diff --git a/build.zig b/build.zig
index b8e1b8d..bf23051 100644
--- a/build.zig
+++ b/build.zig
@@ -244,6 +244,7 @@ fn install_ly(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, patch_map: PatchMap, install_config:
         defer pam_dir.close();
 
         try installFile(if (init_system == .freebsd) "res/pam.d/ly-freebsd" else "res/pam.d/ly-linux", pam_dir, pam_path, "ly", .{ .override_mode = 0o644 });
+        try installFile(if (init_system == .freebsd) "res/pam.d/ly-freebsd-autologin" else "res/pam.d/ly-linux-autologin", pam_dir, pam_path, "ly-autologin", .{ .override_mode = 0o644 });
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/res/config.ini b/res/config.ini
index 9b67388..c431280 100644
--- a/res/config.ini
+++ b/res/config.ini
@@ -46,6 +46,30 @@ auth_fails = 10
 # If set to null, battery status won't be shown
 battery_id = null
 
+# Automatic login configuration
+# This feature allows Ly to automatically log in a user without password prompt.
+# IMPORTANT: Both auto_login_user and auto_login_session must be set for this to work.
+# Autologin only happens once at startup - it won't re-trigger after logout.
+
+# PAM service name to use for automatic login
+# The default service (ly-autologin) uses pam_permit to allow login without password
+# The appropriate platform-specific PAM configuration (ly-autologin) will be used automatically
+auto_login_service = ly-autologin
+
+# Session name to launch automatically
+# To find available session names, check the .desktop files in:
+#   - /usr/share/xsessions/ (for X11 sessions)
+#   - /usr/share/wayland-sessions/ (for Wayland sessions)
+# Use the filename without .desktop extension, or the value of DesktopNames field
+# Examples: "i3", "sway", "gnome", "plasma", "xfce"
+# If null, automatic login is disabled
+auto_login_session = null
+
+# Username to automatically log in
+# Must be a valid user on the system
+# If null, automatic login is disabled
+auto_login_user = null
+
 # Background color id
 bg = 0x00000000
 
diff --git a/res/lang/ar.ini b/res/lang/ar.ini
index 78d9e93..9b371f8 100644
--- a/res/lang/ar.ini
+++ b/res/lang/ar.ini
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ brightness_up = رفع السطوع
 capslock = capslock
 
 err_alloc = فشل في تخصيص الذاكرة
+
 err_bounds = out-of-bounds index
 err_brightness_change = فشل في تغيير سطوع الشاشة
 err_chdir = فشل في فتح مجلد المنزل
diff --git a/res/lang/cat.ini b/res/lang/cat.ini
index fb829a6..284b14a 100644
--- a/res/lang/cat.ini
+++ b/res/lang/cat.ini
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ brightness_up = apujar brillantor
 capslock = Bloq Majús
 
 err_alloc = assignació de memòria fallida
+
 err_bounds = índex fora de límits
 err_brightness_change = error en canviar la brillantor
 err_chdir = error en obrir la carpeta home
diff --git a/res/lang/cs.ini b/res/lang/cs.ini
index c1206fe..cac7884 100644
--- a/res/lang/cs.ini
+++ b/res/lang/cs.ini
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 capslock = capslock
 
 err_alloc = alokace paměti selhala
+
 err_bounds = index je mimo hranice pole
 
 err_chdir = nelze otevřít domovský adresář
diff --git a/res/lang/de.ini b/res/lang/de.ini
index 5512d5e..12cce5f 100644
--- a/res/lang/de.ini
+++ b/res/lang/de.ini
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ brightness_up = Helligkeit+
 capslock = Feststelltaste
 
 err_alloc = Speicherzuweisung fehlgeschlagen
+
 err_bounds = Index ausserhalb des Bereichs
 err_brightness_change = Helligkeitsänderung fehlgeschlagen
 err_chdir = Fehler beim Oeffnen des Home-Ordners
diff --git a/res/lang/en.ini b/res/lang/en.ini
index 1a8c16c..7c95a09 100644
--- a/res/lang/en.ini
+++ b/res/lang/en.ini
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ brightness_up = increase brightness
 capslock = capslock
 custom = custom
 err_alloc = failed memory allocation
+err_autologin_session = autologin session not found
 err_bounds = out-of-bounds index
 err_brightness_change = failed to change brightness
 err_chdir = failed to open home folder
diff --git a/res/lang/es.ini b/res/lang/es.ini
index 776c998..0878bf2 100644
--- a/res/lang/es.ini
+++ b/res/lang/es.ini
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ brightness_up = subir brillo
 capslock = Bloq Mayús
 
