This tutorial will guide you through the process of creating auto-login feature using Group Policy Preference on Windows Server 2012 R2 domain.
Open Group Policy Management
Create and link a new GPO on the desired folder in Group Policy Management.
Click to Edit Policy and navigate to:
Computer Configuration | Preferences | Registry
In the right pane click to create new Registry Item and enter the following values:
Action: Update
Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Key Path: SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Value name: AutoAdminLogon
Value type: REG_SZ
Value data: 1
Note that you will only need to enter information in Key Path windows, Value name and Value data.
Repeat above steps to create additional 3 registry key settings:
Action: Update
Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Key Path: SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Value name: DefaultDomainName
Value type: REG_SZ
Value data: %Yourdomainname%
Action: Update
Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Key Path: SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Value name: DefaultPassword
Value type: REG_SZ
Value data: %user password%
Action: Update
Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Key Path: SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Value name: DefaultUserName
Value type: REG_SZ
Value data: %username%
You should have the same settings as in the picture:
Now all we have to do is run GPUPDATE /FORCE on the target machine and restart it.
Specified user should be now automatically logged in.