Accounts Switch User in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to switch between users without signing out 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 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.

If you are logged on to a remote computer (ex: Remote Desktop Connection), you can't use Fast User Switching on that remote computer.

1 Open the Start menu .

2 Click/tap on the User icon, and click/tap on a listed user (ex: "Brink2") in the account picture menu you want to switch to. (see screenshot below)


3 You will now be taken directly to the Sign-in screen to sign in to the selected user (ex: "Brink2"). (see screenshot below)






1 Press the Ctrl + Alt + Del keys.

2 Click/tap on Switch user. (see screenshot below)


3 You will now be taken directly to the Sign-in screen to select and sign in to the account you want to switch to. (see screenshot below)






1 Lock the computer (Win+L).

2 Dismiss the lock screen by pressing Enter or swiping up on the lock screen. (see screenshot below)


3 You will now be on the Sign-in screen to select and sign in to the account you want to switch to. (see screenshot below)

This option will only switch between users already signed in.

1 Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc).

2 Perform one of the following actions: (see screenshot below)

• Click/tap on the Users tab, select the signed in user (ex: "Brink") you want to switch to, and click/tap on Switch user.
• Click/tap on the Users tab, right click on the signed in user (ex: "Brink") you want to switch to, and click/tap on Switch user account.

3 You will now be taken directly to the Sign-in screen to sign in to the selected user (ex: "Brink"). (see screenshot below)






1 Click/tap on your desktop (Win+D) to make it the current focused (active) window.

2 Press the Alt + F4 keys to open the Shut Down Windows dialog.

This will only work if you did step 1. Otherwise, it will close the current active window instead of the desktop.

3 Select Switch user in the drop menu, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)


4 Dismiss the lock screen by pressing Enter or swiping up on the lock screen. (see screenshot below)


5 You will now be on the Sign-in screen to select and sign in to the account you want to switch to. (see screenshot below)

The C:\Windows\System32\tsdiscon.exe file is not available in the Windows 11 Home edition by default.

If you have a Windows 11 Home edition installed, you can download the tsdiscon.exe file in a ZIP below, unblock it, and add it to your C:\Windows\System32 folder.

Download

1 Run the C:\Windows\System32\tsdiscon.exe file.

2 Dismiss the lock screen by pressing Enter or swiping up on the lock screen. (see screenshot below)


3 You will now be on the Sign-in screen to select and sign in to the account you want to switch to. (see screenshot below)



That's it,
Shawn Brink