You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Catalina/MacBook Pro: Screen Flashes When Changing User

I just acquired a new-to-me mid 2015 MacBook Pro 15", 2.8 gHz, 1 TB SSD. Under Catalina, 10.15.3, when I change users, just after entering the password and pressing return during log in there is a brief flash of the screen...just a quick blink, then everything proceeds as expected. I rather expect this is normal, but it does not seem to happen when I run the machine (off a flash drive) with El Capitan.


I'm wondering if other people see this blink when changing users under Catalina, if it is normal, or if I should have some concern.


Thank you.

MacBook Pro 15", OS X 10.11

Posted on Feb 15, 2020 6:45 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Feb 19, 2020 12:17 PM

UPDATE: I took my MacBook Pro the the Apple store yesterday for a battery replacement and while there I asked if the screen flash/blink was anything to be concerned with and was told it was not. So, I gues we can consider this resolved.


Thanks.

5 replies

Feb 17, 2020 2:19 PM in response to LD150

If I select Lock Screen from under the Apple menu item I am only shown the current user on the lock screen and there is no way to select another in order to switch users. If I log out one user under the Apple menu item, then I can choose another user on the lock screen. Then I press the right facing arrow to log in and the screen blinks immediately after that. Just one quick blink. Like I said, I doubt it's anything...


I have not seen anything along the lines of rotating cube such as you describe or anything else.

Feb 17, 2020 5:43 PM in response to LD150

Ahh... now I see the "cube animation". Clicking on the Switch User icon I see the cube "transition" to use a word that a video editor might use. The existing screen spins out of view before the next screen is drawn. When I do that I see a black screen for a faction of a second after the cube finishes rotating before other user icons are shown. That's not the issue I wrote about in my OP of course, but at least I understand the reference to spinning cube from your post above.

Catalina/MacBook Pro: Screen Flashes When Changing User

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.