In my Windows 10 Embedded Enterprise box, I have the main user with admin privileges (password protected) and the "Operator" user with regular user privileges and no password.
This step is optional, needed only if you want to auto login:
Start-Run (or Win-R) and launch netplwiz
, uncheck the Users must enter a username and password...
box and hit Apply
: a new window pops up asking for a default username and password. In my case, I use Operator and blank password. Press OK
and in the other window also press OK
to accept the changes and close the window.
The following works even if a user has to login with password, so the above is really optional, only if an old-school Kiosk mode is needed (for a non UWP application).
Microsoft Docs has an answer to your question, in short:
- Under the admin user, open registry editor:
regedit
- Go to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\IniFileMapping\system.ini\boot\
and change the value of Shell
string from the default SYS:Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
to USR:Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
- (Optional) Go to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
and change Shell
string from default explorer.exe
to something else. This is generally a backup in case the user-based shell is not found. This setting applies to all users, so I prefer to leave it on explorer.exe
.
- Optionally login as the default user if you created one as per the above. Go to
HKEY_Current_User\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Create/change the value of Shell
string to point to an executable or batch file that you'd like to run as a custom shell for a given user.
In this setup, when the computer starts, the Operator user logs in automagically and my custom application is launched. When needed, I connect a network cable to the computer and connect to is using VNC (optionally, I could just plug in a keyboard), hit Ctrl-Alt-Del and either lock or sign out the Operator user. Then I login as the admin user and the "normal" Windows Explorer is launched. I do whatever changes are necessary and either reboot the machine or logout and login as Operator again.
Keep in mind that messing with the wrong registry setting can cause the system to fail to boot. While I made an attempt at accurately representing the steps, refer to the actual documentation, read it completely at least once before attempting any changes so you have an overall picture of what needs to be done... Hope this helps.