3 Ways To Switch Users On Mac (Easy Steps)

author avatarTodor Pichurov Hours Posted on Hours Updated on

Before we dive in

Before we dive in, let's make sure you stay safe online. We created SpyHunter because your security matters to us.

Protect your computer today — download SpyHunter right here! Check out our top tips below to keep your computer safe and secure.

Download SpyHunter

Ever found yourself needing to switch users on your Mac without the hassle of logging out and back in?

Whether you’re sharing your computer with family or managing multiple accounts for work and personal use, Mac’s user switching feature is a game-changer.

Switching lets you switch between accounts quickly, keeping each user’s session active but isolated. Thus, you maintain privacy and security and enhance time efficiency.

Keep reading to learn how to switch users on a Mac easily, enable the Fast User Switching feature, and manage more than one user account smoothly.

This Article Contains:

What is Fast User Switching on Mac?

Fast User Switching is a convenient feature on macOS that allows multiple users to quickly switch between their accounts without the need to log out from the current user account.

an illustrative image showing how to switch users on Mac

This functionality is useful in environments where a computer is shared among several users, such as family settings or small offices.

How to enable Fast User Switching on Mac

For macOS Ventura and newer:

  1. Open System Settings and select Control Center in the left panel.
  2. Scroll to the Fast User Switching option and select your display preference next to Show in Menu Bar.
  3. If desired, toggle Fast User Switching in the Control Center as well.
enable fast user switching menu

For macOS Monterey or earlier:

  1. Open System Preferences and go to Users & Groups.
  2. Click the lock icon to authenticate, then head to Login Options and check the box next to Show fast user switching menu as.

  3. Choose to display the user by Full Name, Account Name, or Icon.

How to switch users on Mac?

1. Use the menu bar to switch users

The menu bar on a Mac offers the convenient Fast User Switching feature. This allows you to switch between user accounts with just a few clicks. To use this feature:

  1. If you’ve enabled Fast User Switching, click on the user-switching icon in the upper right corner of the menu bar.
  2. From the dropdown menu, choose the user you want to switch to.
  3. You will be directed to the login screen, where you must enter the password for the selected user account.
fast user switching drop-down menu

2. Quickly switch users with keyboard shortcuts

For those who prefer using the keyboard for efficiency, switching users can be seamless and much faster.

  1. Press Control + ⌘ + F to switch to the next user account.
  2. Press Control + ⌘ + Q to go back to the lock screen and then choose another user account there.

3. Switch users from the lock screen

Switching users directly from the lock screen on a Mac is relatively straightforward.

This feature is handy when multiple user accounts share the same device.

  1. Click the Apple icon at the top left corner of your screen and select Lock Screen.
lock screen action in apple menu
  1. On the lock screen, you will see the names and pictures of all user accounts. Hover over or click on the user icon you wish to switch to.
  2. Enter the account password for the selected user or press Touch ID, if it’s enabled, to gain access to that account.
switch user accounts from lock screen

This process ensures that all open applications remain active in the background of the initial user’s account.

Managing user accounts on your Mac

Adding users to your Mac for switching

To take full advantage of Fast User Switching, you’ll first need to add multiple user accounts to your Mac:

  1. Open System Settings and select Users & Groups.
settings for multiple user accounts in users and groups
  1. To create a new user account, press Add user (click Create User on older macOS versions). Fill in the necessary details for the user account and assign a password.
  2. You can choose whether the new account is a Standard or an Administrator account. Standard is recommended for typical users to limit access to critical settings.
new user setup

Repeat the steps above for each user you want to add. They can then access their personal settings, files, and applications independently.

Setting up a guest user account

Creating a new guest user account on your Mac can be helpful for allowing temporary users without giving them access to the primary user’s files or settings:

  1. Navigate to System Settings and open Users & Groups.
  2. On older macOS versions, you have to click the lock icon and enter your account password to authenticate.
  3. Look for the Guest User option in the left panel and click on it.
  4. Check the box to Allow guests to log in to this computer. Optionally, you can allow guests to connect to shared folders.
guest account settings

Guest users will have their session data wiped after logging out, ensuring privacy and security.

FAQs about Switching Users on Mac

Switching between users on a Mac might raise some common questions. Here, we address these frequently asked questions clearly.

Can I switch users without logging out?

Yes, you can switch users without logging out by using the Fast User Switching feature.

Once you’ve enabled this feature from System Preferences, you can easily switch between users from the menu bar or Control Center.

Can I limit what other users can access on the Mac?

Yes, for security and privacy, it’s possible to adjust permissions for each user account.

Navigate to User & Groups under System Settings, and you can configure accessibility, parental control settings, and more for each account.

Is there a quicker way to switch to the previous user account?

To switch back to the previous account more rapidly, you can use keyboard shortcuts. Press Control + ⌘ + Q to lock the screen and select another user.

Share this post on your favorite social media
author avatar

Todor has over a decade of experience in creating content about cybersecurity. He specializes in making complex security topics understandable for all. As part of the SpyHunter team, Todor uses his expertise to educate users, empowering them to better understand and manage their digital environments securely and efficiently.

Keep Your Mac Fast and Secure
Optimize your Mac and stay malware-free with SpyHunter
Download SpyHunter For Free

For a better understanding of our policies, please review our Free Trial Offer below, EULA, and Privacy/Cookie Policy.

