How to Configure Automatic Logon to a Terminal Server

This article describes how to set up automatic logon on a Terminal Server.

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition

Configure the Server

1. On the Terminal Server, click Start, point to Programs, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Terminal Server Connection Configuration.
2. Double-click the rdp-tcp connection, and then click Advanced. If you want to modify properties for ICA clients, double-click the ica-rdp connection instead, and then click Properties.
3. In the AutoLogon section, click to clear the Prompt for Password check box.
4. Click OK, click OK, and then click Exit on the Connection menu.

Note that security settings on the Terminal Server may prevent automatic logon from working properly. The "DontDisplayLastUserName" registry setting prevents this functionality from working correctly. To remove this setting on the Terminal Server:

1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).
2. Locate and click the following registry key:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
3. Click the DontDisplayLastUserName value, and then click String on the Edit menu.
4. Type 0 in the String Editor dialog box, and then click OK.
5. Quit Registry Editor, and then restart the Terminal Server.

Configure the Client

1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Terminal Server Client, and then click Client Connection Manager.
2. If a connection to the server already exists, right-click the connection, and then click Properties. If a connection does not exist, create one in the usual fashion.
3. On the General tab, click to select the Log on automatically with this information check box, and then type the appropriate user name, password, and domain name.
4. Click OK, and then quit Client Connection Manager.

Windows 2000 Terminal Services

Configure the Server

1. On the server, click Start, point to Programs, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Terminal Services Configuration.
2. Double click the RDP-Tcp connection.
3. Click the Logon Settings tab, and then click to clear the Always prompt for password check box.
4. Click OK, and then quit Terminal Services Configuration.

Note that security settings on the Terminal Services-based server may prevent automatic logon from working properly. The "DontDisplayLastUserName" registry setting prevents this functionality from working correctly. To remove this setting on the server:

1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).
2. Locate and click the following registry key:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
3. Click the DontDisplayLastUserName value, and then click String on the Edit menu.
4. Type 0 in the String Editor dialog box, and then click OK.

Configure the Client

1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Terminal Services Client, and then click Client Connection Manager.
2. If a connection to the server already exists, right-click the connection, and then click Properties. If a connection does not exist, create a connection in the usual fashion.
3. On the General tab, click to select the Log on automatically with this information check box, and then type the appropriate user name, password, and domain name.
4. Click OK, and then quit Client Connection Manager.

REFERENCES

For additional information, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: