Windows 10: Enable or Disable Fast User Switching

By Mitch Bartlett 23 Comments

The Fast User Switching feature in Microsoft Windows 10 allows users to login to a PC while keeping other users logged in and their applications running. This allows multiple users to use the computer without interrupting what other users are working on.

You can enable or disable fast user switching using these steps.

Option 1 – Group Policy

1. Hold the Windows Key and press “R” to bring up the Run dialog box.
2. Type “gpedit.msc” then press “Enter“.
3. The Local Group Policy Editor appears. Expand the following:
   • Local Computer Policy
   • Computer Configuration
   • Administrative Templates
   • System
   • Logon
4. Open “Hide Entry Points for Fast User Switching“.
5. Select “Enabled” to turn Fast User Switching off. Set it to “Disable” to turn it on.
   

Option 2 – Registry

1. Hold the Windows Key and press “R” to bring up the Run dialog box.
2. Type “regedit” then press “Enter“.
3. Expand the following:
   • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
   • SOFTWARE
   • Microsoft
   • Windows
   • CurrentVersion
   • Policies
   • System
4. Look for a value called “HideFastUserSwitching“. If it does not exist, right-click the “System” folder, select “New DWORD 32-bit value“, then type a name of “HideFastUserSwitching“. Press “Enter” to create the value.
5. Double-click “HideFastUserSwitching“. Change the “Value data” to “1” to disable Fast User Switching, set it to “0” to enable it.

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Filed Under: Windows Tagged With: Windows 10

Reader Interactions

Comments

@R Torbert
The 32 bit vs 64 bit has to do with the length of the value, nothing to do with the OS.
if you need a 32 bit value you would still use 32-bit.

In the regedit option, if your system is 64-bit… would you still select “New DWORD 32-bit value“?

There is a “New DWORD 64-bit value“ … which seems more appropriate for a 64-bit system.

I tried both options and it’s still not working. It only worked once, which was a few days ago, but after I ran some registry cleaner it stopped working. I guess the registry cleaner has deleted some other keys that might be related somehow.

Thank you so much, worked a treat.

Enoch Ideal says

thanks a lot you helped me. God bless you

this worked, thanks.

Thanks Mitch. I always forget where to find and change this setting. Love the photo of you and the kid. 🙂

Karen Jones says

Thank you so very much … was looking for this answer for hours!

I am using Pro but neither option makes a difference, nor the ore the suggested in the comments.

never had a problem with this until recently…. “helpful” update must have sabotaged my setup…. wish they’d just quit screwing with things without notice

Here is the fix
gpedit.msc
computer configuration > administrative templates > system > Logon
Always use classic logon set to enabled.
the switch user icon will now show on lock screen.

Works as described. Thanks!

I try option 2 and found the value called “HideFastUserSwitching”. But it will not allow me to set it to “0” to enable it.

I get the message “Cannot edit HideFastUserSwitching: Error writing the value’s new contents.”

John Vekich says

Thanks for publishing such a clear solution! Few things more frustrating than knowing something is there but not being able to find it. Puzzled by finding no “switch user” ability in Win 10 out of the box. Problem solved. Finding this in policy menus is last place I would have looked with my limited Win 10 experience. Went from Win 7 to Win 10 and found I was not in Kansas anymore.

Biswajit Gorai says

The first option won’t work if you have the free Windows 10, you’ll need the “Pro” one because that is the only one that has the file gpedit.msc, the registry editor (regedit) is in almost all (if not all, I don’t know) Windows, so that includes all Windows 10 and makes the second option always work.

Thank you very much

You need the Pro version in Windows 10 to get gpedit.msc

Hi I have no option to “Hide Entry Points for Fast User Switching“.

Looked for half an hour before finding this which worked! (I used the regedit option)

Using Option 1, I get an error message that Windows can’t find “gpedit.msc”. The 2nd option seems to have worked (though I don’t know how I’ll know!). I just exited from the regedit box since I didn’t see a “save” or any other way to leave.

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My name is Mitch Bartlett. I’ve been working in technology for over 20 years in a wide range of tech jobs from Tech Support to Software Testing. I started this site as a technical guide for myself and it has grown into what I hope is a useful reference for all.

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Как отключить быстрое переключение пользователей в Windows 10

В данной статье показаны действия, с помощью которых можно отключить быстрое переключение пользователей (Fast User Switching) в операционной системе Windows 10.

Функция быстрого переключения пользователей позволяет выполнять переключение между учетными записями пользователей без закрытия открытых приложений и документов. Учетные записи в которые ранее был выполнен вход, по прежнему будут потреблять какое-то количество ресурсов компьютера, что может замедлить работу системы.

При необходимости можно отключить быстрое переключение пользователей (скрыть точки входа в меню «Пуск», на экране входа, на экране безопасности и в диалоге «Завершение работы Windows»), и после этого чтобы переключиться на другую учетную запись, вам будет необходимо полностью завершить сеанс текущего пользователя, что освободит ресурсы компьютера.

Чтобы отключить быстрое переключение пользователей (скрыть точки входа), необходимо войти в систему с правами администратора

Как отключить быстрое переключение пользователей используя редактор локальной групповой политики

Редактор локальной групповой политики доступен в Windows 10 редакций Pro, Enterprise, Education.

