Sign in - Show All Users or Last User in Windows 8

How to Always Show "All Users" or "Last User" at Sign in to Windows 8 and 8.1​

   Information

When you have more than one user account on the PC, 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 and 8.1 after a restart or shut down of the PC for all users.

You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do the options 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.

   Tip

If you like, you could enable Ctrl+Alt+Delete secure sign-in instead to also see all users on the sign in screen instead of just the user that last signed off after you press Ctrl+Alt+Delete on the sign in (log on) screen.

CONTENTS:

• Option One: Always Show "All Users" or "Last User" using "Winaero User List Enabler"
• Option Two: Always Show "All Users" or "Last User" using Group Policy
• Option Three: Always Show "All Users" or "Last User" at Sign in using a Task

EXAMPLE: All Users and Last User Sign in for Windows 8 and 8.1

​

​

​

​

OPTION ONE

Always Show "All Users" or "Last User" using "Winaero User List Enabler"

   Note

If you used any of the other options in this tutorial, then be sure to undo them first before using this option.

​

1. 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.​

​

​

​

2. 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)​

​

​

​

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

​

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

​

5. Do step 6 or 7 below for what you would like to do.​

​

6. 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)​

NOTE: If the option is grayed out, then it's already set to this.​

​

7. 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

Always Show "All Users" or "Last User" using Group Policy

   Note

If you used any of the other options in this tutorial, then be sure to undo them first before using this option.

​

1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor.​

​

2. In the left pane of group policy, click/tap on to expand User Configuration, Windows Settings, and Scripts (Logon/Logoff). (see screenshot below)​

​

​

​

3. In the right pane of Scripts (Logon/Logoff), double/click tap on Logon to edit it. (see screenshot above)​

​

4. Do step 5 or step 6 below for what you would like to do.​

​

​

5. To Always Show All Users in Windows 8/8.1 Sign in Screen​

​

A) In the Scripts tab, click/tap on the Add button. (see screenshot below)​

​

​

​

B) In the Script Name field, copy and paste the path below into it. (see screenshot below step 5C)​

​

C:\Windows\System32\reg.exe​

​

C) In the Script Parameters filed, copy and paste the command below into it, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)​

ADD HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Authentication\LogonUI\UserSwitch /V Enabled /T REG_dWORD /D 1 /F

​

​

​

​

D) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)​

​

​

6. To Always Show Only Last User that Signed Out in Windows 8/8.1 Sign in Screen​

NOTE: This is the default setting.​

​

A) In the Scripts tab, click/tap on the Remove button. (see screenshot below)​

​

​

​

B) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)​

​

​

​

7. When finished, you can close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.​

OPTION THREE

Always Show "All Users" or "Last User" at Sign in using a Task

   Note

If you used any of the other options in this tutorial, then be sure to undo them first before using this option.

If you have an issue of standard users not being able to enter an administrators password in a UAC prompt after using step 3 below, then use step 4 below to fix it, and use either OPTION ONE or OPTION TWO above instead.

1. Press the :winkey: + R to open the Run dialog, type taskschd.msc, and click/tap on OK.

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


3. To Always Show All Users in Windows 8/8.1 Sign in Screen

​

A) In Task Scheduler, click/tap on Task Scheduler Library in the far left pane, and click/tap on Create Task... in the far right "Actions" pane. (see screenshot below)​

​

​

​

B) In the General tab: (see screenshot below)​

​

• 
  [*=1]In the Name field, type in a name (ex: Sign-in,Users_List) you want for this task.
  [*=1]Under Security options, select (dot) Run whether user is logged on or not.
  [*=1]Under Security options, check the Run with highest privileges box.
  [*=1]In the Configure for menu, select your installed Windows (ex: Windows 8.1).

​

​

​

C) Click/tap on the Triggers tab, and click/tap on New. (see screenshot below)​

​

​

​

D) In the New Trigger settings: (see screenshot below)​

​

• 
  [*=1]In the Begin the task menu, select At log on.
  [*=1]Under Settings, select (dot) Any user.
  [*=1]Under Advanced settings, check the Enabled box.
  [*=1]Click/tap on OK.

​

​

E) In the Triggers tab, and click/tap on New again. (see screenshot below step 3C)​

​

F) In the New Trigger settings: (see screenshot below)​

​

• 
  [*=1]In the Begin the task menu, select At startup.
  [*=1]Under Advanced settings, check the Enabled box.
  [*=1]Click/tap on OK

​

​

G) In the Triggers tab, and click/tap on New again. (see screenshot below step 3C)​

​

H) In the New Trigger settings: (see screenshot below)​

​

• 
  [*=1]In the Begin the task menu, select On workstation unlock.
  [*=1]Under Settings, select (dot) Any user.
  [*=1]Under Advanced settings, check the Enabled box.
  [*=1]Click/tap on OK.

