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redwingjustice
User level: Level 1 (14 points)

MacBook Pro freezes during Fast User Switching

My MacBook Pro freezes during Fast User Switching. My Mac has 2 accounts, one of which is an admin account.

When I log into either account first, click the account name in the top right corner to switch to the second account, enter the username and password, it logs in successfully. However, when I click the account name in the top right corner again while in the second account to switch back, enter the username and password, it gets stuck on that screen. The only way to resolve it is a forced reboot.


I tried clicking the Apple logo and selecting "Log Out" instead of using Fast User Switching, which allows me to successfully switch back and forth between the two accounts, but all applications have to be reopened every time, which is very inconvenient. I have also tried resetting the SMC, but the problem still persists. Please help.


Spec:

Apple M4 Pro

mac os Version 27.0.1 (26A434) golden gate

ram 24 gb

harddisk 239gb used/1Tb



[Edited by Moderator]

Posted on Oct 15, 2026 6:43 AM

15 replies

Grant Bennet-Alder
User level: Level 10 (148,617 points)

Oct 19, 2026 5:15 PM in response to jmi11ionaire

jmi11ionaire wrote:
I am having this exact same issue across both my macbook pro and my new mac mini. its very specifically triggered by fast user switching, and I had been assuming it was related to the displays hooked up to the mini but was able to reproduce on the macbook too. I think its a bug in MacOS 27.0.1
can we please get engineers to look into this, this functionality should not be difficult for these machines with the hardware they have. its an infinite frozen loop. the interesting part (on my mac mini at least) is that the login screen freezes but the machine itself is working fine, I am able to SSH and do remote tasks on it.


Readers on this User-to-user forum are great at making divergent suggestions about what to try and what experiments to run. Apple employees do not participate on these User-to-User forums.


To get Apple engineering to take notice, you need to contact support and work with them to solve the problem, or escalate the issue to a Specialist, to work with you and possibly take comprehensive data for a Formal, Tracked Bug Report.


Support


To file an informal 'heads up, there is a problem' type report use the Product Feedback pages and file a type Bug Report.


Product Feedback - Apple



HWTech
User level: Level 9 (78,350 points)

Oct 15, 2026 8:53 AM in response to redwingjustice

Make sure "Reopen windows when logging in" is check when you log out or reboot which should allow anything open at the time to reopen automatically when you log back into your user account.


See the following Apple article for details:

Prevent apps and windows from reopening on Mac - Apple Support


Grant Bennet-Alder
User level: Level 10 (148,617 points)

Oct 15, 2026 6:50 AM in response to redwingjustice

¿Are you quite certain if freezes?

You may just be asking for a LOT at once, and it may be taking an annoying amount of time to get there.


How much RAM memory is in use just BEFORE you ask it to switch?

All that context will have to get put away on disk to make room for another User to start up.


When switching back without logging out, a batch of stuff needs to be put away, then the other User's stuff needs to be put in place and checkpoint-restarted to make the switch.


It's complicated.

jmi11ionaire
User level: Level 1 (14 points)

Oct 19, 2026 4:41 PM in response to redwingjustice

I am having this exact same issue across both my macbook pro and my new mac mini. its very specifically triggered by fast user switching, and I had been assuming it was related to the displays hooked up to the mini but was able to reproduce on the macbook too. I think its a bug in MacOS 27.0.1


can we please get engineers to look into this, this functionality should not be difficult for these machines with the hardware they have. its an infinite frozen loop. the interesting part (on my mac mini at least) is that the login screen freezes but the machine itself is working fine, I am able to SSH and do remote tasks on it.

Jaypeeee07
User level: Level 1 (8 points)

Oct 21, 2026 12:44 AM in response to redwingjustice

I’m having the same issue on both my Mac mini M4 and MacBook Air M4.

It only started happening recently, and I believe it began after updating macOS. Fast User Switching works the first time, but when I try to switch back to the original account, it freezes on the login screen and I have to force restart the Mac.

Logging out normally works, but having to reopen all apps every time is really inconvenient. Since this is happening on two different M4 Macs, it seems more likely to be related to a recent macOS update rather than a hardware issue.

kellynewman
User level: Level 1 (11 points)

Nov 9, 2026 8:16 AM in response to redwingjustice

I have this same issue, but I feel like I have confirmed that it only exhibits the problem when I am mirroring my video output to a 1080p monitor. If I am mirroring to a 4k monitor it doesn't seem to happen, nor when I am on extended desktop at any resolution. Can anyone else chime in to what their video output settings/setup is?

Grant Bennet-Alder
User level: Level 10 (148,617 points)

Oct 15, 2026 9:44 AM in response to redwingjustice

First you need to determine (by waiting it out for a longer time) whether this is really a freeze or is just taking a really long time.


Next we can talk about what might be causing such issues.

redwingjustice Author
User level: Level 1 (14 points)

Oct 15, 2026 8:57 AM in response to HWTech

thanks for your reply. i have checked the reopen checkbox when reboot, just wonder if there is any solution for this problem for fast switching user as my old macbook 2014 macos 10.15 catalina has no this problem.

fjuengli
User level: Level 1 (12 points)

Oct 26, 2026 7:52 AM in response to redwingjustice

exact same issue here on a Mac Studio M3Ultra with 128GB RAM, lots of free mem prior to switching, and always stuck on switching back. And yes, reopen Windows on login enabled. Very nasty bug. 27.2 RC

redwingjustice Author
User level: Level 1 (14 points)

Oct 15, 2026 7:52 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

used memory before first switch is 7GB, used memory when I login in second account is 14GB, then switch again get freeze

pennyroyalty12
User level: Level 1 (14 points)

Oct 19, 2026 4:58 PM in response to redwingjustice

I wish I had an answer but adding that I have the EXACT same problem on my M1 mini. Freezes when trying to log back into the original user on entering password after secondary user has logged in.

redwingjustice Author
User level: Level 1 (14 points)

Oct 20, 2026 8:44 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

I am sure that is freeze almost 40 minutes. The screen has nothing change.

redwingjustice Author
User level: Level 1 (14 points)

Oct 20, 2026 8:47 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

I have reported as bug in Product Feedback pages. thx

Jaypeeee07
User level: Level 1 (8 points)

Oct 21, 2026 12:45 AM in response to redwingjustice

same huhuhuhuhu


Grant Bennet-Alder
User level: Level 10 (148,617 points)

Oct 21, 2026 6:25 AM in response to redwingjustice

If it were just slow, the most I expect it could take is about five minutes.


I agree, that is 'stuck'.

Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256376686