SpyHunter Free Trial: Important Terms & Conditions

The SpyHunter Trial version includes, for one device, a one-time 7-day Trial period for SpyHunter 5 Pro (Windows) or SpyHunter for Mac, offering comprehensive malware detection and removal functionality, high-performance guards to actively protect your system from malware threats, and access to our technical support team via the SpyHunter HelpDesk. You will not be charged upfront during the Trial period, although a credit card is required to activate the Trial. (Prepaid credit cards, debit cards, and gift cards are not accepted under this offer.) The requirement for your payment method is to help ensure continuous, uninterrupted security protection during your transition from a Trial to a paid subscription should you decide to purchase. Your payment method will not be charged a payment amount upfront during the Trial, although authorization requests may be sent to your financial institution to verify that your payment method is valid (such authorization submissions are not requests for charges or fees by EnigmaSoft but, depending upon your payment method and/or your financial institution, may reflect on your account availability). You can cancel your Trial by contacting EnigmaSoft’s payment processor (identified in your confirmation email) or EnigmaSoft directly no later than two business days before the 7-day Trial period expires to avoid a charge coming due and being processed immediately after your Trial expires. If you decide to cancel during your Trial, you will immediately lose access to SpyHunter. If, for any reason, you believe a charge was processed that you did not wish to make (which could occur based on system administration, for example), you may also cancel and receive a full refund for the charge any time within 30 days of the date of the purchase charge. See FAQs.

At the end of the Trial, you will be billed upfront immediately at the price and for the subscription period as set forth in the offering materials and registration/purchase page terms (which are incorporated herein by reference; pricing may vary by country per purchase page details) if you have not timely canceled. Pricing typically starts at $72 for 3 months (SpyHunter Pro Windows) and $42 for 3 months (SpyHunter for Mac). Your purchased subscription will be automatically renewed in accordance with the registration/purchase page terms, which provide for automatic renewals at the then applicable standard subscription fee in effect at the time of your original purchase and for the same subscription time period, provided you’re a continuous, uninterrupted subscription user. Please see the purchase page for details. Trial subject to these Terms, your agreement to EULA/TOS, Privacy/Cookie Policy, and Discount Terms. If you wish to uninstall SpyHunter, learn how.

For payment on the automatic renewal of your subscription, an email reminder will be sent to the email address you provided when you registered before your next payment date. At the onset of your trial, you will receive an activation code that is limited to use for only one Trial and for only one device per account. Your subscription will automatically renew at the price and for the subscription period in accordance with the offering materials and registration/purchase page terms (which are incorporated herein by reference; pricing may vary by country per purchase page details), provided that you are a continuous, uninterrupted subscription user. For paid subscription users, if you cancel, you will continue to have access to your product(s) until the end of your paid subscription period. If you wish to receive a refund for your then current subscription period, you must cancel and apply for a refund within 30 days of your most recent purchase, and you will immediately stop receiving full functionality when your refund is processed.

For CALIFORNIA CONSUMERS, please see the notice provisions:
NOTICE TO CALIFORNIA CONSUMERS: Per the California Automatic Renewal Law, you may cancel a subscription as follows:

  1. Go to www.enigmasoftware.com and click the "Login" button at the top right corner.
  2. Log in with your username and password.
  3. In the navigation menu, go to "Order/Licenses." Next to your order/license, a button is available to cancel your subscription if applicable. Note: If you have multiple orders/products, you will need to cancel them on an individual basis.

Should you have any questions or problems, you can contact our EnigmaSoft support team by phone at +1 (888) 360-0646 (USA Toll-Free) / +353 76 680 3523 (Ireland/International) or by email at support@enigmasoftware.com.
How do you cancel a SpyHunter Trial? If your SpyHunter Trial was registered via MyCommerce, you can cancel the trial via MyCommerce by logging into the MyAccount section of MyCommerce (see your confirmation email for further details). You can also contact MyCommerce by phone or email to cancel. To contact MyCommerce via phone, you can call +1-800-406-4966 (USA Toll-Free) or +1-952-646-5022 (24x7x356). You can contact MyCommerce by e-mail at ordersupport@mycommerce.com. You can easily identify if your trial was registered via MyCommerce by checking the confirmation emails that were sent to you upon registration. Alternatively, all users may also contact EnigmaSoft Limited directly. Users can contact our technical support team by emailing support@enigmasoftware.com, opening a ticket in the SpyHunter HelpDesk, or calling +1 (888) 360-0646 (USA) / +353 76 680 3523 (Ireland/International). You can access the SpyHunter HelpDesk from SpyHunter's main screen. To open a support ticket, click on the "HelpDesk" icon. In the window that appears, click the "New Ticket" tab. Fill out the form and click the "Submit" button. If you are unsure of what "Problem Type" to select, please choose the "General Questions" option. Our support agents will promptly process your request and respond to you.

———

SpyHunter Purchase Details
You also have the choice of subscribing to SpyHunter immediately for full functionality, including malware removal and access to our support department via our HelpDesk, typically starting at $42 for 3 months (SpyHunter Basic Windows) and $42 for 3 months (SpyHunter for Mac) in accordance with the offering materials and registration/purchase page terms (which are incorporated herein by reference; pricing may vary by country per purchase page details). Your subscription will automatically renew at the then applicable standard subscription fee in effect at the time of your original purchase subscription and for the same subscription time period, provided you’re a continuous, uninterrupted subscription user and for which you will receive a notice of upcoming charges before the expiration of your subscription. Purchase of SpyHunter is subject to the terms and conditions on the purchase page, EULA/TOS, Privacy/Cookie Policy and Discount Terms.

———

General Terms
Any purchase for SpyHunter under a discounted price is valid for the offered discounted subscription term. After that, the then applicable standard pricing will apply for automatic renewals and/or future purchases. Pricing is subject to change, although we will notify you in advance of price changes.
All SpyHunter versions are subject to your agreeing to our EULA/TOS, Privacy/Cookie Policy, and Discount Terms. Please also see our FAQs and Threat Assessment Criteria. If you wish to uninstall SpyHunter, learn how.