Go to the desktop instead of Start when signing in: registry value GoToDesktopOnSignInUserHKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer

Policy ID: GoToDesktopOnSignIn
Scope: User Configuration
Supported on: Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1 only
Source: Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) (version 1.0)
Category: Start Menu and Taskbar

Registry

GoToDesktopOnSignIn

REG_DWORDUser

HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer Current key

Enabled value: 1
Disabled value: 2

Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]

; Options (use only one)
; Enabled
"GoToDesktopOnSignIn"=dword:00000001
; Disabled
"GoToDesktopOnSignIn"=dword:00000002

CMD

:: Options (use only one)

:: Enabled
reg add "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer" /v "GoToDesktopOnSignIn" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
:: Disabled
reg add "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer" /v "GoToDesktopOnSignIn" /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f

PowerShell

# Common: create the key
New-Item -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Force | Out-Null

# Options (use only one)
# Enabled
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Name 'GoToDesktopOnSignIn' -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null
# Disabled
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Name 'GoToDesktopOnSignIn' -PropertyType DWord -Value 2 -Force | Out-Null