When a new user logs into a Windows 11 workstation for the very first time, they are greeted by a prolonged, full-screen animated sequence displaying messages like “Hi”, “Getting things ready for you”, and “This might take a few minutes.” This is officially known as the “First Sign-in Animation.” While Microsoft intended this sequence to create a welcoming experience while the operating system builds the user’s local profile directory in the background, it represents a frustrating delay in corporate environments. For IT administrators deploying roaming profiles, VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure) environments, or shared kiosks, this unskippable animation wastes valuable time and prevents the user from immediately accessing their desktop.
This guide explains how to completely disable the First Sign-in Animation system-wide using the Group Policy Editor in Windows 11, ensuring new users are dropped directly onto the desktop as soon as their profile is generated.
Disable First Sign-in Animation via Group Policy
To enforce a strict block that prevents the logonui.exe process from launching the full-screen animation sequence for new user profiles, we must deploy an administrative template. Note that this requires Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education editions.
- Log into Windows 11 with an Administrator account.
- Press the Windows Key + R to open the Run dialogue box.
- Type
gpedit.mscand press Enter to launch the Local Group Policy Editor. - In the left-hand navigation pane, strictly follow this exact path:
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Logon - In the right-hand pane, locate the policy named Show first sign-in animation.
- Double-click the policy to open its configuration window.
- Select the radio button next to Disabled.
- Click Apply, then click OK.
Verify the Configuration Lockdown
To enforce the change immediately across the system without requiring a full reboot, open an elevated Command Prompt and execute gpupdate /force.
To verify the restriction is active, you must trigger the creation of a new user profile. Create a new, temporary local user account on the machine (or have an Active Directory user log into the machine for the first time). When the new user enters their password and initiates the logon process, the lengthy, pulsating color screens and welcome text will be completely absent. The screen may remain on the standard Windows login background for a brief moment while the profile generates, and then instantly transition straight to the functional desktop. The workstation is now optimized for rapid deployment and user onboarding.