Disable Fast User Switching in Windows 10

Although the concept of multiple users sharing one device or one PC is getting rarer by the day, there are still cases when you have to share PCs and switch users fast. In earlier versions of Windows before Windows 10, we had a Switch Users command in the Shutdown menu inside the Start Menu to quickly switch users. In Windows 10, we have more ways to switch between users. If you find no use for the user switching feature, you can safely disable it. Here is how.

In Windows 10, you can switch users directly from the user account name. You don't even have to switch to the Logon screen nor press Win + L. If you have multiple user accounts, they are all listed when you click your user name on the Start menu!

You can still press Alt+F4 on the Desktop and select Switch User if you prefer the old method, in case your user name is hidden by a Group Policy and you need to type it too.

However, there is no obvious way to disable the fast user switching feature. It can be done with a Registry tweak or using Group Policy, if your Windows 10 edition supports it.

Before proceeding, ensure that your user account has administrative privileges. Now, follow the instructions below.

To disable Fast User Switching in Windows 10, do the following.

1. Open the Registry Editor app.
2. Go to the following Registry key.

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System

   See how to go to a Registry key with one click.

3. On the right, modify or create a new 32-Bit DWORD value "HideFastUserSwitching". Set it to 1. Note: Even if you are running 64-bit Windows you must still create a 32-bit DWORD value.
4. Restart Windows 10.

This will disable Fast User Switching for all user accounts available in the OS.

To disable this feature for the current user account only, apply the same Registry tweak under
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System.

Tip: You can switch between HKCU and HKLM in Windows 10 Registry Editor quickly.

Disable Fast User Switching For The Current User Account

1. Open the Registry Editor app.
2. Go to the following Registry key.

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System

   See how to go to a Registry key with one click. If you don't have such a key, then create it manually.

3. On the right, modify or create a new 32-Bit DWORD value "HideFastUserSwitching". Set it to 1. Note: Even if you are running 64-bit Windows you must still create a 32-bit DWORD value.
4. Restart Windows 10.

You are done.

Disable Fast User Switching using Local Group Policy Editor

1. Press Win + R keys together on your keyboard and type:

   gpedit.msc

   Press Enter.

2. Group Policy Editor will open. Go to Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\Logon. Enable the policy option Hide entry points for Fast User Switching as shown below.

You might be interested in reading the following articles:

• How to switch users faster in Windows 10
• Create a Switch User Shortcut in Windows 10

That's it.

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