Enable or Disable ‘Switch User’ in Ubuntu Linux

This article explains how to show or hide the “Switch User” option in your visual-alerts-in-ubuntu-linux/" class="sal-link" rel="noopener" target="_blank" data-sal-id="17719">Ubuntu Linux system menu. Why do this? It helps you manage privacy or simplify the menu if you are the only person using the computer. What happens when done? The option to jump between user accounts will either appear or disappear from your top-right status menu.

Ubuntu is designed for many users. You can switch between accounts without closing your open programs. Note: Ubuntu 24.04 and newer versions use the Wayland display protocol by default. While fast user switching works well here, some older apps may behave differently than they did on the legacy X11 system.

Enable or disable the ‘Switch User’ command on the system menu

In Ubuntu 24.04 and later, the system menu is located in the top-right corner of your screen. Clicking this area shows your power, volume, and network settings. If you have more than one user account, Ubuntu usually shows a “Switch User” button here. If you are the only user, the menu stays clean and hides this button.

You can force this option to show or hide using the Terminal. First, open the Terminal by pressing the Super (Windows) key, typing “Terminal,” and hitting Enter. You can also press CTRL + ALT + T.

To hide the “Switch User” button, type this command and press Enter:

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.lockdown disable-user-switching true

To show the button again, run this command:

gsettings reset org.gnome.desktop.lockdown disable-user-switching

Enable or Disable fast switching using the Dconf Editor

If you prefer a visual menu instead of typing commands, you can use the Dconf Editor. Think of this as the Windows Registry Windows Registry Editor for Linux. It lets you change hidden settings easily.

First, install the app. You can find it in the Ubuntu App Center by searching for “Dconf Editor,” or run this command in your Terminal:

sudo apt install dconf-editor

Once installed, open Dconf Editor and follow this path:

org -> gnome -> desktop -> lockdown

Find the entry called disable-user-switching. Toggle the switch to “On” to hide the feature, or “Off” to enable it.

Note: Changes made through Dconf Editor or gsettings may not appear immediately. You might need to log out of your session and log back in to see the changes in your system menu.