Switch User Desktop Shortcut

How to Create a Switch User Desktop Shortcut in Vista​

   Information

This will show you how to create or download a Switch User shortcut that you can place anywhere you like for easy use. For example, the desktop. The shortcut will take you to the Switch User logon screen where you can select a user account that you would like to logon to.

   Note

Fast User Switching or Switch User is a feature in Windows that allows you to switch to a different user account on your computer without having to close any programs and files first in the user account that you are currently logged on to, and then be able to switch right back where you left off. This makes it easier to share a computer with others.

   Tip

The Vista Home Basic and Home Premium editions do not support this shortcut since they do not have the C:\Windows\System32\tsdiscon.exe file. It is a part of Terminal Services. An alternative for these editions is to create a Lock Computer shortcut instead and click on the Switch User button after clicking on the Lock Computer shortcut.

CREDIT TO: Ronnie Vernon MVP

EXAMPLE: Default Switch User Location in the Start Menu

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Download the Shortcut

1. Click on the download button below to download the Switch_User.zip file.​

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2. Click Save and save it to the Desktop.​

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3. Right click on Switch_User.zip (On desktop) and click on Open.​

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4. Click on Allow in the UAC prompt.​

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5. Extract the Switch User shortcut to the desktop.​

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6. Move the Switch User shortcut (on desktop) to where you like to use it at.​

NOTE: If you would like to assign a keyboard shortcut to this shortcut, then see How to Create a Keyboard Shortcut for a Program in Vista.​

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7. When done, you can delete the Switch_User.zip file.​

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METHOD TWO

Manually Create The Shortcut

1. Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\tsdiscon.exe in a Windows Explorer window. (See screenshot below)​

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2. Right click on tsdiscon.exe and click on Send To, then Desktop (create shortcut).​

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3. Close the Windows Explorer windows.​

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4. Right click on the new shortcut on the desktop and click on Rename.​

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5. Type Switch User and press Enter.​

NOTE: You can name the shortcut anything you like though.​

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6. Right click on the Switch User shortcut on the desktop and click on Properties.​

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7. Click on the Shortcut tab, then click on the Change Icon button. (See screenshot below)​

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8. Click on OK. (See screenshot below)​

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9. Click on Browse and navigate to C:\Windows\System32\imageres.dll. (See screenshot below)​

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10. Select the icon highlight in blue below and click on OK.​

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11. Click on OK. (See screenshot below step 7)​

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12. You will now have a Switch User shortcut that looks like this. (See screenshot below)​

NOTE: If you would like to assign a keyboard shortcut to this shortcut, then see How to Create a Keyboard Shortcut for a Program in Vista.​

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Create a Hibernate Shortcut in Vista
• How to Create a Log Off Shortcut in Vista
• How to Create a Shutdown Computer Shortcut in Vista
• How to Shutdown, Restart, Switch User, Log Off, Sleep, or Lock Vista from the Keyboard
• How to Disable or Enable Fast User Switching in Vista
• How to Create a Restart Computer Shortcut in Vista
• How to Create a Abort Shortcut in Vista
• How to Add or Remove Lock and Switch User from the Start Menu in Vista
• How to Create a Search Desktop Shortcut on Vista
• How to Create a Lock Computer Shortcut in Vista
• How to Log Off a Local User in Vista
• How to Create a Power Options Shortcut in Vista
• How to Restore the Administrative Tools Shortcuts in Vista
• How to Create a Keyboard Shortcut for a Program in Vista

 

[vista123]

I chose Method Two, number 3, "Add Switch User for All Users. I have Vista Home Premium.

I completed the steps and restarted the computer to apply the "changes".

What changes am I looking for? Should there be an icon on the desktop?

Thank You,
Hal Donnelly

 

[Brink]

Hello Hal, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Did you mean from this tutorial below instead?

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/89939-fast-user-switching.html

If you did, then it will add Switch User back if it was disabled or removed before. See the example screenshot at the top of this page. If you did not remove it before, then it will make no difference.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[James R P]

Hi, I have a Vista Home Premium, unfortunately, and I would like the shortcut. Even knowing my system does not have tsdiscon.exe, there has to be another way. Do you know a way to create the shortcut on Vista Home Basic and Vista Home Premium? (If not, I have a suggestion that might work.)

 

[Brink]

Hello James, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Sorry, but you can't get this shortcut to work with Vista Home Basic. The only other option that I know of to use instead is the option in the yellow TIP box at the top of the tutorial.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[James R P]

Okay, I have thought of something though, I typed in "switch user" in the start menu search box and I found a script that I don't know what is used for that said winrm, and I right-clicked it and pressed Open file location. I found many files that looked like they could be the ones that are used for activating "switch user". Can any of these files be used to create a shortcut and switch users? (If not, I have already created the "lock" shortcut. Also, I did not modify any important documents if the picture looks like they have been.)

 

[Brink]

Sorry James, but only the C:\Windows\System32\tsdiscon.exe file will trigger Switch User.

 

[James R P]

Okay, I get it, I see that when the computer is locked, the "switch user" button is there. So, I guess since I have created the lock computer shortcut before, I already created the "switch user" shortcut as well. I guess that means that the "switch user" feature is activated by a program associated with the "lock" feature.

 

[James R P]

Actually, I found a site that had the tsdiscon.exe file. You can download it onto the computer that does not have the file, save it to C:\Windows\System32, and it will work normally, (same with the computer itself), just like the "switch user" button in the menu on the side on the power button and lock button. This is the site:

http://www.vistarevisited.com/2008/08/02/create-a-desktop-shortcut-to-switch-users-in-vista/

After that, you can follow the directions Brink said.

Hope this helps!