You can find various hands-on features in Windows OS regarding utility, and «Switch User» also comes under this bucket. It helps share the same PC among multiple users by creating multiple user accounts. It allows different persons to log in through their accounts, enabling the accessibility of apps or files. It also curbs any intrusion or interference with apps or personal information of other users working on PCs.
Sometimes, you need help seamlessly using this feature on your PC. For example, it requires you to fix the «Switch User» option missing in Windows 10/11 to enable you to use this option again. Instead, we suggest the three most effective solutions to solve your issue instantly and provide multiple login facilities.
What Does the «Switch User» Option Missing in Windows 10/11 Mean?
Sometimes, you create multiple user accounts for a separate login utility to provide freedom of working on apps and files. But one day, you try to switch your user account only to find that there is no existence for other users.
So, when the «Switch User» option goes missing in Windows 10/11, you can no longer switch to that particular account or to the files or apps you saved, particularly for that account. So, it is quite a common issue; you can fix the «Switch User» option missing in Windows 10/11 without seeking professional help.
- Solution 1: Enabling the Option of Fast User Switching
- Solution 2: Configuration of Windows Group Policy
- Solution 3: Enabling the Account for Built-in Administrator
Solution 1: Enabling the Option of Fast User Switching
Sometimes, you may have to fix the «Switch User» option missing in Windows 10/11. The issue occurs because of the misconfiguration of specific settings on your PC. To counter this problem, you have to make changes related to administrative levels that enable the option of fast user switching using the Windows Registry. It is recommended to take a registry backup before proceeding with the steps. Also, ensure you enter as an administrator on your PC to access the Registry.
Useful Steps:
Step 1: Start by tapping the Windows and R keys to open Run.
Step 2: Move ahead by typing «regedit» in the given space and tap «Enter.»
Step 3: Tap on the «Yes» option as soon as a prompt for User Account Control appears.
Step 4: As soon as you are in the Registry Editor, reach the location as:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
Step 5: If you cannot get the «System key,» right-tap on the ‘Policy key,’ then choose the «New» and «Key» options.
Step 6: Go ahead by renaming the key as «System.»
Step 7: Then, by choosing «System Key,» go to the right pane.
Step 8: Then make a right tap anywhere in the right pane and move ahead by choosing «New» and then the ‘DWORD (32-bit) Value’ option.
Step 9: Now give a new name to the key as: «HidefastUserSwitching.»
Step 10: Tap twice on «HidefastUserSwitching» and then move ahead by typing «0» in Value data.
Step 11: Tap the «OK» option to save the changes.
Step 12: As a final step, exit the Registry Editor, then finish by restarting your PC.
Solution 2: Configuration of Windows Group Policy
Windows Group Policy encompasses all the OS controlling the working environment of user accounts. It also provides management in a centralized way wherein operations can be handled while applying security settings. For example, you can configure Windows Group Policy to fix the «Switch User» option missing in the Windows issue.
Useful Steps:
Step 1: Press Winkey + R (that will open the Run window), type ‘gpedit.msc’ and press enter
Step 2: You will see a window for Local Group Policy on the next screen. After that, you have to follow the path;
Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> System -> Logon
Step 3: Now double-tap the «Hide Entry Points for Fast User Switch» option and open it.
Step 4: Select «Disabled» to turn on the option.
Step 5: Tap on «Apply» and then on the «OK» option.
Step 6: Now exit from the Local Group Editor Policy window, then verify if you can fix the «Switch User» option missing in Windows 10/11.
If you had no luck with this one, try the following option and fix the issue.
Solution 3: Enabling the Account for Built-in Administrator
Sometimes, to fix the «Switch User» option missing in Windows 10/11, you can troubleshoot using the current user account. For this, you must run DISM and SFC utilities using the menu for recovery. Then, run them using the Command prompt, wherein you can know about potential issues by scanning the PC. However, if it does not work for you, enabling an account for the built-in administrator in Windows is recommended, and creating a new user account is recommended.
Useful Steps:
Step 1: Start by opening the screen for signing in and then pressing and holding the «Shift key.» Then restart your PC.
Step 2: You will find that Windows has started booting into the «Recovery menu.» From the list of available options, choose «Troubleshoot.»
Step 3: Make your way toward «Advanced Options» and then «Command Prompt.»
Step 4: Once you find the Command prompt launching, Type the given command and tap on «Enter» to execute it.
net user administrator /active: yes
Step 5: As soon as your command gets executed, you must restart your PC. Then, make a login by making use of the built-in administrator account.
Step 6: Now press the «Win + I» keys to open Windows settings.
Step 7: Refer to the left pane and choose the «Accounts» option.
Step 8: Tap on the «Family and Other Users» option.
Step 9: From the section of other users, tap on the «Add Account» option. It will be associated with the «Add other user» option.
Step 10: Now you can see a dialog wherein you have to tap on the «I don’t have this person’s sign-in information» option.
Step 11: Then, tap the hyperlink stating the «Add a user without a Microsoft account» option. Make an entry for all the fields that are required.
Step 12: There will be some instructions on the screen that you need to follow.
Step 13: As soon as your new user account gets created, make a login and see if the issue got fixed.
Conclusion
The Switch User option in Windows is advantageous when multiple users work on different niches. It provides privacy and safety for their work. However, sometimes the Switch User option disappears or gets removed, hampers the labor saved by that user. But by using specific methods, you can fix this issue. We hope by using our above-initiated methods, you will be able to fix the «Switch User» option missing in the Windows problem seamlessly.
Sara Alsaqaf
Are you unable to Switch Users? Learn how to fix the Switch User option in Windows 10 to easily switch between different users on your computer.
Are you experiencing issues with the Switch User option not showing up in Windows 10? This article focuses on fixing the error and allowing you to easily switch between different users on your device.
One of the features that make Windows 10 convenient for everyone is the ability to quickly switch between users. This has been part of the operating system for decades, but utilizing the power of new devices, it’s better and faster than ever. However, we’ve received numerous reports of this option missing from Windows 10.
In reality, the option is still there. Many users are able to access it via complicated methods, such as restarting the entire computer to access the login screen. What most likely happened is one of the following:
- You don’t have another local user account, or
- Fast User Switching has been disabled on your computer.
Table of Contents
- How to fix “Switch User” Option missing in Windows 10
- Method 1. Create a new user on your computer
- Method 2. Enable Fast User Switching manually
- Method 3. Enable Fast User Switching using a BAT file
- Final thoughts
How to fix “Switch User” Option missing in Windows 10
To fix either of these causes, follow the guides below and enjoy the convenience of user switching on Windows 10.
Method 1. Create a new user on your computer
If your account is the only user account currently present on your computer, Windows 10 will automatically recognize this and hide the Switch User option. To fix this, you’ll need to create another user account first, then check if the option is available afterwards.
- Click on the Start menu in your taskbar. This icon has the Windows 10 logo on it. If you’re not familiar with the Windows 10 interface, we recommend reading the How to Get Started with Windows 10 article on our website.
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Select the Settings icon, indicated by a gear. Alternatively, you can use the Windows + I keyboard shortcut to reach this application quicker.
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Click on the Accounts tile.
- Switch to the Family & other users category using the panel on the left-side of the screen. You should see a list of all the current users on your computer.
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Click on the Add someone else to the PC button.
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To add a new local user, select the I don’t have this person’s sign-in information option.
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Click on the Add a user without a Microsoft account option.
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Enter the desired username. If needed, you can also include a password and a password hint. This will give extra privacy to the user of the account. In the future, you’re always able to change all of this information.
- Click Next to finalize the new account.
After successfully creating a new local account, check if the Switch User option is available in the Start menu.
Method 2. Enable Fast User Switching manually
As mentioned above, the other, more likely cause for the Switch User option to be missing is if the Fast User Switching feature is disabled. This could’ve been done on error by you or another person using the device, or changed without your knowledge by an application or service.
You can manually fix this by going into the Registry Editor and altering a simple setting, or by skipping to Method 3 for an automated approach.
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The first thing we need to do is open the Registry Editor. You can do this by pressing the Windows and R keys on your keyboard at the same time. This shortcut will launch a utility called Run.
- Type in the word regedit and hit the OK button. The Registry Editor should be open within a few seconds.
