Solved "Other User" is the default after updating to 22H2, but the user doesn't exist

MrYossu · Mar 17, 2023

Had my lap top (Dell Precision 7760) on Win11 21H1 (not sure about that last digit) for a while, and am the only user that has ever been set up (other than the default Windows ones). When the lap top started up, it would show the log-in screen with my user account ready for me to enter a password.

I just updated to Win11 22H2 (build 22621.1413), and when it restarted, instead of showing my user account, it shows "Other User" with a message saying the password is incorrect. The only option is to click that button, which then shows the password box for Other User. I have to click my real user in the bottom left corner, and then enter my password.

I had the exact same issue a couple of months ago, and rolled back to the previous version of Windows. However, I would really like to use the latest version, but would like to go back to the way it was before, without this Other User.

I looked in C:\Users, but there is only my normal folder and Public.

I looked in the following two registry keys...

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList

...but they both showed the same...

I tried entering my user name in the DefaultUserName item in Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon, but when I rebooted, I had two logins, both with the same user name. The AutoAdminLogon was already set to 1 there.

I tried running the two commands mentioned in this post, and they gave the output pasted below.

Following another post in that thread, I used Powershell and ran...

Get-EventLog -LogName System | Where-Object {$_.EventID -eq 1511} | Select-Object -Property Source, EventID, InstanceId, Message

...but this didn't return anything.

Finally, I had a go at enabling automatic sign in, using the instructions found in this tutorial. However, I didn't get the checkbox mentioned...

I don't have Windows Hello enabled, as it claims it can't find my camera, so I have no idea why the checkbox isn't showing.

Anyone any idea what's going on? Whilst I can live with the extra clicks at log-in, it's pretty annoying and I'd like to get rid of it.

Thanks for any help you can give. Here is the output from those two commands...

Code:

reg query "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList" /s
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList
    Default    REG_EXPAND_SZ    %SystemDrive%\Users\Default
    ProfilesDirectory    REG_EXPAND_SZ    %SystemDrive%\Users
    ProgramData    REG_EXPAND_SZ    %SystemDrive%\ProgramData
    Public    REG_EXPAND_SZ    %SystemDrive%\Users\Public

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList\S-1-5-18
    Flags    REG_DWORD    0xc
    ProfileImagePath    REG_EXPAND_SZ    %systemroot%\system32\config\systemprofile
    RefCount    REG_DWORD    0x1
    Sid    REG_BINARY    010100000000000512000000
    State    REG_DWORD    0x0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList\S-1-5-19
    Flags    REG_DWORD    0x0
    ProfileImagePath    REG_EXPAND_SZ    %systemroot%\ServiceProfiles\LocalService
    State    REG_DWORD    0x0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList\S-1-5-20
    Flags    REG_DWORD    0x0
    ProfileImagePath    REG_EXPAND_SZ    %systemroot%\ServiceProfiles\NetworkService
    State    REG_DWORD    0x0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList\S-1-5-21-873611097-134911673-2401337424-1001
    ProfileImagePath    REG_EXPAND_SZ    C:\Users\AY Silver
    Flags    REG_DWORD    0x0
    State    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Sid    REG_BINARY    010500000000000515000000593F1234B9960A085080218FE9030000
    FullProfile    REG_DWORD    0x1
    Migrated    REG_BINARY    A0C135B3E558D901
    LocalProfileLoadTimeLow    REG_DWORD    0x9914ffa2
    LocalProfileLoadTimeHigh    REG_DWORD    0x1d958ec
    ProfileAttemptedProfileDownloadTimeLow    REG_DWORD    0x0
    ProfileAttemptedProfileDownloadTimeHigh    REG_DWORD    0x0
    ProfileLoadTimeLow    REG_DWORD    0x0
    ProfileLoadTimeHigh    REG_DWORD    0x0
    RunLogonScriptSync    REG_DWORD    0x0
    LocalProfileUnloadTimeLow    REG_DWORD    0x7b288ae2
    LocalProfileUnloadTimeHigh    REG_DWORD    0x1d958ec

