How to Enable Fast User Switching on a Mac

Fast User Switching lets you jump to another account without quitting your apps or logging out of yours — your session stays running in the background.

Why: By default, switching accounts means logging out, which closes everything. Adding the Fast User Switching control puts a one-click switcher in your menu bar or Control Center so both sessions stay alive.

Fix 1: Add Fast User Switching to the menu bar

1. Open Apple menu > System Settings, then click Control Center in the sidebar.
2. Scroll to Fast User Switching and choose what to show from its pop-up menu — for example, your Full Name or Account Name in the menu bar.

If you don’t see it there, add it manually:

1. In the sidebar, click Menu Bar (or scroll to the bottom of Control Center settings).
2. Click Add Controls, select Fast User Switching, then choose Add to Menu Bar.
3. Click Done.

Fix 2: Add it to Control Center instead

If you’d rather keep the menu bar clean:

1. Open Apple menu > System Settings, then click Control Center in the sidebar.
2. Click Add Controls, select Fast User Switching, then choose Add to Control Center.
3. Click Done.

Fix 3: Switch between users

Once the control is in place:

• From the menu bar: Click the Fast User Switching menu (near the top-right), choose the user’s name or icon, then enter that account’s password and press Return. If the Mac has Touch ID, you can place a finger on the sensor when prompted.
• From Control Center: Click the Control Center icon in the menu bar, click Fast User Switching, then choose the user.

The account you leave keeps running — its apps and windows are exactly where you left them when you switch back.

FAQ

Will my apps keep running when I switch away? Yes. That’s the whole point — your session is suspended in the background, not closed, so nothing is lost.

Does each user still need their password to switch in? Yes. Switching to another account prompts for that account’s password (or Touch ID), so it stays secure.

Where did the option go in newer macOS? Apple moved it from a standalone Login Options checkbox into Control Center settings, where you add it as a menu-bar or Control Center control.

Sources: Switch quickly between users on Mac — Apple Support