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You can navigate in the registry by pressing the arrow icon next to the name of a folder, officially called a Registry Key. Using this, navigate to the following key:
Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System - Alternatively, paste the string into the Registry Editor’s address bar and press Enter.
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If the System folder is missing from Policies, you need to create it. Right-click on any empty space in the right pane, then choose New → Key from the context menu. Name the folder System and proceed with the steps below.
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Go into the System key, and right-click any empty space in the right pane. Choose New → DWORD (32-bit) value. Name it HideFastUserSwitching.
- Double-click on the new DWORD value, and change the Value data to “0” to force the Switch User option to display.
- Click OK and restart your computer. Upon loading, you should be able to see that the Switch User option is now visible.
Method 3. Enable Fast User Switching using a BAT file
A .bat file published by Shawn Brink allows you to automate the process of enabling the Fast User Switching option. This spares you from having to go into the Registry Editor yourself, making this a better option for users not technically advanced.
- Download the Enable_Fast_User_Switching.bat file and save it somewhere on your computer.
- Navigate to the .bat file you just downloaded, and double click on it to open it.
- If prompted by the User Account Control (UAC), click Yes to allow the file to run and make changes on the device. This is required in order to change settings in the Registry Editor.
- You will notice your screen flicker. This is caused by a Command Prompt quickly opening and closing to apply the registry changes and restart the Explorer process.
- You may delete the .bat file now.
- Restart your computer. Upon loading, you should be able to see that the Switch User option is now visible.
Final thoughts
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If your Windows computer has more than one user account, then you will probably see the “Switch User” option in the Start menu. This option lets you quickly change your user account when needed. In a situation where you have one account set up for work and another for home, this option is a seemingly convenient way to switch between them instantly.
That said, there have been reports that the “Switch User” option has been missing for some Windows users, even when they have multiple accounts on their system. Some have even reported that the option is only visible when all accounts are explicitly logged out.
That shouldn’t be the case. In this article, we show you how to fix this error on a Windows computer without having to repair or reinstall your operating system.
Table of Contents
Why the Switch User Option is Missing?
There can be several reasons for the “Switch User” option to be missing in the start menu. Here are the most common reasons:
- You only have one account enabled on your computer.
- Your domain administrator has disabled the option.
- The “Switch User” option is disabled from the Group Policy or the Windows Registry.
- A Windows update has disabled the option.
Whatever the reason, you can always fix it and get the “Switch User” option back and instantly switch to another user account.
Restore Missing “Switch User” Option
Create Another User Account
This is not a proper solution, but a workaround to get the “Switch User” option in the Start menu or the Alt + F4 shutdown menu. You may not see the “Switch User” option in either of these menus if there is no user account to switch to.
There are multiple ways to create a new user account on a Windows PC. You can create an administrative account, enable the built-in Administrator account, or create a standard account. You can create an account from the Settings app, the Local Users and Groups console, and the Computer Management console.
Here, we show you how to create a local, standard account from the Settings app:
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Go to the following:
Settings app >> Accounts >> Other users
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Click “Add account.”
Create a new user account from the Settings app -
From the popup, click “I don’t have this person’s sign-in information.”
Don’t have the sign-in information -
Now click “Add a user without a Microsoft account.”
Create a local account from Settings app -
Next, enter a name for the user account, set a password, set up recovery questions and answers, and click Next.
Enter the details for the account
The new account will now be created. Now, you should be able to see the name of the new account in the Start menu or the “Switch user” option in the Alt + F4 shutdown menu.
As we mentioned earlier; this is not a solution, but a simple workaround. If you already have multiple accounts set up and still can’t see the “Switch user” option, then implement the following fixes given below.
Enable Fast User Switching from Group Policy
The “Switch User” option may be disabled from the Group Policy. If your computer is part of an organization/domain, then this solution won’t help you. Instead, proceed to make the changes at a registry level, shared in the next section of this post.
However, if your system administrator has disabled it explicitly for your computer while it is not part of a domain, then you can try and re-enable the “Switch user” option from Group Policy. Here is how:
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Open the Group Policy Editor by typing in “gpedit.msc” in the Run Command box.
Open the Group Policy Editor -
Now navigate to the following path from the left pane:
Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> System >> Logon
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Double-click the Group Policy “Hide entry points for Fast User Switching” on the right.
