Setup on Windows 10 now has two accounts with same name at sign in

Question

I just received a new PC with Windows 10 installed. When I first turned it on, it made me create a password. After it was setup, I went to Settings and sign-on options to remove the password requirement. It was working for a couple of hours, but when I started installing other software, somewhere along the way, when I restart the computer, it first displays "The Username or Password is incorrect. Try Again". That pops up even before I do anything. Then it shows two user accounts on the bottom left-hand corner, both with the exact same name. I have to switch to the top one and enter the original windows password and then I can get in. But when I go to Settings and Accounts, it only shows one account. I'm not sure why there is more than one account and what is happening on a restart.

Answer 1

Type netplwiz in the Start menu search box, and press Enter key.

After the User Accounts panel opens, if you see two same user names in the list, remove one of them. Just select one of them and click on Remove.

Restart

2nd method:

Win + R keys, then type netplwiz and hit Enter.

Once the User Accounts panel opens, check “Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer” and click on Apply followed by OK.

Restart Windows 10 and now the issue should be solved.

Uncheck “Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer” to enable the auto-login again if you really need it. When the prompt appears, confirm your user name and type your correct password.

Answer 2

@Steve Bump
Hi,
You could try the following methods:
The first method to remove the duplicate usernames from the login screen, is to delete the duplicate account from your PC.

1. Open the run command box.
2. In the "Open" box, type: control userpasswords2 & click OK.
   If you see only one account:
   a. Select the account and click Properties.
   b. Copy the Full name and paste it at the User name field, in order to match. *
   c. Click OK and restart your PC.

Note: If the User name and the full name already matches, go to method 2
open the 'User Accounts' options.
Uncheck the User must enter a user name and password to use this computer and click Apply
Type your password (twice) and click OK twice to close all windows.

Hope above information can help you.

============================================

If the Answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and upvote it.
Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

Answer 3

THIS IS THE ONLY ANSWER my shop found after working on this for days and trying many solutions. I hope it helps some of you. To review briefly - You go to login, there are two identical logins every time, only one shows in the user accounts/control panel. Every time you create another user account, no matter what name, it will duplicate it and show at the login. Very frustrating.
I can not take credit for the solution only the hunting = ) So thank you "Strider" On to what worked for us. >>>>>

Log into your computer using one of the duplicate accounts your wish to remove.

Open Windows Registry Editor (Start > Run > regedit.exe). (Run as admin)

In the left pane, navigate to the following key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Authentication

Right-click and export the whole key and save it in a safe location. You'll need this file to restore the registry if something goes wrong in the below steps.

Now, navigate to the following key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Authentication\LogonUI

Make a note of the long string value associated with LastLoggedOnProvider. It should should like {01A30791-40AE-4653-AB2E-FD210019AE88}.

Now navigate to the following key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Authentication\CredentialProviders

Find the CredentialProvider that has the same string value noted in Step 6.

Right click on this item and create a new DWORD value named Disabled and give it a value of 1.

Close Regedit, logout, or restart and your problem should have disappeared.

Answer 4

Thank you, TC & Strider for sharing your thoughts on this solution. As you mentioned, it IS frustrating dealing with the problem and isolationist nature of Microsoft/Google regards to receiving viable solutions. In my opinion, it seems to be a recurring challenge. However, given our current circumstances, we find ourselves somewhat bound to them. Let's face it head-on – bring it on, Altman!