How to Always Show "All Users" or "Last User" in Windows 8 Sign in

   Information

This tutorial will show you how to always show either all users or only last user that signed out listed in the sign in (log on) screen of Windows 8.

You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

   Note

When you are using the default setting to only have the last user that signed out listed in the sign in screen, and that user doesn't have a password, then Windows 8 will automatically sign in to that user account.

When you are using the default setting to only have the last user that signed out listed in the sign in screen, and that user does have a password, then Windows 8 will show only that last user in the sign in screen and you must click on the back arrow button to see all users.

   Warning

It is strongly recommended to create a restore point before doing this tutorial. This way if you make a mistake, you could easily just do a system restore using the restore point to undo the mistake.

EXAMPLE: All Users and Last User Sign in for Windows 8

OPTION ONE

Set Always Show "All Users" or "Last User" in Windows 8 using "Winaero User List Enabler"

NOTE: This option is the recommended option to use since it does not have any side effects like OPTION TWO and OPTION THREE below.

1. If you have previously used OPTION TWO or OPTION THREE below, then run step 3 in OPTION TWO below first to restore the default settings to no longer have the issue with standard users not being able to enter elevated credentials.
NOTE: If you haven't, then you can just skip this step and continue on to step 2.

2. Click/tap on the download button below to go to the WinAero site, then download the UserListEnabler.zip file to your desktop for the Winaero User List Enabler program.
NOTE: You'll need to click on the gray download button at WinAero's site.

3. Open the downloaded UserListEnabler.zip file, and extract (drag and drop) the Windows 8 x86 (32-bit) or Windows 8 x64 (64-bit) folder for your 32-bit or 64-bit Window 8 to your desktop. (see screenshot below)

4. Open the extracted Windows 8 x86 (32-bit) or Windows 8 x64 (64-bit) folder, then unblock and run the UserListEnabler.exe file.

5. If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on Yes.

6. Do step 3 or 4 below for what you would like to do.

7. To Always Show All Users in Windows 8 Sign in Screen

A) Click/tap on the Enable user list option, and close Winaero User List Enabler. (see screenshots below step 8)
NOTE: If the option is grayed out, then it's already set to this.

8. To Always Show Only Last User that Signed Out in Windows 8 Sign in Screen
NOTE: This is the default setting.

A) Click/tap on the Reset to defaults option, and close Winaero User List Enabler. (see screenshots below)
NOTE: If the option is grayed out, then it's already set to this.

OPTION TWO

Set Always Show "All Users" or "Last User" in Windows 8 using VBS File

   Note

These vbscript files do the same thing as OPTION THREE below, but automatically for you. This also includes step 1 in OPTION THREE to automatically make sure that the Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer box is checked in netplwiz.

Using this option only while you have it set to have all users show in the sign in screen, you will have a few side effects with entering elevated credentials:

• Standard users will not be able to enter an administrator's password in an UAC prompt. Instead, the UAC prompt will only show a progress bar, close, and deny access to the standard user. This does not cause this issue with administrator accounts.
• Remote Desktop Connections (RDC) credentials will be broken causing you to no longer be able to sign in to your RDC.
• You will not be able to sign in to the Store with a different Microsoft account. If you attempt to sign in with a different Microsoft account, then you will be signed out of the Store, and not be able to sign back in to the Store.

1. Do step 2 or 3 below for what you would like to do.



2. To Always Show All Users in Windows 8 Sign in Screen

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Always_Show_All_Users_at_Sign-in.vbs

3. To Always Show Only Last User that Signed Out in Windows 8 Sign in Screen
NOTE: This is the default setting.

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Always_Show_Last_User_at_Sign-in.vbs

4. Save the .vbs file to your Desktop.

5. Double click/tap on the downloaded .vbs file to run it.

6. Click/tap on Run and Yes (UAC) when prompted.
NOTE: If you like, you can stop getting the Run prompt by unblocking the downloaded .vbs file.

7. When the vbscript is finished, click/tap on OK. (see screenshots below)

8. You can now delete the downloaded .vbs file if you like.

OPTION THREE

Manually Set Always Show "All Users" or "Last User" in Windows 8

   Note

Special thanks to NiFu for providing this option in his posts here and here.

Using this option only while you have it set to have all users show in the sign in screen, you will have a few side effects with entering elevated credentials:

• Standard users will not be able to enter an administrator's password in an UAC prompt. Instead, the UAC prompt will only show a progress bar, close, and deny access to the standard user. This does not cause this issue with administrator accounts.
• Remote Desktop Connections (RDC) credentials will be broken causing you to no longer be able to sign in to your RDC.
• You will not be able to sign in to the Store with a different Microsoft account. If you attempt to sign in with a different Microsoft account, then you will be signed out of the Store, and not be able to sign back in to the Store.

1. If you have not already, you will need to turn off auto sign in at startup if enabled.

2. Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog, type regedit, and press Enter.

3. If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on Yes.

4. In Registry Editor, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)

Code:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Authentication\LogonUI\UserSwitch

5. In the right pane of UserSwitch, double click/tap on the Enabled DWORD to modify it, and do step 6 or 7 below for what you would like to do. (see screenshot above)

6. To Always Show All Users in Windows 8 Sign in Screen

A) Type 1, click/tap on OK, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: If you already did steps 8 to 19 previously, then you can go to step 20 below after setting this to 1 instead. There's no need to do those steps again.

7. To Always Show Only Last User that Signed Out in Windows 8 Sign in Screen
NOTE: This is the default setting.

A) Type 0 (zero), click/tap on OK, and go to step 20 below. (see screenshot above)

8. In the left pane of Registry Editor, right click on the UserSwitch key, and click/tap on Permissions. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: Steps 8 to 19 are needed to prevent System from changing step 6 back to 0 after every restart or startup of Windows 8.

9. Click/tap on the Advanced button. (see screenshot below)

10. Click/tap on the Disable inheritance button. (see screenshot below)

11. Click/tap on Convert inherited permissions into explicit permissions on this object. (see screenshot below)

12. Click/tap on Change (see screenshot below step 10) to change ownership to the Administrators group. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: See steps 3 to 13 of OPTION THREE in the tutorial link in this step for how.

13. Check the Replace owner on subcontainers and objects box. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: You'll also notice Administrators displayed as the owner now.

14. In the Permissions tab, select SYSTEM, and click/tap on the Edit button. (see screenshot below)

15. Click/tap on the Show advanced permissions link. (see screenshot below)

16. Select Deny in the Type drop down menu, uncheck all permissions to only have Set Value checked, check the Only apply these permissions to objects and/or containers within this container box, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

17. Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

18. Click/tap on Yes. (see screenshot below)

19. Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below step 9)

20. Close Registry Editor. (see screenshot below step 4)





That's it,
Shawn

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