 err_alloc = asignación de memoria fallida
+
 err_bounds = índice fuera de límites
 
 err_chdir = error al abrir la carpeta home
diff --git a/res/lang/fr.ini b/res/lang/fr.ini
index 31c0971..7774a16 100644
--- a/res/lang/fr.ini
+++ b/res/lang/fr.ini
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ brightness_up = augmenter la luminosité
 capslock = verr.maj
 custom = customisé
 err_alloc = échec d'allocation mémoire
+
 err_bounds = indice hors-limite
 err_brightness_change = échec du changement de luminosité
 err_chdir = échec de l'ouverture du répertoire home
diff --git a/res/lang/it.ini b/res/lang/it.ini
index 4ba807c..84d0d39 100644
--- a/res/lang/it.ini
+++ b/res/lang/it.ini
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 capslock = capslock
 
 err_alloc = impossibile allocare memoria
+
 err_bounds = indice fuori limite
 
 err_chdir = impossibile aprire home directory
diff --git a/res/lang/ja_JP.ini b/res/lang/ja_JP.ini
index 200422a..0f4c34a 100644
--- a/res/lang/ja_JP.ini
+++ b/res/lang/ja_JP.ini
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ brightness_up = 明るさを上げる
 capslock = CapsLock
 
 err_alloc = メモリ割り当て失敗
+
 err_bounds = 境界外インデックス
 err_brightness_change = 明るさの変更に失敗しました
 err_chdir = ホームフォルダを開けませんでした
diff --git a/res/lang/lv.ini b/res/lang/lv.ini
index dd15b05..024b130 100644
--- a/res/lang/lv.ini
+++ b/res/lang/lv.ini
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ brightness_up = palielināt spilgtumu
 capslock = caps lock
 custom = pielāgots
 err_alloc = neizdevās atmiņas piešķiršana
+
 err_bounds = indekss ārpus robežām
 err_brightness_change = neizdevās mainīt spilgtumu
 err_chdir = neizdevās atvērt mājas mapi
@@ -68,4 +69,3 @@ sleep = snauda
 wayland = wayland
 x11 = x11
 xinitrc = xinitrc
-
diff --git a/res/lang/pl.ini b/res/lang/pl.ini
index 065fb22..b159a1d 100644
--- a/res/lang/pl.ini
+++ b/res/lang/pl.ini
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ brightness_up = zwiększ jasność
 capslock = capslock
 
 err_alloc = nieudana alokacja pamięci
+
 err_bounds = indeks poza zakresem
 err_brightness_change = nie udało się zmienić jasności
 err_chdir = nie udało się otworzyć folderu domowego
diff --git a/res/lang/pt.ini b/res/lang/pt.ini
index a1951fd..d47112c 100644
--- a/res/lang/pt.ini
+++ b/res/lang/pt.ini
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 capslock = capslock
 
 err_alloc = erro na atribuição de memória
+
 err_bounds = índice fora de limites
 
 err_chdir = erro ao abrir a pasta home
diff --git a/res/lang/pt_BR.ini b/res/lang/pt_BR.ini
index f886816..94312fd 100644
--- a/res/lang/pt_BR.ini
+++ b/res/lang/pt_BR.ini
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 capslock = caixa alta
 
 err_alloc = alocação de memória malsucedida
+
 err_bounds = índice fora de limites
 
 err_chdir = não foi possível abrir o diretório home
diff --git a/res/lang/ro.ini b/res/lang/ro.ini
index 8503245..78ffcc0 100644
--- a/res/lang/ro.ini
+++ b/res/lang/ro.ini
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ capslock = capslock
 
 
 
