10.9.3 = major problem with fast user switching

Hi Boblishman and other folks.

The 10.9.4 updated provided no relief for us either. However, making an Automator workflow does work well for us, and we've deployed it on several machines.

The steps are:

• Open Automator
• Create a new workflow
• (If you want to be fancy, add a "Pause" for 2 seconds)
• Add a 'Run Shell Script', with the command: killall Dock
• (make sure you have a Capital D in Dock)
• Save the workflow (for later reference), e.g. "Kill-dock-after-2-seconds.workflow"
• Save a copy of the workflow as an Application, and pop it somewhere handy (e.g. Applications folder)
• Set your newly created Automator application as a login item (under each user account, in System Preferences)
• Logout or switch users, and log back in again.

Sure, the underlying issue is not fixed by Apple. But until more people report it, and until it's fixed, it's a stable work-around, and it requires no further intervention, and our desktops and docks are back to normal within seconds of logging in.

Has anybody else tried this solution for themselves too?

Hope that helps,

D.

As another temporary solution, the app Stay seems to do the trick in so far as snapping everything back into place once you switch users;

https://itunes.apple.com/app/stay/id435410196

Although it's not a great solution, hiding your windows before you switch will allow them to return the proper spot once you switch back and show them again. Still annoying, but slightly less so then having to reposition them every time.

Hi there.

I've got the same problem as well. I found 'killing' the Dock temporarily resolves it, and fixes the dock, screen resolution etc. See my post here:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/6367153

Hope that gives some (temporarily) relief unitl a full fix comes out...

Enjoy.

Boblishman, have you actually been reporting it to http://bugreporter.apple.com/ after signing for a free online http://developer.apple.com/ account? Otherwise it may not get heard for a long time. This is just a user to user forum. Putting it in Apple feedback at http://www.apple.com/feedback/ will get heard, although it may not get to the right teams for much longer.

I am also having this issue. It started after the 10.9.3 update. I just installed the 10.9.4 update that was released earlier today in hopes that it would be fixed, but unfortunately it was not. I used the Delta update that was made available via Software Update because Apple has not yet made a Combo updater available on their downloads page.

Just adding my name to the list on the FUS resolution change/window resizing. Currently have to opt+cmd+H+W before switching to be sure window dimensions aren't messed up when I switch back.

Are you running different screen resolutions between the users?

How about same setting for "Displays have separate spaces" in Mission Control Sys Prefs.

I can't make it happen on my Mac. Both users have same resolution, same Display spaces setting.

I have observed a very similar issue, quite repeatable, on a Macbook Pro Retina without any external display.

When I fast user switch (FUS) between two user accounts, the one that I logged onto second has all kinds of window positioning issues. Apps that I left in one position will have moved elsewhere on the screen, often hanging partway out of the visible space.

It's definitely not a third-party app problem. I don't have any apps installed that manage screen layout, and I've observed the symptom with Apple-provided apps including Finder itself.

The symptom is intermittent and doesn't happen for me on *every* FUS, but it happens quite often, and a reboot didn't fix it.

Before applying any update, backup your data:

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-1992

10.9.4 combo update is available at:

OS X Mavericks 10.9.4 Update (Combo)

It is unknown if it is any better than the delta update. The one good thing about the combo update is that it typically adds components that are missing or damaged from previous updates if all that was updated using the delta updates.

I would recommend after applying such an update to repair permissions with Disk Utility.

Lastly, if you have come to this thread and not found a solution, please start your own thread. Most people who can help typically will not delve deep into threads to reply to everyone individually.

I won't have a chance to update to 10.9.3 or later for some time.

Just downloaded Yosemite public beta and fast user switching seems to be fixed.

I have exactly this problem, it doesn't matter which account you open first it's the second one that you open and any other ones that this problem occurs. I was on to Apple chat for over an hour yesterday when they tried everything except reinstalling the system. I did ask, but they said no one had reported any similar problems.