User switching doesn't work properly in macOS Sonoma

"works on my machine" does not mean that there is no bug. I am facing the same issue with 3 user accounts. This is clearly a bug that needs to be fixed by Apple

This is absolutely a bug. It’s consistent now that it’s a problem, and it occurred without any additional software being installed or settings changed. I expect not many people have reported it because most users probably only use a single user account.

M2 MacBook Pro, Sonoma 14.2.1

Yes it does work properly. On switching users on the login screen you place the cursor on the avatar of the user and the rest of the users show up. Click on the user you want switch to and enter the password or touch-ID. I have six user accounts on my Mac and can login to any one of them just fine. As a matter of fact I can have up all six users logged in at the same time without issues.

If this is not what you are experiencing then you have an issue with your installation or a misunderstanding, not a Sonoma bug.

Two things to try to resolve.

1. Restart your Mac
2. Restart your Mac in Safe Mode

Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support

Safe mode performs a bunch of maintenance tasks, clears caches, and many times clears up glitches.

"It isn't constant behavior. After restart it works normal. But eventually issue comes back."

So try restarting your Mac in Safe Mode as the link I provided instructs. If fast user switching works while in Safe Mode then restart normally and see if the issue returns. If it does then the possibility exists that some third party extension, plugin, etc. May be causing this. Safe Mode starts up with only Apple’s add ons and nothing else.

This just began happening to me this morning. I have two users logged in to the computer, both admins. I cannot reboot the computer to resolve the issue because the other user is away for the day and has work that would need to be saved first. When I choose the Fast User Switching in the Menu Bar (or name, I've tried all the options), the other user is greyed out. If I lock the screen, the main login window appears. If I hit Escape, both users appear. But when choosing the other user not currently logged in, it quickly goes back to the username currently logged in. This is new and is not something caused by third-party software as this problem began overnight.

Suggest following the advise from Real Contributors

Be wary of some ChatBots that maybe appearing and suppling Boilerplate copy and past suggestions

1. Check User Permissions: Ensure that the user accounts on your MacBook Air have the necessary permissions to switch users. Go to System Preferences > Users & Groups and verify the settings for each user account.

2. Restart Your MacBook Air: Sometimes, a simple restart can help resolve temporary glitches. Restart your MacBook Air and see if the issue persists.

3. Verify Fast User Switching: Confirm that Fast User Switching is enabled. Go to System Preferences > Users & Groups > Login Options and make sure that Fast User Switching is turned on.

4. Reset SMC and NVRAM: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC) and the Non-Volatile Random Access Memory (NVRAM) on your MacBook Air might help resolve this issue. Instructions on how to do this can be found on Apple's support page.

5. Update macOS: Check if there are any available macOS updates. Updating to the latest version can often resolve software-related issues and bugs.

6. Check for Third-Party Software: If you have any third-party software installed that might be interfering with user switching, try disabling or uninstalling them to see if the issue persists.

7. Test without Touch ID: To troubleshoot the Touch ID issue, try logging in without using Touch ID to see if user switching works as expected.

8. Contact Apple Support: If the problem continues, it's recommended to reach out to Apple Support for further assistance. They can provide more specific guidance based on your MacBook Air model and the macOS version you're using.

0Wishtobefree0 wrote:

4. Reset SMC and NVRAM: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC) and the Non-Volatile Random Access Memory (NVRAM) on your MacBook Air might help resolve this issue. Instructions on how to do this can be found on Apple's support page.

8. Contact Apple Support: If the problem continues, it's recommended to reach out to Apple Support for further assistance. They can provide more specific guidance based on your MacBook Air model and the macOS version you're using.

Point 4 above

Should the computer be Apple Silicon then what ?

Point 8 above

Should OP require direct contact to Apple for support. Any suggestions for links or phones number ?

Thanks for your incredibly insightful and helpful comment. If you’ve got nothing useful to add to this discussion, or suggestions on how to work around the issue please refrain from posting.

just because it works on your particular hardware/firmware/software configuration doesn’t mean there isn’t a bug with mine.

I assure you “no user education” is required. Apologies for feeding the troll.

I am running two machines:

MacBook Pro, M1 Max 64GB Sonoma 14.4.1

iMac 24inch M3 24Gb Sonoma 14.4.1

I am a developer. Until this evening I had not experienced any issues with user switching. I now have experienced the issue of user switching as described in this forum, on my iMac. Co-incidentally, yesterday a neighbour who I support, had the same problem with his iMac 24inch, that I put down to user error or other. I suggested Control + Command + Q to log out of the current user to return to the login screen and then select the other user to login in, but this appeared not to work. Without being able to visit him, he ultimately had to power down and back on.

I have now experienced the same issue on my iMac M3 (his machine was also a iMac M3).

There is an issue that needs to be addressed.

Working before an update and not after does not imply a bug. So far there very few reports of such an issue.

Also, when choosing the Fast User Switching in the Menu Bar, there is an option called "Login window..." If I click it, nothing happens.

Still an issue I see. Currently using a MacBook Air that doesn't even allow me to see the created Admin account after restart. The user's account is the only account being shown. Dragging or clicking the icon does nothing. Definitely a bug.

That is what happens for me also. I can neither switch from the login screen nor the circled person screen. It just ignores me. I have two users logged in (work and personal). It worked before the update.