMware Workstation very useful. Please feel free to leave a comment below.