Go to the desktop instead of Start when signing in
- 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
Description
This policy setting allows users to go to the desktop instead of the Start screen when they sign in.
If you enable this policy setting, users will always go to the desktop when they sign in.
If you disable this policy setting, users will always go to the Start screen when they sign in.
If you don’t configure this policy setting, the default setting for the user’s device will be used, and the user can choose to change it.
Registry
UserHKEY_CURRENT_USER
- GoToDesktopOnSignInREG_DWORD