+
 err_pam_abort = tranzacţie pam anulată
 err_pam_acct_expired = cont expirat
 err_pam_auth = eroare de autentificare
diff --git a/res/lang/ru.ini b/res/lang/ru.ini
index dab497c..3715250 100644
--- a/res/lang/ru.ini
+++ b/res/lang/ru.ini
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ brightness_up = увеличить яркость
 capslock = capslock
 
 err_alloc = не удалось выделить память
+
 err_bounds = за пределами индекса
 err_brightness_change = не удалось изменить яркость
 err_chdir = не удалось открыть домашнюю папку
diff --git a/res/lang/sr.ini b/res/lang/sr.ini
index 1e3c6f7..6f8be10 100644
--- a/res/lang/sr.ini
+++ b/res/lang/sr.ini
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 capslock = capslock
 
 err_alloc = neuspijesna alokacija memorije
+
 err_bounds = izvan granica indeksa
 
 err_chdir = neuspijesno otvaranje home foldera
diff --git a/res/lang/sv.ini b/res/lang/sv.ini
index 3fc2bfd..030a66a 100644
--- a/res/lang/sv.ini
+++ b/res/lang/sv.ini
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 capslock = capslock
 
 err_alloc = misslyckad minnesallokering
+
 err_bounds = utanför banan index
 
 err_chdir = misslyckades att öppna hemkatalog
diff --git a/res/lang/tr.ini b/res/lang/tr.ini
index 78de8c3..0722574 100644
--- a/res/lang/tr.ini
+++ b/res/lang/tr.ini
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 capslock = capslock
 
 err_alloc = basarisiz bellek ayirma
+
 err_bounds = sinirlarin disinda dizin
 
 err_chdir = ev klasoru acilamadi
diff --git a/res/lang/uk.ini b/res/lang/uk.ini
index de41076..bbc6993 100644
--- a/res/lang/uk.ini
+++ b/res/lang/uk.ini
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 capslock = capslock
 
 err_alloc = невдале виділення пам'яті
+
 err_bounds = поза межами індексу
 
 err_chdir = не вдалося відкрити домашній каталог
diff --git a/res/lang/zh_CN.ini b/res/lang/zh_CN.ini
index 5e77f8e..0c4e79e 100644
--- a/res/lang/zh_CN.ini
+++ b/res/lang/zh_CN.ini
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 capslock = 大写锁定
 
 err_alloc = 内存分配失败
+
 err_bounds = 索引越界
 
 err_chdir = 无法打开home文件夹
diff --git a/res/pam.d/ly-freebsd-autologin b/res/pam.d/ly-freebsd-autologin
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e2448ad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/res/pam.d/ly-freebsd-autologin
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+#%PAM-1.0
+
+# OpenPAM (used in FreeBSD) doesn't support prepending "-" for ignoring missing
+# modules.
+auth       required     pam_permit.so
+auth       include      login
+account    include      login
+password   include      login
+session    include      login
diff --git a/res/pam.d/ly-linux-autologin b/res/pam.d/ly-linux-autologin
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..31a51a1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/res/pam.d/ly-linux-autologin
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+#%PAM-1.0
+
+auth       required     pam_permit.so
+-auth      optional     pam_gnome_keyring.so
+-auth      optional     pam_kwallet5.so
+
+account    include      login
+
+password   include      login
+-password  optional     pam_gnome_keyring.so use_authtok
+
+-session   optional     pam_systemd.so       class=greeter
+-session   optional     pam_elogind.so
+session    include      login
+-session   optional     pam_gnome_keyring.so auto_start
+-session   optional     pam_kwallet5.so      auto_start
diff --git a/src/Environment.zig b/src/Environment.zig
index 849cb08..eab875d 100644
--- a/src/Environment.zig
+++ b/src/Environment.zig
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ pub const Entry = struct { @"Desktop Entry": DesktopEntry = .{} };
 entry_ini: ?Ini(Entry) = null,
 name: []const u8 = "",
 xdg_session_desktop: ?[]const u8 = null,
+xdg_session_desktop_owned: bool = false,
 xdg_desktop_names: ?[]const u8 = null,
 cmd: ?[]const u8 = null,
 specifier: []const u8 = "",
diff --git a/src/config/Config.zig b/src/config/Config.zig
index 8f95627..371f256 100644
--- a/src/config/Config.zig
+++ b/src/config/Config.zig
@@ -12,6 +12,9 @@ animation_timeout_sec: u12 = 0,
 asterisk: ?u32 = '*',
 auth_fails: u64 = 10,
 battery_id: ?[]const u8 = null,
+auto_login_service: [:0]const u8 = "ly-autologin",
+auto_login_session: ?[]const u8 = null,
+auto_login_user: ?[]const u8 = null,
 bg: u32 = 0x00000000,
 bigclock: Bigclock = .none,
 bigclock_12hr: bool = false,
diff --git a/src/config/Lang.zig b/src/config/Lang.zig
index 886644d..359feec 100644
--- a/src/config/Lang.zig
+++ b/src/config/Lang.zig
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ brightness_up: []const u8 = "increase brightness",
 capslock: []const u8 = "capslock",
 custom: []const u8 = "custom",
 err_alloc: []const u8 = "failed memory allocation",
+err_autologin_session: []const u8 = "autologin session not found",
 err_bounds: []const u8 = "out-of-bounds index",
 err_brightness_change: []const u8 = "failed to change brightness",
 err_chdir: []const u8 = "failed to open home folder",
diff --git a/src/main.zig b/src/main.zig
index 80c1ab2..8f6d434 100644
--- a/src/main.zig
+++ b/src/main.zig
@@ -432,9 +432,38 @@ pub fn main() !void {
 
