How to Hide Enabled Account on Windows Logon Screen?

Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP shows all enabled accounts on Windows logon screen for users. However, in the security point of view, it results a weakness probably if some accounts has no passwords.

Of course, you can disable unprotected accounts or set user password to improve security, but at some conditions, you may have a certain reason to hide an enabled account from Windows logon screen.

For example, you have a user account with administrator privilege, and want to hide enabled and unprotected built-in administrator on logon screen, with the purpose that accessing Windows by it in case that you forgot Windows password.

How to Hide Enabled Account on Windows Logon Screen?

If you have the similar reason, follow the below guide to hide enabled account on Windows Logon Screen.

Step 1: Input "regedit" in run box to open Registry Editor.

Step 2: Navigate to the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\SpecialAccounts\UserLis t

Note: If SpecialAccounts and UserList are not found, create new sub-keys under Winlogon, and name them accordingly.

Step 3: Select UserList, in the right pane, right click on any blank space, and point to New -> DWORD (32-bit) Value.

Step 4: Name the new DWORD registry value with the name of the user account to be hidden. For example, if the user account is Administrator, and then the registry value should be Administrator.

Step 5: Double click on DWORD registry value, and set the value data to 0 for hiding the account from logon screen.

Tip: To display the hidden user account on logon screen again, delete the registry entry, or set the value data to 1.

Step 6: Exit Registry Editor.

Step 7: Log off or restart computer to make the change effective.

Hidden user account is only accessible in secure logon mode by typing in the user name and password manually. So if you'd like to login into hidden user account, in Windows XP, just press Ctrl+Alt+Del twice at logon screen to bring up secure logon dialog; in Windows Vista/7, you need to login with admin, enable secure logon at first, restart and then type user name and password of the hidden account manually in secure logon dialog.

Here is how to enable secure logon in Windows Vista/7:

1. Click Windows Start button, input netplwiz in the text search box and hit Enter.

2. In the pop-out User Accounts window, switch to Advanced tab, and check "Require users to press Ctrl+Alt+Delete" in Secure Logon part.

3. Click OK to save and exit.

4. Log off to make the change effective.

Important: As said in the above example, the hidden built-in administrator can do Windows 7 password recovery when Windows 7(Windows Vista also avaible) admin password is lost, and secure logon - the only way to login with the hidden built-in administrator is not available when admin is inaccessible, thus you should enable secure logon before losing password.

Thanks for such an informational post. I like it. Nice sharing.

Nice thread, I like it so much for a great and beneficial info.

Thanks for this information dear, I like it very much.

You can hide the enable accounts by using following ways:

1. Utilize the Windows key + R console alternate way to open the Run charge, sort regedit, and click OK to open the Windows Registry.

2. Peruse the accompanying way: ...

3. Right-tap the Winlogon, select New, and snap Key.

4. Name the new key SpecialAccounts.

Use the Windows key + R keyboard shortcut to open the Run command, type netplwiz, and click OK to open User Accounts.
Select the account you want to hide and click Properties.
Make note of the User name for the account.