Accounts Enable or Disable Fast User Switching in Windows 11


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Switch_user_banner.png

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the ability to switch user for all users in Windows 11.

When a user signs in to Windows, the system loads their profile. Because each user has a unique user account, this allows multiple users to share a computer. When a user signs in, the desktop settings, files, favorites, and history they see are theirs; they cannot be accessed by other users. When that user signs out, their profile is preserved for the next time that they sign in.

A user does not have to sign out to allow another user to sign in. Instead, it is possible for multiple users to sign in and switch quickly between their open accounts. This feature is referred to as Fast User Switching. Switching to another account does not change the state of the applications that a user is currently running. Suppose, for instance, that one user allows another user to switch to their account while the first user is signed in. When the first user switches back to their account, their applications are running and their network connections are preserved. Therefore, it appears that both users are simultaneously using the computer.


You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable Fast User Switching.



Contents

  • Option One: Enable or Disable Fast User Switching in Local Group Policy Editor
  • Option Two: Enable or Disable Fast User Switching using REG file


EXAMPLE: Fast User Switching enabled

Sign-in_screen-2.png
Switch_User_Ctrl+Alt+Del.png

Switch_User_Start_menu.jpg
Switch_User_Task_Manager-1.png

Switch_User_Alt+F4.png





Option One

Enable or Disable Fast User Switching in Local Group Policy Editor


The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

All editions can use Option Two to configure the same policy.


1 Open the Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc).

2 Navigate to the policy location below in the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor. (see screenshot below)

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Logon

Fast_User_Switching_gpedit-1.png

3 In the right pane of Logon in the Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Hide entry points for Fast User Switching policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)

4 Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you want.

5 Enable Fast User Switching

This is the default setting.


A) Select (dot) Not Configured, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7. (see screenshot below)​

Fast_User_Switching_gpedit-2.png

6 Disable Fast User Switching

A) Select (dot) Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7. (see screenshot below)​

Fast_User_Switching_gpedit-3.png

7 You can now close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.




Option Two

Enable or Disable Fast User Switching using REG file


1 Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.

2 Enable Fast User Switching

This is the default setting


A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.​

Enable_Fast_User_Switching.reg


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]
"HideFastUserSwitching"=-

3 Disable Fast User Switching

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.​

Disable_Fast_User_Switching.reg


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]
"HideFastUserSwitching"=dword:00000001

4 Save the REG file to your desktop.

5 Double click/tap on the downloaded REG file to merge it.

6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

7 You can now delete the downloaded REG file if you like.


That's it,
Shawn Brink


 

Attachments

  • Switch_user.png
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  • Disable_Fast_User_Switching.reg
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Last edited:
I recently clean installed Windows 11. I like to switch between user accounts but prefer to completely sign out of a user account before signing into another one. An issue I have with this clean install is that the startup apps are extremally slow to load when doing this type of switching. When I cold start the machine these startup apps normally load before I even sign in, so I'm confused as to why they take so long to load with this type of user switching...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 - Release Preview channel
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Kol's custom ROG
    CPU
    Intel 13900K
    Motherboard
    Asus ROG Maximus Hero Z790
    Memory
    Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB 32GB DDR5 6000MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte 4090 Gaming OC
    Sound Card
    SoundBlaster X-AE5
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell Alienware AW3821DW
    Screen Resolution
    3840x1600 144hz
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 980 Pro 500GB
    860 EVO's
    Samsung 990 Pro 2TB
    External RAID enclosure - 2x Seagate 3TB HDD
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Ultra 1300W Platinum
    Case
    Phanteks Eclipse P600S
    Cooling
    Custom water cooling. EK Velocity (CPU), EK Quantum Vector2 (GPU), EK Quantum D5 Pump, 360mm radiator in case + 560mm external radiator
    Keyboard
    Corsair K100
    Mouse
    Logitech G502X
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, VBS
I recently clean installed Windows 11. I like to switch between user accounts but prefer to completely sign out of a user account before signing into another one. An issue I have with this clean install is that the startup apps are extremally slow to load when doing this type of switching. When I cold start the machine these startup apps normally load before I even sign in, so I'm confused as to why they take so long to load with this type of user switching...

Hello mate, :alien:

You could see if disabling the delay in the tutorial below may help improve the loading performance of startup apps.

 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Spectre x360 2in1 14-eu0098nr (2024)
    CPU
    Intel Core Ultra 7 155H 4.8 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Integrated Intel Arc
    Sound Card
    Poly Studio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    14" 2.8K OLED multitouch
    Screen Resolution
    2880 x 1800
    Hard Drives
    2 TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
    Internet Speed
    Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE200 (2x2) and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
Hello mate, :alien:

You could see if disabling the delay in the tutorial below may help improve the loading performance of startup apps.

Thanks Brink, will give it a shot!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 - Release Preview channel
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Kol's custom ROG
    CPU
    Intel 13900K
    Motherboard
    Asus ROG Maximus Hero Z790
    Memory
    Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB 32GB DDR5 6000MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte 4090 Gaming OC
    Sound Card
    SoundBlaster X-AE5
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell Alienware AW3821DW
    Screen Resolution
    3840x1600 144hz
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 980 Pro 500GB
    860 EVO's
    Samsung 990 Pro 2TB
    External RAID enclosure - 2x Seagate 3TB HDD
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Ultra 1300W Platinum
    Case
    Phanteks Eclipse P600S
    Cooling
    Custom water cooling. EK Velocity (CPU), EK Quantum Vector2 (GPU), EK Quantum D5 Pump, 360mm radiator in case + 560mm external radiator
    Keyboard
    Corsair K100
    Mouse
    Logitech G502X
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, VBS

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Spectre x360 2in1 14-eu0098nr (2024)
    CPU
    Intel Core Ultra 7 155H 4.8 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Integrated Intel Arc
    Sound Card
    Poly Studio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    14" 2.8K OLED multitouch
    Screen Resolution
    2880 x 1800
    Hard Drives
    2 TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
    Internet Speed
    Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE200 (2x2) and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender and Malwarebytes Premium

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