Enable "Switch User" button on lock screen independently of fast user switching

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Level 1

34 points

Enable "Switch User" button on lock screen independently of fast user switching

I have a curious situation. I'm running both a MacBook Pro M1 and a MacBook Air M2. Both run the latest version of macOS 12.6.

I have two users set up on both (all users are different). The "Users & Groups" > "Login Options" are set up identically on both machines specifically with fast user switching DISABLED.

If I'm logged in to one or more accounts and then lock the screen, the MBP will display the "Switch User" button alongside the "Cancel" button at the bottom of the screen, however the MBA will only display the "Cancel" button.

Anyone with any ideas how this might be possible?

MacBook Air Apple Silicon

Posted on Sep 26, 2022 2:56 AM

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Answer 1

Sep 26, 2022 7:26 AM in response to markimedes

Yes, I think that the difference in behavior is almost certainly related to the MBP being configured through MDM.

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Answer 2

markimedes Author

Level 1

34 points

Sep 26, 2022 5:23 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Thanks Luis. I've had the MBP for almost a year now and it's always been like that. I've just got my MBA (to replace my home Mac mini) and when it didn't behave the same way I suspected it was the MBA at fault.

I can assure you FUS is disabled (the only option on that screen with a tick is "Show the Sleep, Restart and Shut Down buttons"), so I'm starting to think it's the MBP at fault, and has been for all this time.

That said, and only out of curiosity, is FUS and multi-login confirmed as being co-dependent? I just assumed FUS gave the ability to switch users quickly from the menu bar and had nothing to do with whether you could actually be logged into more than one account at the same time. Otherwise why isn't it called "Simultaneous Login"?

Anyhoo, my one thought about what could possibly be causing this is that the MBP is a work laptop and is enrolled in the company's MDM (Microsoft inTune...yes, I shudder). This means the second account on the MBP is a "Local Admin Account" which I cannot access. It's not identified as being logged in, but perhaps something within the MDM requires FUS to be on and forces that state, even if it appears to be off on the device itself. Thoughts?

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Answer 3

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,072 points

Sep 26, 2022 9:38 AM in response to markimedes

I can confirm that I have never done what this article instructs, so as to why I'm experiencing this behaviour...who knows.

You stated your Mac is managed by MDM. The article I linked was in response to your question about how this behavior could be made possible with respect to it being managed.

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Answer 4

markimedes Author

Level 1

34 points

Sep 26, 2022 6:51 AM in response to Barney-15E

An excellent article for those wanting to force this behaviour, thank you.

I can confirm that I have never done what this article instructs, so as to why I'm experiencing this behaviour...who knows.

It's becoming clear, however, that the behaviour on the MBP is not as expected (as opposed to the MBA as I first assumed). As such, I'm happy that my personal MBA is showing expected behaviour.

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Answer 5

markimedes Author

Level 1

34 points

Sep 26, 2022 1:26 PM in response to Barney-15E

Very good point. I'm surprised anyone would know how to do that (it's a very Windows-centric company), and it also still requires the FUS to be enabled (the config profiles merely hide the menu item), but I do concede that it's likely MDM-related and has been achieved by something like this.

I'm satisfied the mystery has been solved, and will mark your answer as the solution.

Many thanks for the discussion, chaps.

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