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList\S-1-5-80-2652535364-2169709536-2857650723-2622804123-1107741775
    Flags    REG_DWORD    0x0
    State    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Sid    REG_BINARY    010600000000000550000000447A1A9EE0235381234A54AA9BD0549C4FCC0642
    FullProfile    REG_DWORD    0x1
    Migrated    REG_BINARY    A0A21328E958D901
    ProfileImagePath    REG_EXPAND_SZ    C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\SQLTELEMETRY
    LocalProfileLoadTimeLow    REG_DWORD    0x92872f24
    LocalProfileLoadTimeHigh    REG_DWORD    0x1d958ec
    ProfileAttemptedProfileDownloadTimeLow    REG_DWORD    0x0
    ProfileAttemptedProfileDownloadTimeHigh    REG_DWORD    0x0
    ProfileLoadTimeLow    REG_DWORD    0x0
    ProfileLoadTimeHigh    REG_DWORD    0x0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList\S-1-5-80-3880718306-3832830129-1677859214-2598158968-1052248003
    Flags    REG_DWORD    0x0
    State    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Sid    REG_BINARY    010600000000000550000000E20F4FE7B15874E48E19026478C2DC9AC307B83E
    FullProfile    REG_DWORD    0x1
    Migrated    REG_BINARY    00965128E958D901
    ProfileImagePath    REG_EXPAND_SZ    C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\MSSQLSERVER
    LocalProfileLoadTimeLow    REG_DWORD    0x92872f24
    LocalProfileLoadTimeHigh    REG_DWORD    0x1d958ec
    ProfileAttemptedProfileDownloadTimeLow    REG_DWORD    0x0
    ProfileAttemptedProfileDownloadTimeHigh    REG_DWORD    0x0
    ProfileLoadTimeLow    REG_DWORD    0x0
    ProfileLoadTimeHigh    REG_DWORD    0x0

reg query "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList" /s

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList
    Default    REG_EXPAND_SZ    %SystemDrive%\Users\Default
    ProfilesDirectory    REG_EXPAND_SZ    %SystemDrive%\Users
    ProgramData    REG_EXPAND_SZ    %SystemDrive%\ProgramData
    Public    REG_EXPAND_SZ    %SystemDrive%\Users\Public

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList\S-1-5-18
    Flags    REG_DWORD    0xc
    ProfileImagePath    REG_EXPAND_SZ    %systemroot%\system32\config\systemprofile
    RefCount    REG_DWORD    0x1
    Sid    REG_BINARY    010100000000000512000000
    State    REG_DWORD    0x0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList\S-1-5-19
    Flags    REG_DWORD    0x0
    ProfileImagePath    REG_EXPAND_SZ    %systemroot%\ServiceProfiles\LocalService
    State    REG_DWORD    0x0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList\S-1-5-20
    Flags    REG_DWORD    0x0
    ProfileImagePath    REG_EXPAND_SZ    %systemroot%\ServiceProfiles\NetworkService
    State    REG_DWORD    0x0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList\S-1-5-21-873611097-134911673-2401337424-1001
    ProfileImagePath    REG_EXPAND_SZ    C:\Users\AY Silver
    Flags    REG_DWORD    0x0
    State    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Sid    REG_BINARY    010500000000000515000000593F1234B9960A085080218FE9030000
    FullProfile    REG_DWORD    0x1
    Migrated    REG_BINARY    A0C135B3E558D901
    LocalProfileLoadTimeLow    REG_DWORD    0x9914ffa2
    LocalProfileLoadTimeHigh    REG_DWORD    0x1d958ec
    ProfileAttemptedProfileDownloadTimeLow    REG_DWORD    0x0
    ProfileAttemptedProfileDownloadTimeHigh    REG_DWORD    0x0
    ProfileLoadTimeLow    REG_DWORD    0x0
    ProfileLoadTimeHigh    REG_DWORD    0x0
    RunLogonScriptSync    REG_DWORD    0x0
    LocalProfileUnloadTimeLow    REG_DWORD    0x7b288ae2
    LocalProfileUnloadTimeHigh    REG_DWORD    0x1d958ec

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList\S-1-5-80-2652535364-2169709536-2857650723-2622804123-1107741775
    Flags    REG_DWORD    0x0
    State    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Sid    REG_BINARY    010600000000000550000000447A1A9EE0235381234A54AA9BD0549C4FCC0642
    FullProfile    REG_DWORD    0x1
    Migrated    REG_BINARY    A0A21328E958D901
    ProfileImagePath    REG_EXPAND_SZ    C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\SQLTELEMETRY
    LocalProfileLoadTimeLow    REG_DWORD    0x92872f24
    LocalProfileLoadTimeHigh    REG_DWORD    0x1d958ec
    ProfileAttemptedProfileDownloadTimeLow    REG_DWORD    0x0
    ProfileAttemptedProfileDownloadTimeHigh    REG_DWORD    0x0
    ProfileLoadTimeLow    REG_DWORD    0x0
    ProfileLoadTimeHigh    REG_DWORD    0x0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList\S-1-5-80-3880718306-3832830129-1677859214-2598158968-1052248003
    Flags    REG_DWORD    0x0
    State    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Sid    REG_BINARY    010600000000000550000000E20F4FE7B15874E48E19026478C2DC9AC307B83E
    FullProfile    REG_DWORD    0x1
    Migrated    REG_BINARY    00965128E958D901
    ProfileImagePath    REG_EXPAND_SZ    C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\MSSQLSERVER
    LocalProfileLoadTimeLow    REG_DWORD    0x92872f24
    LocalProfileLoadTimeHigh    REG_DWORD    0x1d958ec
    ProfileAttemptedProfileDownloadTimeLow    REG_DWORD    0x0
    ProfileAttemptedProfileDownloadTimeHigh    REG_DWORD    0x0
    ProfileLoadTimeLow    REG_DWORD    0x0
    ProfileLoadTimeHigh    REG_DWORD    0x0

Brink · Mar 17, 2023

Hello MrYossu,

If you had set up netplwiz to automatically sign in to an account like in option one of the tutorial below, and you either changed the account's password or computer name afterwards, it could cause this "Other User" issue.

