How to Switch User on Windows 11 (Step-by-Step)

If more than one person uses your PC, you don’t need to sign everyone out just to let someone else log in. Windows 11 lets you switch between accounts while keeping your own apps and files open in the background. Here’s how to do it from the Start menu, the Ctrl+Alt+Delete screen, or the lock screen.

Quick steps

1. Click the Start button.
2. Select your account picture or name near the bottom of the Start menu.
3. Choose the account you want to switch to from the list, then enter that user’s password on the next screen.

Before you start

A few things to check before you switch accounts:

• You need at least two user accounts set up on the PC (a local account, a Microsoft account, or a work/school account).
• Fast User Switching needs to be enabled on the device. On most home and personal PCs it’s on by default, but on managed work or school devices an IT admin can turn it off through policy.
• Switching users doesn’t close the other person’s apps or files, it just locks their session while yours (or theirs) is active. Signing out, on the other hand, closes everything for that account.
• If you’re connecting to a remote PC, Cloud PC, or virtual desktop through the Windows App rather than a physical machine in front of you, the steps are a little different (covered below).

Switch user from the Start menu (most common method)

1. Select the Start icon on the taskbar, or press the Windows key.
2. In the lower-left area of the Start menu, click your account name or profile picture.
3. A small menu will appear showing other user accounts on the device, along with options like Lock and Sign out.
4. Click the name of the account you want to switch to.
5. On the sign-in screen that appears, type that account’s password (or use whatever sign-in method is set up, such as a PIN) and press Enter.

Your original session stays running in the background. When you’re ready to go back, repeat the process and pick your own account from the list.

Switch user with Ctrl+Alt+Delete

This method works well if you want a quick way to lock your work and hand the PC over, without hunting through the Start menu.

1. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete at the same time.
2. On the screen that appears, select Switch user.
3. Choose the account you’d like to sign in as from the list of available users.
4. Enter that account’s password or PIN to finish signing in.

There isn’t a single dedicated keyboard shortcut that jumps straight to a specific user account. Ctrl+Alt+Delete followed by selecting Switch user is the closest thing Windows 11 offers to a shortcut for this.

Switch user from the sign-in or lock screen

If the PC is already locked, or you’ve just restarted it, you can pick a different account right from the lock screen without going through Start at all.

1. Press any key or click the lock screen to bring up the sign-in screen.
2. Look at the list of accounts on the left side of the screen (or at the bottom, depending on how many accounts are set up).
3. Click the name or picture of the account you want to use.
4. Enter the password or PIN for that account and press Enter.

Switch between accounts in Windows App (remote PCs and Cloud PCs)

If you’re connecting to a Windows device remotely through the Windows App (for example, a Windows 365 Cloud PC, Azure Virtual Desktop session, or a Remote Desktop connection), switching accounts works a bit differently because you’re managing a remote connection rather than a local Start menu.

1. Open the Windows App on your device.
2. Use the option in the app to switch between user accounts.
3. Sign in with the credentials for the account you want to use.

This is useful if you access the same remote PC with more than one set of credentials, such as a work account and an admin account.

If it doesn’t work

You don’t see other accounts in the Start menu

This usually means only one user account exists on the PC. You’ll need to add another account first through Settings > Accounts > Family & other users before you can switch between them.

The Switch user option is missing or greyed out

On work, school, or other managed devices, an IT admin may have disabled Fast User Switching through group policy for security or management reasons. If that’s the case, you’ll need to sign out completely instead, or ask your IT department whether the feature can be turned back on for your device.

The PC feels slow after switching between several accounts

Each signed-in account keeps its apps and background processes running in memory. If you’re regularly switching between several users on a lower-powered PC, you may notice things slow down. Signing out of accounts you’re not actively using frees up memory and can help performance.

You can’t remember which account is which

Account names and pictures shown in the switch menu come from how each account is set up in Settings > Accounts. If names look unclear, ask whoever manages the PC to update the display name or add a profile picture for each user.

Frequently asked questions

What’s the switch user shortcut on Windows 11?

There’s no single keypress that jumps directly to another user. The quickest route is pressing Ctrl+Alt+Delete and then selecting Switch user, or clicking your account name in the Start menu.

Does switching users close my open apps and files?

No. Switching users locks your current session in the background while another account signs in, so your open apps, documents, and browser tabs stay exactly as you left them. Signing out, by contrast, closes everything for that session.

Can two people be signed in to Windows 11 at the same time?

Yes, more than one account can be signed in at once, each in its own session, but only one person can actively use the screen at a time. You switch between the active sessions rather than using them simultaneously.

How do I switch accounts from the lock screen on Windows 11?

Wake the screen, and you’ll see a list of available accounts on the sign-in screen. Click the account you want, then enter its password or PIN to sign in.

Why can’t I switch users on my work PC?

Some organizations disable Fast User Switching on managed devices through policy, often for security reasons. If the option isn’t available, you’ll likely need to sign out fully instead, or check with your IT admin about your device’s settings.

Related guides

• How To Stop Teams Loading Up After Logging In
• How to Disable OneDrive on Windows 10 and 11
• How to Remove OneDrive from Your PC

Sources

• Manage user accounts in Windows App (Microsoft Learn)
• Windows client documentation (Microsoft Learn)