Open policy for Fast User Switching -
Select “Disabled” and then click Apply and Ok.
Enable entry points to switch users using Group Policy -
Now run the following cmdlet in an elevated Command Prompt to enforce the new policies:
GPUpdate /Force
Enforce Group Policy
This should bring back the “Switch User” option. If this doesn’t work, you can use the steps in the next section to enable the option directly from Windows Registry.
Enable “Switch User” Option from Windows Registry
If none of the solutions above have worked for you, you can try out this method to restore the “Switch user” option from the Windows Registry.
You can download and run the batch file to instantly make the necessary changes to the Windows Registry, or perform the steps below manually.
Enable Fast User Switching (unknown, 320 hits)
To use the .bat file, download it and extract the contents. Then, run the .bat file as an administrator.
Alternatively, you can perform the steps yourself using these steps:
Note: Misconfiguration of critical values in the system’s registry could be fatal for your operating system. Therefore, we insist that you create a system restore point or a complete system image backup before proceeding forward with the process.
You can also use our top selection of disk imaging and backup software so you never lose your data or operating system again.
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Open the Registry Editor by typing in “regedit” in the Run Command box.
Open the Registry Editor -
Paste the following in the navigation bar and hit Enter for quick navigation:
Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies
Navigate to the Policies Key -
Right-click the Policies key, expand New, and then click Key from the context menu. Name this key “System“.
Create the System key under Policies -
Right-click the System key, expand New, and then click DWORD (32-bit) Value from the context menu. Name this DWORD “HideFastUserSwitching“.
Create the HideFastUserSwitching DWORD -
Double-click the DWORD “HideFastUserSwitching” and set its Value Data to “0“.
Enable Fast User Switching from Windows Registry -
Now restart the computer for the changes to take effect.
Once the computer restarts, and you have more than one user account on the computer, then the “Switch User” option should be visible in the Start menu as well as the Alt + F4 shutdown menu.
Conclusion
The “Switch User” option isn’t mandatory for you to be able to sign into a different user account. However, it is a convenient option to have. This way, you do not have to sign out of your current account and close all the apps, and instantly sign into another account.
If you have multiple users created and activated on your Windows PC, enable the “Switch User” option today and easily change your working profiles.
If you have more than one user account on your PC then using Fast User Switching you can easily switch between different user account without needing to sign out from any user account. But to do that you need to learn different methods to switch between user accounts in Windows 10 and this post, we will learn how to do so exactly. If you don’t have Fast User Switching enabled by default, then head over here to learn How to Enable or Disable Fast User Switching in Windows 10.
Once you have enabled Fast User Switching, then you can continue with this guide. Just make sure to save any work which you might be doing before switching user. The reason behind this is that you might lose your open word document or any other work as Windows doesn’t automatically save them for you. So without wasting any time let’s see How to Switch User in Windows 10 with the help of the below-listed tutorial.
Table of Contents
Make sure to create a restore point just in case something goes wrong.
Method 1: How to Switch User from the Start Menu
If you are already signed into Windows 10 with your user account, then don’t worry you can still switch to the different user account from Start Menu. Click on the Start button from the bottom-left then click on your user account picture and from the context menu select the user account you want to switch to.
You will be directly taken to the log-in screen of the user account you selected, enter the password or PIN, and you would successfully sign-in to this user account. You can again switch back to your original user account by following the same steps.
Method 2: How to Switch User using Windows Key + L
If you want to switch to a different user account while you have already sign-in into another user account, don’t worry press the Windows Key + L combination on the keyboard.
Once you do that, you would be directly taken to the lock screen, and in the process, you will be locked from your user account. Click anywhere on the lock screen, and you would be shown the login screen from where you can choose any user account that you wish to sign into.
Method 3: How to Switch User from Login Screen
The first thing you see when you start your PC is the sign-in screen, where by default the most recent user account you used to sign-in is selected and you could directly login by entering the password or PIN.
But if you want to select another user account from the sign-in screen, click on the available user accounts from the bottom-left corner of the screen. Select the account then enter password or PIN to sign-in to that particular account.
Method 4: How to Switch User using ALT + F4
Note: Make sure you have saved all of your work and close any open application before following this method, or pressing ALT + F4 will close all your apps.