     var active_input = config.default_input;
     var insert_mode = !config.vi_mode or config.vi_default_mode == .insert;
+    var is_autologin = false;
+
+    check_autologin: {
+        const auto_user = config.auto_login_user orelse break :check_autologin;
+        const auto_session = config.auto_login_session orelse break :check_autologin;
+
+        if (!isValidUsername(auto_user, usernames)) {
+            try info_line.addMessage(lang.err_pam_user_unknown, config.error_bg, config.error_fg);
+            try log_writer.print("autologin failed: username '{s}' not found\n", .{auto_user});
+            break :check_autologin;
+        }
+
+        const session_index = findSessionByName(&session, auto_session) orelse {
+            try log_writer.print("autologin failed: session '{s}' not found\n", .{auto_session});
+            try info_line.addMessage(lang.err_autologin_session, config.error_bg, config.error_fg);
+            break :check_autologin;
+        };
+        try log_writer.print("attempting autologin for user '{s}' with session '{s}'\n", .{ auto_user, auto_session });
+
+        session.label.current = session_index;
+        for (login.label.list.items, 0..) |username, i| {
+            if (std.mem.eql(u8, username.name, auto_user)) {
+                login.label.current = i;
+                break;
+            }
+        }
+        is_autologin = true;
+    }
 
     // Load last saved username and desktop selection, if any
-    if (config.save) {
+    // Skip if autologin is active to prevent overriding autologin session
+    if (config.save and !is_autologin) {
         if (saved_users.last_username_index) |index| load_last_user: {
             // If the saved index isn't valid, bail out
             if (index >= saved_users.user_list.items.len) break :load_last_user;
@@ -777,11 +806,25 @@ pub fn main() !void {
             timeout = @intCast(1000 - @divTrunc(time.microseconds, 1000) + 1);
         }
 
-        const event_error = if (timeout == -1) termbox.tb_poll_event(&event) else termbox.tb_peek_event(&event, timeout);
+        // Skip event polling if autologin is set, use simulated Enter key press instead
+        if (is_autologin) {
+            event = termbox.tb_event{
+                .type = termbox.TB_EVENT_KEY,
+                .key = termbox.TB_KEY_ENTER,
+                .ch = 0,
+                .w = 0,
+                .h = 0,
+                .x = 0,
+                .y = 0,
+                .mod = 0,
+            };
+        } else {
+            const event_error = if (timeout == -1) termbox.tb_poll_event(&event) else termbox.tb_peek_event(&event, timeout);
 
-        update = timeout != -1;
+            update = timeout != -1;
 
-        if (event_error < 0 or event.type != termbox.TB_EVENT_KEY) continue;
+            if (event_error < 0 or event.type != termbox.TB_EVENT_KEY) continue;
+        }
 
         switch (event.key) {
             termbox.TB_KEY_ESC => {
@@ -927,9 +970,14 @@ pub fn main() !void {
                     session_pid = try std.posix.fork();
                     if (session_pid == 0) {
                         const current_environment = session.label.list.items[session.label.current].environment;
+
+                        // Use auto_login_service for autologin, otherwise use configured service
+                        const service_name = if (is_autologin) config.auto_login_service else config.service_name;
+                        const password_text = if (is_autologin) "" else password.text.items;
+
                         const auth_options = auth.AuthOptions{
                             .tty = active_tty,
-                            .service_name = config.service_name,
+                            .service_name = service_name,
                             .path = config.path,
                             .session_log = config.session_log,
                             .xauth_cmd = config.xauth_cmd,
@@ -949,7 +997,7 @@ pub fn main() !void {
 