Чтобы отключить быстрое переключение пользователей, откройте редактор локальной групповой политики, для этого нажмите сочетание клавиш + R, в открывшемся окне Выполнить введите (скопируйте и вставьте) gpedit.msc и нажмите клавишу Enter ↵.

В открывшемся окне редактора локальной групповой политики, разверните следующие элементы списка:

Конфигурация компьютера ➯ Административные шаблоны ➯ Система ➯ Вход в систему

Далее, в правой части окна дважды щелкните левой кнопкой мыши по параметру политики с названием Скрыть точки входа для быстрого переключения пользователей

В окне «Скрыть точки входа для быстрого переключения пользователей» установите переключатель в положение Включено и нажмите кнопку OK.

Изменения вступают в силу сразу. Ниже на скриншотах показан пример включенной и отключенной функции быстрого переключения пользователей в меню «Пуск».

Как отключить быстрое переключение пользователей используя файл реестра

Данный способ актуален для Windows 10 Домашняя, так как в ней отсутствует редактор локальной групповой политики, но также подходит для всех редакций операционной системы Windows 10.

Данный способ позволяет отключить быстрое переключение пользователей с помощью внесения изменений в системный реестр Windows посредством файла реестра.

Прежде чем вносить какие-либо изменения в реестр, настоятельно рекомендуется создать точку восстановления системы

Все изменения производимые в редакторе реестра отображены ниже в листингах файлов реестра.
Чтобы отключить быстрое переключение пользователей, создайте и примените файл реестра следующего содержания:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00.

Чтобы включить быстрое переключение пользователей, создайте и примените файл реестра следующего содержания:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00.

После применения файлов реестра, чтобы изменения вступили в силу, перезагрузите компьютер.

Используя рассмотренные выше действия, можно отключить (включить) быстрое переключение пользователей в операционной системе Windows 10.

Fast User Switching

When a user logs onto a computer, the system loads their profile. Because each user has a unique user account, this allows multiple users to share a computer. When a user logs on, the desktop settings, files, favorites, and history they see are theirs; they cannot be accessed by other users. When that user logs off, their profile is preserved for the next time that they log on. In older operating systems, a user was required to log off before another user could log on. As of WindowsВ XP, a user does not have to log off to allow another user to log on. Instead, it is possible for multiple users to log on 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 logged on. When the first user switchs 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 your applications comply with the WindowsВ 2000 logo requirements, they should work with fast user switching on WindowsВ XP and later operating systems. However, it is important to keep this scenario in mind when developing an application so that it behaves as users would expect. Use the following guidelines when writing your applications:

• Implement true profile separation. The system provides an underlying infrastructure that supports separation of user data, user settings, and computer settings. For example, use the user’s Documents folder to store user-created data. To locate a directory for application-specific data, use the known folder system with FOLDERID_RoamingAppData) or, for older operating systems, the CSIDL system with CSIDL_APPDATA). Use FOLDERID_LocalAppData or CSIDL_LOCAL_APPDATA for data that should not be available to the user on other computers, such as temporary files.
• Register for notification of a user switch. Typically, an application does not need to be notified when the switch occurs. However, if your application must be notified of a session change, it can register to receive a WM_WTSSESSION_CHANGE message.
• Be aware of other instances of your application. For example, there are times when an application must download an update from the Internet. The update can fail if another user is simultaneously running an instance of the application in another session. Even if the update succeeds, the update can cause other running instances of the application to behave in an unpredictable manner. Therefore it is best to perform a dynamic upgrade only if no other instances of the application are running. Before downloading an application update, it might be appropriate to implement a method that signals all running instances of the application to save data and exit cleanly.

Password Recovery

Fast user switching is disabled or missing on your Windows 10 system? Unable to switch to a different account as the “Switch user” option is greyed out?

In this tutorial we’ll show you 2 ways to enable or disable Fast User Switching in Windows 10, 8, 7 and Vista.

Method 1: Using Local Group Policy Editor

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box. Type gpedit.msc and press Enter.
2. The Local Group Policy Editor console should open. In the left pane, expand the following nodes:
   Local Computer Policy\Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\Logon
3. In right-side pane, double-click on the “Hide entry points for Fast User Switching” policy and its properties screen will open.

If you want to turn off / disable the Fast User Switching feature, set it to Enabled. Or click Disabled or “Not configured” to re-enable Fast User Switching.

By disabling the Fast User Switching feature, the “Switch user” option will be greyed out or removed from Windows logon screen,Start menu and the Task Manager.

Method 2: Using Registry Trick

Since Group Policy Editor doesn’t come with the Home and Starter editions of Windows, here is another method to enable / disable Fast User Switching using Registry Editor:

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box. Type regedit and press Enter.
2. In the Registry Editor window, navigate to the following key:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
3. In the right-side pane, search for the value named HideFastUserSwitching. If it doesn’t exist, you can create one by right-clicking in the empty space on the right pane and choose New –>DWORD (32-bit) Value.

Set the Value data for HideFastUserSwitching to 1 if you want to disable the Fast User Switching feature. To re-enable it, change that value to 0.

Close the Registry Editor. You will have to log off and then log back on for the changes to take effect.