---
title: "Configuring ESX VMs for Automatic Login"
slug: "automatic-login-esx"
updated: 2024-09-06T15:13:26Z
published: 2024-09-06T15:13:26Z
canonical: "docs.skillable.com/automatic-login-esx"
---

> ## Documentation Index
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> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Configuring ESX VMs for Automatic Login

If you use Windows-based Virtual Machine Profiles (VMs) on ESX, you may want to skip the login process every time you launch a lab. Learn how to configure Windows-based virtual machine (VM) to automatically log in to Windows.

If you are looking to configure a Hyper-V virtual machine, read our [Automatically Authenticate VMs in Hyper-V documentation](/v1/docs/automatically-authenticate-vms-in-hyperv).

## Best Practices

### Reduce Capture Time and Disk Size

- Begin working with a VM that has no differencing disks captured already.
- Don't leave the VM running for hours, and then capturing. This will increase the size of the disk and could affect VM performance.

### Virtual Machine Optimization

- Configure automatic log in on all virtual machines that need automatic log in, before capturing the first differencing disk. Capturing multiple disks could result in lower performance in the VM.

## Configure Automatic Log In

Automatic log in on ESX VMs is accomplished by cofiguring a built-in Windows application called Netplwiz. After the VM is configured to automatically login, a differencing disk will need to be captured to save the VM in it's current state, to allow subsequent lab launches to automatically log in to the configured VM.

### Configure the VM

1. Navigate to the lab profile that contains the VMs that you wish to enable automatic login on.
2. Launch the lab.
3. If the lab has multiple VMs, select the VM that should be automatically logged in.
4. Enter the **login password** and login to the VM.
5. In the Windows Start menu, search for **Netplwiz**, and then select Netplwiz.
6. **Uncheck the box** next to **Users must enter a user name and password** to use this computer.

![Netplwiz uncheck box to require a user name and password](https://cdn.document360.io/a298db04-a0fe-47e0-bfe3-c52d6f9d7c8c/Images/Documentation/netplwiz-uncheck-box%281%29.png)

1. In the dialog that appears, enter the **VM user name** and **password** and click OK.
2. Repeat steps 3-7 for any other VMs that should be automatically logged in.

### Save a Differencing Disk

Saving a differencing disk will capture the VM in it's current state, so that subsequent lab launches will launch in this state. The lab needs to be launched to capture a differencing disk.

1. From your running lab, select the **hamburger menu in the upper-right** corner of the lab window.
2. Select the **Save** option.
3. In the dialog, select the **Commit my changes and update this lab profile** option.
4. On the next screen, enter a note, then select the **disk under the VM** that was configured for automatic login, then select **OK**.

The differencing disk will be saved and a confirmation message will be shown when it has completed.

## Related Topics

- [Differencing Disk Capture](/v1/docs/capture-differencing-disks): more information about differencing disk capture.
- [Configure a Hyper-V Virtual Machine to Automatically Log In](/v1/docs/automatically-authenticate-vms-in-hyperv) : configure a Hyper-V based virtual machine to automatically log in.

A Virtual Machine profile represents the hardware configuration of a virtual machine. Base settings would include, memory, processor, network adapters and storage configuration. The actual settings available are dependent on the fabric the Virtual Machine would be running on.

ESX hardware virtualization platform that enables the use of virtual machines.

Microsoft hardware virtualization platform that enables the use of virtual machines.