Mac Fast User Switching Not Working Properly

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Level 1

65 points

Mac Fast User Switching Not Working Properly

I was just into Apple Authorized Repair to have failing disk replaced which they did. They also upgraded my OS from 10.9.5 to 10.11.

Now, when I try to use Fast User Switching, I get prompted for an Administrator Userid and Password every time I switch accounts, and then the accounts switch.

I tried turning off Fast User Switching, rebooting and then turning it back on. The problem persists.

I used to use get the account name and picture and a prompt for Password??

How do I fix this?

Thanks

iMac (24-inch Early 2008), OS 10.11, 6GB memory, 2TB hybrid dr

Posted on Mar 19, 2016 9:33 PM

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Answer 1

_TC10_ Author

Level 1

65 points

Mar 20, 2016 1:53 AM in response to _TC10_

I get this prompt every time I try Fast User Switching?? There seems to be a permissions issue on the switching program?

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Answer 2

dialabrain

Level 10

136,349 points

Mar 20, 2016 3:58 AM in response to _TC10_

If you have FileVault enabled you have to allow each user to decrypt…

Use FileVault to encrypt the startup disk on your Mac - Apple Support

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Answer 3

dialabrain

Level 10

136,349 points

Mar 20, 2016 4:12 AM in response to _TC10_

FWIW, with Fast User Switching you still need to type in the user's password to switch.

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Answer 4

_TC10_ Author

Level 1

65 points

Mar 20, 2016 10:19 AM in response to dialabrain

THanks for input. I am not using filevault.

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Answer 5

_TC10_ Author

Level 1

65 points

Mar 20, 2016 10:24 AM in response to dialabrain

Thanks for input. I also have a Macbook Pro. Fast User Switching works fine on it and I do get prompted and input user password.

On my iMac, i am not being prompted for user password rather the prompt for administrator pops up for all users when I try using Fast user switching.

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Answer 6

dialabrain

Level 10

136,349 points

Mar 20, 2016 1:47 PM in response to _TC10_

You could try starting in Safe Mode then restarting in Normal Mode.

OS X El Capitan: Start up in safe mode

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Answer 7

_TC10_ Author

Level 1

65 points

Mar 20, 2016 6:04 PM in response to dialabrain

I thought this was a great idea because I think the permissions are partially corrupted of the admin id.

Unfortunately it did not work. Thanks for the suggestion!!

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Answer 8

dialabrain

Level 10

136,349 points

Mar 23, 2016 1:20 AM in response to _TC10_

if you want to try and fix permissions, this command will fix the ones that can be fixed when run in the Terminal. Takes a little while.

sudo /usr/libexec/repair_packages --repair --standard-pkgs --volume /

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Answer 9

_TC10_ Author

Level 1

65 points

Mar 20, 2016 6:14 PM in response to _TC10_

I have been on the phone with Apple tech support off and on for 3 hours today. Tried confirm settings, disk repair, OS 10.11 reinstall... no luck, problem is still occurring.

They then put me thru to Apple Senior Tech. He told me that it is working as designed for an old iMac that has had a drive replacement and the OS install at higher level and then users migrated.... I said What??? a few times, ... ,He said that is the way it works....

We discussed options further ... and ... I am going to try reinitializing the new hybrid drive to start over, and then do a Time Machine recovery back to my originally 10.9.5 OS with my data on the new drive to see if that works.

If it does work, I will do backups, THEN optionally I will try an OS upgrade to 10.11 in place and see if the permissions come through better.

I will be trying this tomorrow (Monday) after I discuss with our local Apple support techs

Any suggestions of what else to try before I do this, is appreciated.

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Answer 10

_TC10_ Author

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65 points

Mar 20, 2016 6:42 PM in response to dialabrain

Thanks again dialabrain!! I tried that last night. No luck for Fast User Switching...

It did fix some permissions, ... but not enough I guess.

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Answer 11

dialabrain

Level 10

136,349 points

Mar 23, 2016 1:20 AM in response to _TC10_

YW. You may end up having to do a clean install rather than installing in place.

As far as what the Apple senior tech said, unfortunately I have been given incorrect information from them on more than one occasion.

If I think of anything else will let you know.

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Answer 12

_TC10_ Author

Level 1

65 points

Mar 20, 2016 7:46 PM in response to dialabrain

Yes I need to do clean install of 10.9.5. ...

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Answer 13

_TC10_ Author

Level 1

65 points

Mar 23, 2016 1:19 AM in response to _TC10_

I went back into my Apple Authorized Service Provider who installed my new drive. He did a clean install of 10.9 and the recovered my data. Fast User Switching is now working properly again.

In a few weeks, I will try upgrading to El Capitan which should fix the previous what I think was probably admin permissions bug.

Thanks for all of your suggestions as they helped to get me back OS/sstem that is working properly.

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