If this is the case, then you could either set up netplwiz again below to update it, or check the Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer box to sort this.

Enable or Disable Automatically Sign in Account at Startup in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable automatically sign in to a specific account at startup to boot directly to the desktop in Windows 11. By default at the startup of Windows 11, you need to dismiss the Lock screen, select the account you want to sign in to on the Sign-in...

www.elevenforum.com

MrYossu · Mar 17, 2023

Hey Brink thanks for the fast reply.

I never touched netplwiz before today, and the account password and computer name have never been changed.

I did try to follow that tutorial, but as I said above, I don't have the checkbox you mention.

Any other ideas? Thanks again.

MrYossu · Mar 17, 2023

To clarify my first comment, my account is the only one that's ever existed on this lap top, and Windows always defaulted to my user when it started up. It's only since this update that it did anything different.

As I said before, I had the exact same issue last time I tried this update (and have never had it any other time), so it does look related.

Thanks again.

Bree · Mar 17, 2023

MrYossu said:
I had a go at enabling automatic sign in, using the instructions found in this tutorial. However, I didn't get the checkbox mentioned...

I don't have Windows Hello enabled, as it claims it can't find my camera, so I have no idea why the checkbox isn't showing.

You don't need a working camera for your PC to have been set up as a password-less device, which is the default for a clean install. You can turn this off in the registry.

Enable or Disable Passwordless Sign-in for Microsoft Accounts in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off only allow Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts for passwordless sign-in on your Windows 11 device. You can keep your device even more secure by removing passwords when signing in to Windows 11 with Microsoft accounts on your device. All...

www.elevenforum.com

MrYossu · Mar 17, 2023

Bree said:
You don't need a working camera for your PC to have been set up as a password-less device, which is the default for a clean install. You can turn this off in the registry.

Enable or Disable Passwordless Sign-in for Microsoft Accounts in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off only allow Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts for passwordless sign-in on your Windows 11 device. You can keep your device even more secure by removing passwords when signing in to Windows 11 with Microsoft accounts on your device. All...

www.elevenforum.com

Forgot to mention that the reg setting is already at 00000002.

Thanks

Brink · Mar 17, 2023

MrYossu said:
Forgot to mention that the reg setting is already at 00000002.

Thanks

Disabling it instead will have the check box available in netplwiz.

Bree · Mar 17, 2023

MrYossu said:
Forgot to mention that the reg setting is already at 00000002.

Set to 2 it is enabled, you need it set to 0 to disable passwordless sign-in.

MrYossu · Mar 18, 2023

@Bree Ah, silly me! I misread it and thought I needed to set it to 2.

OK, set to 0, and now when the laptop starts, it doesn't show any users at all. If I click the mouse, it shows my user, with no sign of "Other User" anywhere, so we're definitely winning.

However, can I have it like it was before, where it shows my user already, so I only need to enter the password? I've lost the plot a bit, and am not sure what setting gets it to do that. I don't want automatic sign-in, I want to have to enter my password, just not have to click to get my user account show (like it was before this update messed it up). I tried changing AutoAdminLogon to 1, which did select my user, but gave the the "Password is incorrect" message, meaning I had to click it to get to the password box.

Thanks

Bree · Mar 18, 2023

MrYossu said:
....when the laptop starts, it doesn't show any users at all. If I click the mouse, it shows my user, with no sign of "Other User" anywhere, so we're definitely winning.

However, can I have it like it was before, where it shows my user already, so I only need to enter the password?

You are seeing the lock screen at start up, which is cleared by clicking on it to show the sign in screen.

This tutorial tells you how to turn off the lock screen at start up, or when you lock the computer.

Enable or Disable Lock Screen in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the lock screen for all users in Windows 10 and Windows 11. The lock screen (aka: welcome screen) is the screen you see at startup and when you lock the computer (Win+L). You will need to dismiss the lock screen to to see the sign-in screen...

www.elevenforum.com

MrYossu · Mar 18, 2023

@Bree Ah, you people are amazing! I just wish Microsoft wouldn't muck around with these things. Was working just how I wanted it before the update, no idea why they had to make it so hard to get back to where I was.

Thanks again.

gerard143 · Feb 25, 2024

Super glad I came across this thread. I had the same issue after going to 23H2 update. Glad this thread's info fixed my issue. I applied the lock screen at login change as well to get things back the way they used to be.

So I am curious, is this "other user" showing up at login now some sort of bug and these are just workarounds to mask the issue? Or where this settings that we are changing things that were actually in place before, and somehow they got deactivated during the windows upgrade?

Solved "Other User" is the default after updating to 22H2, but the user doesn't exist

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