macOS Sonoma User Switch malfunctioning

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Level 1

8 points

macOS Sonoma User Switch malfunctioning

I recently created a second user on my MacBook to separate work from personal. It's extremely useful, as I can keep my workflows streamlined and uncluttered. I updated to macOS Sonoma yesterday, and now there is a bug whenever I try to switch users. Let's call them User A and User B. When I'm logged into User A and want to switch to B, I go in the top right menu bar and click on User B. The login screen shows up, I use TouchID to login, then the screen glitches and I'm logged back into User A. It happens the other way around too, I'll be logged in as User B and try to switch to A, but it'll keep taking me back to B. It's very frustrating and I hope it's resolved soon.

Posted on Nov 17, 2023 7:25 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Barney-15E

Level 10

124,000 points

Nov 19, 2023 4:42 AM in response to amrilling

Sonoma has an issue with using the same fingerprint on multiple accounts. Use a different fingerprint for the two accounts.

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Answer 2

amrilling Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 19, 2023 11:51 AM in response to chdsl

Well, my single fingerprint was working fine for both Users on the previous macOS, so it's a Sonoma issue. The software shouldn't need different fingerprints for each User because you FIRST tell it which User you want to log in as (A, B, C, etc.) and then it asks for the password... which can be the same password for all of them. A fingerprint is like a master key, letting the computer know whoever is touching it has authorized access. You can assign that master key to as many locks as you want.

The issue with Sonoma seems like it's prioritizing the User I first assigned that fingerprint to (User A). So when it sees me logging into User B with the same fingerprint, it thinks "Oh, he wants to log into User A because that fingerprint was first assigned to User A."

It would take me a few times to log into the right user, but now I've temporarily gotten around the bug by using different fingerprints.

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Answer 3

amrilling Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 19, 2023 8:07 AM in response to Barney-15E

Thanks! Using 2 different fingers worked, the switching is flawless now. I hope they update the bug soon so I only need to use one.

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Answer 4

MRYFLYGUY

Level 2

231 points

Nov 19, 2023 5:52 AM in response to Barney-15E

'Sonoma has an issue with using the same fingerprint on multiple accounts. Use a different fingerprint for the two accounts"... or entering eat password.

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Answer 5

Barney-15E

Level 10

124,000 points

Nov 19, 2023 10:47 AM in response to chdsl

Well, two users cannot have the same fingerprint, can they?😏

Two humans most likely cannot.

However, many user accounts can use the same fingerprint.

The login system in Sonoma doesn't manage the fingerprints correctly and logs into the other account that uses the same fingerprint. Since it didn't happen on Ventura, it is a Sonoma issue.

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Answer 6

chdsl

Level 2

410 points

Nov 19, 2023 11:01 AM in response to Barney-15E

Well, it is simply common sense to use another fingerprint for the Touch ID for a different user, even if that is only you. One fingerprint would open a given user, if you are having the user switching while logged in as the first user. The fingerprint(s) the first user had put in as the first user will only open the first user account. You can't have the same fingerprint, even if you log out as the first user, and log back as the second user. The given fingerprint is the identification of the given user.

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Answer 7

chdsl

Level 2

410 points

Nov 19, 2023 12:00 PM in response to amrilling

amrilling wrote:

Well, my single fingerprint was working fine for both Users on the previous macOS, so it's a Sonoma issue.

A very bad security issue, if that was true.

This is a multi-user OS, and that means different passwords, fingerprints etc for different users.

Your "problem" also proves that Sonoma is a very secure OS. 👌

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Answer 8

Barney-15E

Level 10

124,000 points

Nov 19, 2023 12:05 PM in response to chdsl

chdsl wrote:

amrilling wrote:

Well, my single fingerprint was working fine for both Users on the previous macOS, so it's a Sonoma issue.

A very bad security issue, if that was true.

This is a multi-user OS, and that means different passwords, fingerprints etc for different users.

Your "problem" also proves that Sonoma is a very secure OS. 👌

That makes no logical sense.

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Answer 9

chdsl

Level 2

410 points

Nov 19, 2023 8:14 AM in response to amrilling

Well, two users cannot have the same fingerprint, can they?😏

So, it is not a Sonoma matter.

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Answer 10

Barney-15E

Level 10

124,000 points

Nov 19, 2023 11:05 AM in response to chdsl

Yes, that's what I stated at the beginning.

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Answer 11

chdsl

Level 2

410 points

Nov 19, 2023 12:14 PM in response to Barney-15E

Well, have a look.

Otherwise, send a feedback to Apple, if you consider Sonoma is not secure.

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Answer 12

Barney-15E

Level 10

124,000 points

Nov 19, 2023 12:29 PM in response to chdsl

Have a look at what? My comment was on your failed logical conclusion that because a fingerprint can only be used by one user account makes it secure. It doesn't follow at all.

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