Disable Fast User Switching in Windows 8

Introduction

This article explains how to enable or disable Fast User Switching in Windows 8. This setting allows you to hide the user interface in the Task Manager, Logon UI and Start Menu. If you have "Enabled" this setting then the user cannot see the Switch User Interface. If however you have "Disabled" or "Not Configured" this setting then the user can see the Switch User Interface in this location.

If you click the "Enabled" Button then in the "Hide entry Points for Fast User Switching" window the Switch User Interface is hidden from the user attempting to log on or is logged onto the PC that has this policy applied. If you click on the "Disabled" Button then the Switch User Interface is accessible to the user.

Windows 8 shows your name with your account picture at the right corner of the Start Screen. You can click on it to open it and provide your options such as Change Account Picture, Lock or Sign out from the current account. If you can access another account then you click on whatever account you want. Before click on the Enabled Button, you can see the Start Screen. These are given below with the help of a figure:

Steps How to Enable or Disable Fast User Switching in Windows 8

Step 1: In the Windows 8 OS, you can move the cursor on the right bottom and click on the search box. In the search box, you can specify what you want.

Step 2: In the search box you enter the "gpedit.msc" under the application tab and click on the window that is shown:

Step 3: In the window that is shown, you will see the "Local Group Policy Editor" window:

Step 4: In this step I want to Enable or Disable Fast User Switching in Windows 8. Click on the Computer Configuration sub-category Administrative Template sub-category System sub-category Logon and click on the "Hide entry Points for Fast User Switching".

Computer Configuration << Administrative Template << System << Logon

Step 5: In this step right-click on the "Hide entry Points for Fast User Switching" and select the edit tab and click on the edit tab.

Step 6: In this step, if you click on "Enabled" Button then you can not see the Switch User Interface and click on OK or Apply Button. If you click on "Disabled" or "Not Configured" then you can see the Switch User Interface and click on Apply or OK Button.

Step 7: If you have completed all the steps then you will have enforced the changes for the Fast User Switching settings. You close the Local Group Policy Editor and open the Run Command and type the "gpupdate/force" and click on the OK Button.

Step 8: In this step, you will see the gpupdate.exe Window and you will see the "Computer Policy update has completed successfully" message.

Step 9: In this step, the After disabling you will see the Fast User Screen. You can not see the other user account. You will see the user tile menu: