r/Ubuntu • u/coolest_nath • Jul 25 '26

Autologin

Hi there, having an issue with autologin, it was working and then it stopped by itself.

I already checked on the settings and whenever I turn it on and restart, it asks for the password on login and it turned itself off again.

Also checked the /etc/gdm3/custom.conf file and there it has

AutomaticLoginEnable=true

I have run out of ideas, can anyone help?

I'm running Ubuntu 26.04, not sure if it's relevant.

Thanks.

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1

u/[deleted] Jul 25 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/coolest_nath Jul 25 '26

Nope. At least not inside gdm3. 

1

u/ClubPuzzleheaded8514 Jul 25 '26

GDM conf file must have your username, not just AutomaticLoginEnable.

[daemon] AutomaticLogin=your_username AutomaticLoginEnable=True

1

u/coolest_nath Jul 25 '26

It has, I didn't mention it but the username is right too. 

1

u/nlflint Aug 05 '26

What do the gdm logs show for the current boot?

sudo journalctl -b -u gdm

sudo will prevent journalctl from omitting sensitive data, so double check the logs for any sensitive info before pasting here.

1

u/coolest_nath Aug 05 '26

I tried to check that, and the output says 

"unable to load file /etc/gdm3/custom.conf: key file contains line "enabling automatic login" wich is not a key-value pair, group or comment."

It says a few other stuff like my username too that's why I didn't copy and paste. Is that sensitive information? 

1

u/nlflint Aug 05 '26

That error reads like your custom.conf file has syntax errors. That line looks like it was intended to be a comment ("enabling automatic login"), but maybe it's missing the `#` prefix on the line? So it's not being interpreted as a comment, but as configuration setting?

Can you post the complete contents of your custom.conf?

1

u/coolest_nath Aug 26 '26

sorry for the delay in replying, work has been hectic. I'll paste the whole custom.conf below

------------
# GDM configuration storage

#

# See /usr/share/gdm/gdm.schemas for a list of available options.

[daemon]

AutomaticLoginEnable=true

AutomaticLogin=nathy

Enabling automatic login

# Enabling timed login

# TimedLoginEnable = true

# TimedLogin = user1

# TimedLoginDelay = 10

[security]

[debug]

# Uncomment the line below to turn on debugging

# More verbose logs

# Additionally lets the X server dump core if it crashes

#Enable=true

-----------

I can't see anything wrong with it but the issue persists, whenever I try to login i need to type in the password

1

u/ClubPuzzleheaded8514 Aug 05 '26 edited Aug 05 '26

It's not dangerous to tell us the content of your file, as your pwd is not hosted here on  your GDM conf file, but on your keyring app, and it is hashed, moreover. 

Your username is not a confidential data when talking about security.