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Applies to these editions of Windows Vista:

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See also

Switch users without logging off

Fast User Switching is a way to change users on a computer without closing programs and files first.

Note

Note

If you are logged on to a remote computer (for instance, using Remote Desktop Connection), you can't use Fast User Switching on that computer.

  1. Click the Start button Picture of the Start button, and then click the arrow next to the lock button Picture of the lock button.

  2. Click Switch User, and then click the user you want to switch to.

Warning

Warning

Make sure to save any open files before switching users because Windows does not automatically save files that are open. If you switch to a different user and that user shuts down the computer, any unsaved changes you have made to files that are open on your account will be lost.

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