• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Technipages

Tutorials and fixes for smartphone, gadget, and computer problems

  • Topics
    • Android
    • Gaming
    • Hardware
    • Internet
    • iOS
    • MacOS
    • Office
    • Software
    • Windows
    • Definitions
  • Product Reviews
  • Downloads
  • About Technipages
Windows 10: Enable or Disable Fast User Switching

Windows 10: Enable or Disable Fast User Switching

By Mitch Bartlett 25 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.
    Windows Hide entry points for fast user switching

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.

You Might Also Like

  • Enable or Disable User Account Control (UAC) in Windows 10, 8, or 7
    Enable or Disable User Account Control (UAC) in Windows 10,…
  • Fix: Switching Between User Logins Freezes Taskbar
    Fix: Switching Between User Logins Freezes Taskbar
  • Windows: Enable “Run as different user”
    Windows: Enable “Run as different user”
  • Windows 10: Disable Frequently User Folders in Quick Access
    Windows 10: Disable Frequently User Folders in Quick Access
  • Windows 10: Enable/Disable Sample Submission for Windows Defender
    Windows 10: Enable/Disable Sample Submission for Windows…
  • Windows 10, 8 & 7: Enable or Disable Superfetch
    Windows 10, 8 & 7: Enable or Disable Superfetch
  • Enable or Disable CD Burning in Windows 10
    Enable or Disable CD Burning in Windows 10
  • Windows 10: Enable/Disable Hibernation
    Windows 10: Enable/Disable Hibernation
  • Windows 10: Enable/Disable Bluetooth
    Windows 10: Enable/Disable Bluetooth

Filed Under: Windows Tagged With: Windows 10

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. george says

    June 15, 2022 at 5:11 am

    On both examples, moving form step 3 to step 4 is not properly explained

  2. JP says

    April 24, 2022 at 9:05 am

    FINALLY — this worked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Been scouring the net for solutions — this one so easy.

  3. James says

    April 9, 2021 at 10:32 am

    @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.

  4. R. Torbert says

    January 24, 2021 at 2:46 pm

    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.

  5. Joe says

    August 22, 2020 at 1:19 am

    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.

  6. keith says

    June 19, 2020 at 11:13 am

    Thank you so much, worked a treat.

  7. Enoch Ideal says

    February 6, 2020 at 5:28 am

    thanks a lot you helped me. God bless you

  8. jhonny says

    September 19, 2019 at 10:43 am

    Totally works

  9. Ade says

    July 24, 2019 at 10:07 am

    this worked, thanks.

  10. Robert says

    April 22, 2019 at 6:37 am

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

  11. Karen Jones says

    January 14, 2019 at 2:18 pm

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

  12. Rohan says

    November 11, 2018 at 7:25 pm

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

  13. michael says

    June 15, 2018 at 1:16 pm

    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

  14. Z deharty says

    December 4, 2017 at 10:21 am

    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.

  15. Sam says

    July 30, 2017 at 1:44 pm

    Works as described. Thanks!

  16. Maria says

    June 30, 2017 at 9:08 am

    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.”

  17. John Vekich says

    March 28, 2017 at 10:29 am

    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.

  18. Biswajit Gorai says

    February 10, 2017 at 9:59 am

    Thanks a lot

  19. Juan says

    January 2, 2017 at 10:07 am

    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.

  20. C. G. says

    December 9, 2016 at 12:40 pm

    Thank you very much

  21. Timothy says

    October 6, 2016 at 12:59 pm

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

  22. Elijah says

    September 26, 2016 at 1:42 am

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

  23. Stephen R. says

    September 23, 2016 at 1:33 pm

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

  24. Mark says

    August 14, 2016 at 2:09 pm

    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.

  25. Harikvg says

    August 11, 2016 at 12:47 pm

    Thanks a lot

Did this help? Let us know!

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • Windows 11: How to Add Clocks with Different Time Zones
  • Google Assistant: How to Never Miss a Birthday
  • Windows 11: How to Disable Notifications and Ads
  • How to Use Oculus Quest 2 Air Link
  • How to Create an Avatar in the Oculus Quest 2
  • 5 Free and Fun Math Apps for Kids
  • Windows 11: How to Discover What Graphics Card You’re Using
  • How to Change Display Resolution on Windows 10 and 11

Who’s Behind Technipages?

Baby and Daddy 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.

You May Also Like

  • Packet-Switching Network
  • Windows 95/98
  • Microsoft Windows NT
  • Microsoft Windows
  • Microsoft Windows 95
  • Windows Media Player (WMP)
  • Top 8 Itunes Alternatives for Windows

© Copyright 2022 Technipages · All Rights Reserved · Privacy