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The case:
My wife and I share the same home PC for work, that we use independently throughout the day. We would like to be able to switch between our users without having to log out and close/reopen our respective documents and apps. Kinda like how it works on a Mac when you switch between multiple active user login sessions.
The Problem:
Whenever we try to use the "Switch User" functionality, the taskbar freezes (doesn't load) on whichever user you switch to. The only way to unfreeze the taskbar is to log out completely on one user (and subsequently close all apps/documents), and then login to the other user afterwards.
What I have tried:
Extra info:
Both users have Admin account type and our Windows 10 is updated to the latest version.
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
It is very discomforting to see that relatively simple and ubiquitous peripherals like mice and keyboards can interfere with the OS so badly. Disabling HID devices is a poor workaround for something that MS should fix in the OS or the OEM manufacturers like RAZER should comply with MS specs. But then you have a MS intellimouse freezing the taskbar on an MS OS, it seems that MS itself has an internal interoperability problem.
Actually, same here. Randomly, and very rarely, the second profile loads without trouble. I could never figure out what, if anything, made it work. Nothing that could be reproduced, evidently.
My temporary solution (maybe this is obvious to some, but others might find it useful):
When you do not need to use the computer for a bit, sign in to account #1; then sign in to account #2. The taskbar freeze will happen, but leave it alone and the taskbar on account #2 should load eventually (possibly after 15 minutes or more).
Afterwards, do not turn off or restart the computer if you can avoid it, as that will sign you out.
I just hibernate mine and this leaves the accounts signed in. You can quickly switch between accounts even after coming back from hibernation.
UPDATE:
Alternatively, you can just login to the second account then switch back to the first one (no need to sit on it and wait for the taskbar to unfreeze). The second account will load the taskbar on its own in the background (eventually) even while you are using the first account. At least this worked for me!
I am having the exact same problem! I have done a full reinstall of windows to try and fix it but as soon as a I create a 2nd account and try to login at the same time as the 1st one , the 2nd account taskbar will freeze.
The only way to get it to work is to physically sign out of the 1st account and then the 2nd will work fine...
I have no idea what on earth is causing this.
I am also having the same problem.
More specifically when shutting down the pc and starting it later, it will silently log in the last account, and if u log into another account the taskbar will be broken the same way. I Have to log out of the previous account to fix the taskbar but this is even more annoying if the other account is an administrator.
Feel like my problem could be fixed if it just didnt log in the last user automatically but as I've read the thread this wont fix the entire problem.
Haven't found a way to fix the auto login either tho.
In checking around the internet, there seem to be many threads indicating that Sleep Mode may cause the Taskbar to freeze. As a quick check, you can go to your Power Settings in both logins and set the Plugged In option to Never (never go to sleep when the computer is plugged in). Then see if the problem goes away when the computer is plugged in.
Power settings can be found at:
Start/Settings/System/Power & Sleep
