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+---
+description: >-
+  When Netwrix Password Policy Enforcer Client is installed on endpoints, the Smart Card Reader may become the default logon method instead of username/password due to Microsoft Windows behavior.
+
+keywords:
+  - Netwrix Password Policy Enforcer
+  - Smart Card
+  - registry
+  - PPE Client
+  - Windows Registry
+  - credential provider
+  - Assign a default credential provider
+  - regedit
+  - GPO
+  - Logon
+
+products:
+  - passwordpolicyenforcer
+sidebar_label: Smart Card Reader As Default Logon Method After Client Installation
+tags:
+  - kb
+title: "Smart Card Reader As Default Logon Method After Client Installation"
+knowledge_article_id: ""
+---
+
+# Smart Card Reader As Default Logon Method After Client Installation
+
+## Symptom
+
+After installing Netwrix Password Policy Enforcer, the logon method has changed to Smart Card instead of Username and Password for Windows. 
+
+
+## Cause
+
+When Password Policy Enforcer Client is installed, Microsoft Windows may set Smart Card as the default credential provider instead of Password Policy Enforcer Client. This is a Windows credential provider stack behavior that does not occur on every machine.
+
+
+## Resolution
+
+Both options achieve the same result—they change the default credential provider from Smart Card to Password Policy Enforcer Client. 
+- Option 1: Use if your organization uses Group Policy. 
+- Option 2: Use if your organization does not use Group Policy — deploy the registry change using your organization's standard method for pushing registry values.
+
+After applying either option, the default logon method on the Windows logon screen will change from Smart Card to Username and Password.
+
+### Option 1 — With Group Policy
+
+1. Open **Group Policy Management** by running `gpmc.msc` and select a GPO to edit that applies to the affected machines.
+2. Set the `Assign a default credential provider` setting in `Computer Configuration >> Policies >> Administrative Templates >> System >> Logon` to `{F347212E-AF6B-4726-92B3-E4DF3388D58C}` and save.
+
+![GPO](../0-images/GPOAssignDefaultCredentialProvider.png)
+
+### Option 2 — Without Group Policy
+1. Open **Registry Editor** (`regedit`) on the affected machine.
+2. Navigate to registry location `Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System`. 
+3. Edit or create a `Regular String` value named `DefaultCredentialProvider` and set it to `{F347212E-AF6B-4726-92B3-E4DF3388D58C}`.
+
+This may require a reboot to take effect.
+
+![Registry Default Credential Provider](../0-images/RegistryAssignDefaultCredentialProvider1.png)
+
+
+
+> **NOTE:** You may also want to disable the Smart Card credential provider if it is not in use on the machine.
+>
+> - **With Group Policy:** Set the `Exclude credential providers` setting in `Computer Configuration >> Policies >> Administrative Templates >> System >> Logon`. Use GUID `{8FD7E19C-3BF7-489B-A72C-846AB3678C96}` for Microsoft's Smart Card Credential Provider, or your third-party Smart Card credential provider's GUID if applicable.
+> - **Without Group Policy:** Create a `Regular String` value named `ExcludedCredentialProviders` in `Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System` and set it to the GUID to exclude.
+
+![Exclude Credential Providers](../0-images/RegistryAssignDefaultCredentialProvider2.png)
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