We often switch Windows accounts for work or other needs, and you need to know that you can switch without closing any open applications or files you are using, here are a few ways:
Switch accounts from the Start menu to Microsoft
You can switch user accounts directly from the Windows Start menu. Click the Windows icon in the taskbar, click your profile image, and then select the user account you want to switch to from the context menu.
After selecting, enter the account password to switch.
Use Ctrl+Alt+Delete to switch accounts
You can also use ctrl+Alt+Delete keyboard shortcuts to switch user accounts. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete simultaneously on the keyboard. Next, select Switch User on the screen that appears.
You will then be taken to the login screen. Select the user account that you want to switch to.
Use Alt+F4 to switch accounts
Another keyboard shortcut you can use when viewing the desktop is the Alt+F4 shortcut. Note that if you have any windows open, this shortcut will only close open windows.
Press Alt+F4 on your keyboard and the Close Window dialog box appears. Click the down arrow next to the text box and select Switch User from the drop-down menu that appears.
Next, click OK or press Enter on your keyboard. You will then be taken to the login screen where you can select a different user account.
Switch accounts from a Windows terminal (Windows 11 Pro or later).
If you want to feel like a hacker, you can run a command on the Windows terminal to lock your PC, effectively bringing you back to the login screen, where you can choose a different account. Note that this method is only available for Windows 11 Pro or later.
First, open Windows Terminal as an administrator Open the SuperUser menu by right-clicking the Windows icon in the taskbar and selecting Windows Terminal (Administration) from the menu.
Next, run the command: tsdiscon
After you run the command, your screen will lock. Unlock the screen and you will be taken to the login screen. Select the user account that you want to switch to. You can also use Windows+L keyboard shortcuts to quickly lock your screen.
Microsoft makes it easy to switch between user accounts on Windows. I don’t think learning these methods is a daunting task for you.