                         try log_file.reinit();
 
-                        auth.authenticate(allocator, &log_file, auth_options, current_environment, login.getCurrentUsername(), password.text.items) catch |err| {
+                        auth.authenticate(allocator, &log_file, auth_options, current_environment, login.getCurrentUsername(), password_text) catch |err| {
                             shared_err.writeError(err);
 
                             log_file.deinit();
@@ -992,6 +1040,7 @@ pub fn main() !void {
                     }
 
                     password.clear();
+                    is_autologin = false;
                     try info_line.addMessage(lang.logout, config.bg, config.fg);
                     try log_writer.writeAll("logged out\n");
                 }
@@ -1110,6 +1159,7 @@ fn crawl(session: *Session, lang: Lang, path: []const u8, display_server: Displa
         const entry = entry_ini.data.@"Desktop Entry";
         var maybe_xdg_session_desktop: ?[]const u8 = null;
         var maybe_xdg_desktop_names: ?[]const u8 = null;
+        var xdg_session_desktop_owned = false;
 
         // Prepare the XDG_SESSION_DESKTOP and XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP environment
         // variables here
@@ -1123,13 +1173,18 @@ fn crawl(session: *Session, lang: Lang, path: []const u8, display_server: Displa
         } else if (display_server != .custom) {
             // If DesktopNames is empty, and this isn't a custom session entry,
             // we'll take the name of the session file
-            maybe_xdg_session_desktop = std.fs.path.stem(item.name);
+            const stem = std.fs.path.stem(item.name);
+            if (stem.len > 0) {
+                maybe_xdg_session_desktop = try session.label.allocator.dupe(u8, stem);
+                xdg_session_desktop_owned = true;
+            }
         }
 
         try session.addEnvironment(.{
             .entry_ini = entry_ini,
             .name = entry.Name,
             .xdg_session_desktop = maybe_xdg_session_desktop,
+            .xdg_session_desktop_owned = xdg_session_desktop_owned,
             .xdg_desktop_names = maybe_xdg_desktop_names,
             .cmd = entry.Exec,
             .specifier = switch (display_server) {
@@ -1144,6 +1199,26 @@ fn crawl(session: *Session, lang: Lang, path: []const u8, display_server: Displa
     }
 }
 
+fn isValidUsername(username: []const u8, usernames: StringList) bool {
+    for (usernames.items) |valid_username| {
+        if (std.mem.eql(u8, username, valid_username)) return true;
+    }
+    return false;
+}
+
+fn findSessionByName(session: *Session, name: []const u8) ?usize {
+    for (session.label.list.items, 0..) |env, i| {
+        if (env.environment.xdg_session_desktop) |session_desktop| {
+            if (session_desktop.len > 0 and std.ascii.eqlIgnoreCase(session_desktop, name)) return i;
+        }
+        if (env.environment.xdg_desktop_names) |session_desktop_name| {
+            if (std.ascii.eqlIgnoreCase(session_desktop_name, name)) return i;
+        }
+        if (std.ascii.eqlIgnoreCase(env.environment.name, name)) return i;
+    }
+    return null;
+}
+
 fn getAllUsernames(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, login_defs_path: []const u8) !StringList {
     const uid_range = try interop.getUserIdRange(allocator, login_defs_path);
 
diff --git a/src/tui/components/Session.zig b/src/tui/components/Session.zig
index 53a6c90..4417e06 100644
--- a/src/tui/components/Session.zig
+++ b/src/tui/components/Session.zig
@@ -27,6 +27,9 @@ pub fn init(allocator: Allocator, buffer: *TerminalBuffer, user_list: *UserList)
 pub fn deinit(self: *Session) void {
     for (self.label.list.items) |*env| {
         if (env.environment.entry_ini) |*entry_ini| entry_ini.deinit();
+        if (env.environment.xdg_session_desktop_owned) {
+            self.label.allocator.free(env.environment.xdg_session_desktop.?);
+        }
     }
 
     self.label.deinit();