SLES and openSUSE by default set to automatically log in user without authenticating with username and password. While convenient, this is a security risk as anyone with physical access to the system could boot it up and access the default user's account.

The option to enable automatic login is set up during the system's installation. You can, however, disable automatic login in SUSE via YaST or the command line at any time.

Methods to disable automatic user login in openSUSE and SLES:

Steps to disable autologin in openSUSE and SLES using YaST:

  1. Launch YaST from the launcher.
  2. Navigate to Security and UsersUser and Group Management.
  3. Click on Expert OptionsLogin Settings on the lower right of the window.
  4. Uncheck the Auto login box and click OK.
  5. Click OK again in the main window.

Steps to disable autologin in openSUSE and SLES from command line

  1. Open Terminal application.
  2. Edit /etc/sysconfig/displaymanager using your favorite editor.

    > sudo nano /etc/sysconfig/displaymanager

  3. Search for DISPLAYMANAGER_AUTOLOGIN directive.

    ## Type: string ## Default: # # Define the user whom should get logged in without request. If string # is empty, display standard login dialog. # DISPLAYMANAGER_AUTOLOGIN="user"

  4. Remove the username from the directive.

    DISPLAYMANAGER_AUTOLOGIN=""

  5. Save and exit the editor.

Guide compatibility:

Operating System
openSUSE Tumbleweed
openSUSE Leap 15.1
openSUSE Leap 15.0
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12