Resolved Whats the deal with user accounts?

[andyt3]

Hi everyone!

This is my first Mac, so stick with me here!

I have a user account set up for myself, as well as my husband. My account is the Admin, and his account is just a standard user account. I also have FileVault enabled.

I've noticed that when I close my MBA, and then he comes to use it later on, that he can't just hit escape, and get back to the screen with both our accounts listed, and then just click his and enter his password.

Is there any way to enable that, regardless that I was the last user logged in prior to the machine going to sleep? I've read that this is caused by FileVault being enabled, but I don't really want to disable that option if I don't have to.

 

[MacGizmo]

I'm not exactly clear as to what you're asking for, or what you're currently experiencing. But I think what you want to do is quickly switch between accounts without completely logging out of the machine and logging back in with another user account.

You can do this by turning on Show Fast User Switching Menu As... in the Users & Groups Prefs System panel (see screenshot below).

This will place your name in the upper right of the Mac's menubar of whomever is logged-in. Clicking that name and choosing another name will quickly switch to that account without fully logging-out of any accounts that may be open.

That won't help the issue of once the computer goes to sleep, SOMEBODY has to type in the password of the current user in order to access that menu to begin with. And I don't think that's what you want.

If simply forcing you to choose a user and type a password for access to the computer account you wish to use is all you want, you can just visit the Security & Privacy System Prefs panel, click the General tab at the top, check the Require Password box and set it to Immediately, then check the Disable Automatic Login box.

Using both these options (Fast User Switching and the Require Password options) is probably the best solution for you.

 

[andyt3]

Thank you for the reply.

What was happening was, I would be using the computer (Admin account), and just close the lid, and leave it. Then, my husband would come along, open the lid back up, and it would ask him for my password. I was wondering if there was a way, for him to switch over to his account without having to enter my password, and then log me out, or use the fast switching menu up near the clock.

 

[AZhappyjack]

Thank you for the reply.

What was happening was, I would be using the computer (Admin account), and just close the lid, and leave it. Then, my husband would come along, open the lid back up, and it would ask him for my password. I was wondering if there was a way, for him to switch over to his account without having to enter my password, and then log me out, or use the fast switching menu up near the clock.

You should have a "Switch User" icon below the password box.

 

[andyt3]

I've noticed that the Switch User option only appears if I'm switching from his account (Standard acct) to my account (Admin), and not the other way around.

Could this possibly be because of the account types?

 

[chscag]

I've noticed that the Switch User option only appears if I'm switching from his account (Standard acct) to my account (Admin), and not the other way around.

Could this possibly be because of the account types?

It won't work the other way around because you have FileVault turned on. This is a security measure put in place by Apple when FileVault is used. It's that way to protect the integrity of your data.

 

[andyt3]

It won't work the other way around because you have FileVault turned on. This is a security measure put in place by Apple when FileVault is used. It's that way to protect the integrity of your data.

Got it. Thanks for the reply!