Make sure you are on the desktop, if not then go to the desktop and make sure you click in an empty area on the desktop to make it your current focused (active) window once you have done that, press and hold ALT + F4 key combination together on your keyboard. This will show you the shut down prompt, from the shutdown drop-down select “Switch User” and click OK.
This will take you to the login screen where you can select any user account you want, enter the correct login information and you are good to go.
Method 5: How to Switch User using CTRL + ALT + DELETE
This method only works if you are already logged in with a user account, and you want to switch to another user account. Now press CTRL + ALT + DELETE key combination on your keyboard then you would be taken to a new screen, click “Switch user“. Again, this would take you to the login screen where you can select any user account you wish to switch to.
Method 6: How to Switch User from Task Manager
If you are already signed into Windows 10 with your user account, don’t worry, you can still switch to Task Manager’s different user account. To open Task Manager, simultaneously press CTRL + SHIFT + ESC key combination on your keyboard.
Now make sure to switch to Users tab then right-click on the already signed in the user account that you want to switch to and then click Switch user account. If this doesn’t work, select the already signed user that you want to switch to and click on the Switch user button. You will now be directly taken on the sign-in screen of the selected user account, enter the password or PIN to successfully sign-in to the particular user account.
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That’s it you have successfully learned How to Switch User in Windows 10 but if you still have any questions regarding this tutorial then feel free to ask them in the comment’s section.
Download Windows Speedup Tool to fix errors and make PC run faster
When we access the login screen of Windows 10, the name and pictures of all the available user accounts are visible on the bottom-left section of the login screen. We can click on any user account and enter login details to access that account. However, many users have faced this problem that such Switch User option is missing from Windows 11/10 login screen because of which other user accounts are not visible there. If you are also facing this problem, then this post might help you with two built-in features of Windows 11/10.
You can show the Switch User interface on the login screen of Windows 11/10 using these two features:
- Local Group Policy Editor
- Registry Editor.
Let’s check both options.
Can’t switch Users in Windows 11/10
1] Local Group Policy Editor
This feature is present in Enterprise and Pro editions of Windows 10. If you are using Home edition, then you need to install Local Group Policy Editor to Windows 10 Home edition so that you can use it.
After that, follow these steps:
- Open Local Group Policy Editor
- Access Logon folder
- Access Hide entry points for Fast User Switching setting
- Use Not Configured option
- Press OK.
At first, open the Run Command box using Win+R hotkey, type gpedit.msc, and use the Enter key to open the Local Group Policy Editor window.
In that window, access the Logon folder. Its path is:
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Logon
Now in the right-hand section, scroll down and access Hide entry points for the Fast User Switching setting by double-clicking on it.
This will open a new window for that setting. In that window, select the Not Configured option, and press the OK button.
Access the login screen of Windows 11/10 and all user accounts should be visible now.
2] Registry Editor
First of all, backup Registry Editor before trying this option. After that, use these steps:
- Open Registry Editor
- Access the System key
- Create
HideFastUserSwitchingDWORD value - Set its value data to 0
- Press the OK button.
In the very first step, open Registry Editor by typing regedit in the Windows 10 Search box and then press Enter key. There are many other ways to open Registry Editor.
After opening Registry Editor, access the System Registry key. Here is its path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
Under this key, you will see a lot of DWORD values. Now you need to create a new DWORD (32-bit) value and set its name to HideFastUserSwitching. If that DWORD value is already present, then no need to create it.
Double-click on the HideFastUserSwitching value and a window will pop up. There, put 0 in the Value data box (as visible in the above screenshot), and press the OK button.
Alternatively, you can also simply delete the HideFastUserSwitching value. After that, when you will access the login screen of Windows 11/10, the Switch User accounts option will be visible there.
Related: Hide specific user accounts from Windows login screen.
Even after using the above two options, User account names not displaying on Windows login screen, then you can show them using Command Prompt or Local Users and Groups window. Or else, you can use other different ways to switch users on Windows.
Hope something will help.
Laxman has done Bachelor’s in Computer Science, followed by an MBA. Writing about Windows OS and the free software and services that are available for the Windows operating system is what excites him.