If you share a Windows 11 computer with family members or colleagues, you likely have multiple user accounts set up. By default, Windows allows “Fast User Switching.” This means User A can lock their session, and User B can log into their own account without User A having to close their programs or shut down.
While convenient, this feature consumes massive amounts of RAM and CPU cycles, as the computer is effectively running two distinct operating system environments simultaneously in the background. If you have an older PC and want to force users to properly save their work and sign out before handing over the keyboard, you can disable this feature via the Registry.
How to Disable Fast User Switching
Warning: Editing the registry involves core system files. Follow these steps precisely.
- Click the Start button, type
regedit, and press Enter to open the Registry Editor. (Click “Yes” if prompted by User Account Control). - Using the folder tree on the left, navigate to the following path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System - Click on the System folder to highlight it.
- Look at the list of values on the right side of the window. Search for a value named HideFastUserSwitching.
- If it does not exist: Right-click in the empty white space on the right, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it exactly
HideFastUserSwitching. - Double-click the
HideFastUserSwitchingvalue. - Change the Value data from
0to1. - Click OK.
Applying the Changes
You can now close the Registry Editor. You must restart your computer for this specific system policy to take effect.
Once rebooted, the option to “Switch User” will completely vanish from the Start menu, the Ctrl+Alt+Delete screen, and the Lock screen. To allow someone else to use the PC, the current user must click the Start menu, click their profile picture, and select Sign out—forcing all background applications to close and freeing up the computer’s RAM for the next person.