When I try to switch user it doesn't let me choose other user on login screen. When I click on the second user it momentarily switches back on the first user. Only if first user logs out second can log in. Touch ID just useless in this scenario.
MacBook Air, macOS 14.3
AFAICR, this problem used to happen when using touch id to switch, and when the two accounts used the same finger - like your index finger. The system would recognize the fingerprint as belonging to the main account and log you in to that account.
One possible workaround was to either use a different finger for the second account, or to type its password instead.
Come on, Apple! You always claim to be better than Microsoft, but here you're dropping the ball on something basic. The user switching feature is a core functionality, yet it's completely broken. It's unacceptable that I have to hard reset my Mac by holding down the power button every time I want to switch users!
User account switching should be seamless and work reliably without major workarounds. This is a fundamental usability issue that impacts productivity and convenience for your customers. For a company that prides itself on delivering a premium experience, having to force restart just to change users is incredibly poor design.
I really hope you take this seriously and prioritize fixing the user switching issue in an upcoming software update. It's disappointing that such a straightforward feature is so badly broken on the latest macOS version. Step up your game, Apple - basic functions like this need to just work without headaches. Your users expect better.
Let me be more clear here; I closed the lid when active on main account. After half an hour my wife wanted to open the macbook air. She then dragged the mouse on the user to see her account there. She saw her name and clicked on it. Here is the problem occurred. It didn't bring her account up. When she tried again the other user's password is asked to login. Then she told me her account doesn't come up and she can't login. I checked it and same thing happened. So i logged in to my account and sign out of my account. Only after this step she could choose her name on login screen and entered her password and login her account. Is that clear enough?
I have the same issue on a brand new iMac. The only thing I've installed is a Firefox and Microsoft Remote Desktop.
When the computer is locked, I hover over the user icon and this triggers an animation that shows all the users. When I click my icon, all the icons disappear except for the user who was originally logged in -- as if I hadn't done anything. The only way for me to login is by holding the power button and performing a hard reset.
I am a senior software engineer.
This happens to me after the mac has been used for a while (switching between my wife's account and my own). Its infuriating since I can't log on without her losing her work so it makes the computer useless for me if she isn't available.
To be clear this isn't a problem of clicking as some has suggested, since when the bug occurs it doesn't matter if you use the mouse, or use the keyboard to tab select the user, either way it will keep going back to the other user after you select the one you want. Touch ID won't work either.
Can't believe apple haven't fixed this already... its a very serious issue that makes the system useless for our family.
I have the same problem with new MacBook air M3 in default configuration from the store, have two users, when one of the users logged in and screen looked I can't login with another user. It shows second account on hover, but clicking on another user icon only brings it shortly and immediately getting replaced by already logged in account. Please help, I can't share the laptop between family members because of this. I can't restart it either since I don't want to loose any work open under already logged in account.
Hello~ Excellent post and I hope the Author follows your advice instead of superfluous AI nonsense.
~Katana-San~
Suggest following the advise from Real Contributors
Be wary of some ChatBots that maybe appearing and suppling Boilerplate copy and past suggestions
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.
"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
Tried updating to 14.4.1. but unfortunately the issue returned. Maybe they’ll get around to fixing it at some point… I won’t hold my breath.
Exact same problem here on Sonoma 14.5
I have the same issue. Definitely not a user error or installation error. This problem began on my device a few weeks ago and goes away upon restart. It returns after a few days.
Same issue here. On Sonoma 14.5.
Same problem here... Crazy that this critical problem still hasn't been fixed!
User switching doesn't work properly in macOS Sonoma
