While building a lab environment for training purposes, I utilized the registry keys AutoAdminLogon, DefaultDomainName, DefaultUserName, and DefaultPassword to ensure a user was automatically logged in after the server was powered on/rebooted. Due to changes in the software running in the lab, a reboot was no longer required after installation, but a logoff was now required instead. Since I didn’t want users to press CTRL+ALT+DEL to log in through a remote session I decided to try and see if I could force an automatic login when the user (or the software in this case) triggers a user logoff.
Fortunately, I discovered the ForceAutoLogon string key, created it and set its value to 1. This works perfectly for my use case! All the keys mentioned are to be created in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\ registry location.
Here is what it looks like in the registry editor:
