How to auto-sign in and boot directly to Xbox mode on Windows 11

• This guide shows how to configure Windows 11 to sign in automatically and launch directly into the Xbox mode (Full Screen Experience).
• You’ll learn how to bypass the Lock and Sign-in screens and enable the feature to create a console-style gaming environment.

On Windows 11, you can enable the Xbox mode (formerly Full Screen Experience (FSE)) to turn your computer into a console-like experience, but you still have to sign in manually to access your account and load the experience. However, there’s a way to bypass the Lock and Sign-in screens to start your gaming PC directly into the experience, and in this guide, I’ll show you how to complete this configuration.

If you want to power on your computer and boot directly into the full-screen experience, you can configure the system to sign in automatically with a specific user account, which can be a local or a Microsoft account.

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In this guide, I’ll outline the steps to configure Windows 11 to boot directly into the Xbox mode without entering your login password.

Boot Windows 11 directly into Xbox mode with auto login

To start Windows 11 directly in the Xbox mode without having to log in, follow these steps:

1. Open Start on Windows 11.

2. Search for netplwiz and click the top result to open the Control Panel applet.

3. Select the account to remove its password under the “Users for this computer” section.

4. Clear the “User must enter a user name and password to use this computer” option.

   

   Quick tip: If the option is missing, open Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options and turn off the “For improved security, only allow Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts on this device” option and reopen the netplwiz applet.

5. Click the Apply button.

6. Confirm the Microsoft account credentials to log in automatically.

   

7. Click the OK button.

8. Click the OK button again.

9. Open the Settings app.

10. Click on Gaming.

11. Click the Xbox mode page.

12. Select the Xbox app in the “Choose home app” setting (if applicable).

13. Turn on the “Enter Xbox mode on startup” toggle switch.

    

14. Turn on the “Show accessibility control hints in Task View” toggle switch.

    Quick note: This option will give an option to switch between the desktop and the new gaming mode from the Task View experience.

15. Restart your gaming PC.

Once you complete the steps, Windows 11 will boot directly into the Xbox mode, skipping the Lock and Sign-in screens, making it easier to launch and play games with the controller.

Pureinfotech’s Take

This walkthrough highlights a growing shift on Windows 11 toward appliance-style computing, where the device can behave more like a dedicated gaming console. By combining automatic sign-in with Xbox Full Screen Experience (Xbox mode), users can eliminate the traditional Windows login flow and boot straight into a controller-first interface designed for gaming.

The setup is straightforward, relying on the classic netplwiz auto-login configuration paired with the Xbox mode startup toggle inside the Settings app. When both are enabled, Windows 11 skips the Lock screen and desktop entirely, launching directly into the full-screen gaming interface using the Xbox app.

It’s important to note that enabling auto sign-in reduces local security protections, which is a trade-off that may not be acceptable for shared or portable systems.