How to Switch User in Windows 10


If you have more than one user account on your PC, Fast User Switching is an easy way for you to switch between accounts or for another user to sign in to Windows without signing you out or closing your apps and files.

See also: How to switch users (accounts) in Windows 10 | Windows Support

This tutorial will show you different ways on how to switch between users without signing out on your local Windows 10 PC.

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


Make sure to save any open files before switching users because Windows doesn't automatically save files that are open. If you switch to a different user account and that user shuts down the computer, any unsaved changes you made to files that are open on your account will be lost.



Contents







OPTION ONE

To Switch User from Start Menu


1 Open the Start menu , click/tap on the user icon for the current account (ex: Shawn Brink), and click/tap on the user account (ex: Brink2) you want to switch to. (see screenshot below)

Switch User in Windows 10-start_menu_switch_user.jpg

2 You will now be taken directly to the sign-in screen of the selected account (ex: Brink2). (see screenshot below)

Switch User in Windows 10-sign-in_screen_switch_user-1.jpg






OPTION TWO

To Switch User by Running tsdiscon.exe


This option is not available in the Windows 10 Home edition.


1 Run the "C:\Windows\System32\tsdiscon.exe" file from Search (Win+S), Run (Win+R), command prompt, File Explorer (Win+E), or how you like.

2 You will now be taken to the lock screen to unlock. (see screenshots below)

Switch User in Windows 10-lock_screen.jpg

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)

Switch User in Windows 10-sign-in_screen_switch_user.jpg






OPTION THREE

To Switch User from Alt+F4 Shut Down Windows Dialog


1 Click/tap on your desktop (Win+D) to make it the current focused (active) window, and press the Alt + F4 keys.

2 Select Switch user in the drop down menu, and click/tap on OK or press Enter. (see screenshots below)

Switch User in Windows 10-alt-f4.png

3 You will now be taken to the lock screen to unlock. (see screenshots below)

Switch User in Windows 10-lock_screen.jpg

4 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)

Switch User in Windows 10-sign-in_screen_switch_user.jpg






OPTION FOUR

To Switch User from Ctrl+Alt+Del Screen


1 Press the Ctrl + Alt + Del keys, and click/tap on Switch user. (see screenshot below)

Switch User in Windows 10-ctrl-alt-del.jpg

2 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)

Switch User in Windows 10-sign-in_screen_switch_user-1.jpg






OPTION FIVE

To Switch User from Sign-in Screen


1 While on the sign-in screen, select and sign in to the account you want to switch to. (see screenshot below)

Switch User in Windows 10-sign-in_screen_switch_user.jpg






OPTION SIX

To Switch User from Task Manager


1 Open Task Manager in more details view.

2 Click/tap on the Users tab, right click or press and hold on an already signed in user (ex: Brink2) that you want to switch to, and click/tap on Switch user account. (see screenshot below)

OR

Click/tap on the Users tab, select on an already signed in user (ex: Brink2) that you want to switch to, and click/tap on the Switch user button.

Switch User in Windows 10-task_manager-2.png

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

Switch User in Windows 10-sign-in_screen_switch_user-1.jpg


That's it,
Shawn