​

​

I) Click/tap on the Actions tab, and click/tap on New. (see screenshot below)​

​

​

​

J) In the New Action settings: (see screenshot below)​

​

• 
  [*=1]In the Action menu, select Start a program.
  [*=1]In the Program/script field, copy and paste C:\Windows\System32\reg.exe.
  [*=1]In the Add arguments field, copy and paste this below, and click/tap on OK.

ADD HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Authentication\LogonUI\UserSwitch /V Enabled /T REG_dWORD /D 1 /F

​

​

​

K) Click/tap on the Conditions tab, and: (see screenshot below)​

​

• 
  [*=1]Uncheck the lower Stop if the computer switches to battery power check box first.
  [*=1]Uncheck the upper Start the task only if the computer is on AC power check box second.
  [*=1]Click/tap on OK.

​

​

​

L) Type in the correct password for your user account in Windows, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)​

​

​

​

M) Close Task Scheduler.​

​

N) Check to make sure that you have checked the Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer check box to not have Windows automatically sign in to a user account at startup. This way you will see all users on the sign in screen instead. (see screenshot below)​

​

For how, see: How to Automatically Sign in to User Account at Startup in Windows 8 and 8.1​

​

​

​

O) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 5 below.​

​

All_Users_Sign-in.reg​

​

​

​

4. To Always Show Only Last User that Signed Out in Windows 8/8.1 Sign in Screen
NOTE: This is the default setting. This is to undo step 3 above.

​

A) In Task Scheduler, click/tap on Task Scheduler Library in the far left pane, click/tap on the task name (ex: Sign-in_Users_List) in the middle pane that you created in step 3 above, and click/tap on Delete in the far right "Actions" pane. (see screenshot below)​

​

​

​

B) Click/tap on Yes to confirm, and close Task Scheduler. (see screenshot below)​

​

​

​

C) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 5 below.​

​

Last_User_Sign-in.reg​

​

​

5. Save the .reg file to your Desktop.

6. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

7. If prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

8. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.





That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Sign in to Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Require Users to Sign in with User Name and Password in Windows 8 and 8.1
• Require Users to Sign in with User Name and Password on Lock Screen in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Change Background Color of Default Sign-in Screen in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Change Start and Sign in Screen Background and Color in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Sign in to a User Account Automatically at Startup in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Enable or Disable Password Protection on Wakeup in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How Enable or Disable Secure Sign-in with Ctrl+Alt+Delete in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Enable or Disable the Lock Screen in Windows 8 and 8.1
• Enable or Disable Screen Saver Password Protection in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Display Information about Previous Logons during User Sign-in to Windows 8 and 8.1

 

[bagavan]

Nice one brink!

 

[Brink]

Thank you Bagavan. I'm glad you like it. Thank you to NiFu again for coming up with it.

 

[snadge]

well done on the guide Brink and thanks NiFu - no doubt this one will be popular

 

[Brink]

Thank you snadge.

 

[Brink]

Tutorial updated to add OPTION ONE for an automatic option.

 

[Rusty]

Hi, I found this tutorial in a search, as I too was frustrated by the last user constantly coming up. The tutorial itself was very simple to follow, so thanks for your hard work.

I do have one issue though: changing the registry value in the initial steps is causing an issue with UAC, such that I cannot then run anything as an administrator from a standard user account. With the stated registry entry value set to 0, I am able to enter a password but with the value set to 1, the box pops up, showing a progress bar but then goes away with no option to enter an administrator password.

I had this issue a couple of days ago and resorted to doing a system restore to fix it (!) but when I encountered the problem again today, this change was the only one I had performed since running something as an admin, and so I put 2 and 2 together and made 4. I set the value back to 0 and the UAC worked correctly, again, back to 1, UAC failed, back to 0, UAC works. As I am not the only user of this computer (hence wanting to remove the last user silliness), I have not disabled UAC.

I would be very interested to hear back about the issue I have identified.

 

[Brink]

Hello Rusty, and welcome to Eight Forums.

Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be a way around that when having "all users" on the sign in screen.

I added a note at the top of the tutorial to warn about this.

 

[Rusty]

Ooops! I didn't see that, as I originally used the information in the thread that spawned this tutorial. Must learn to RTFM

Shame that it causes that issue, as the logon screen fix was quite useful.

Cheers

 

[Brink]

No worries. I added it after you posted, so it wouldn't have been there to read before.

Of course, if you don't want standard users on the computer to be able to enter an administrator's password, then it's really not a problem.

 

[NiFu]

changing the registry value in the initial steps is causing an issue with UAC, such that I cannot then run anything as an administrator from a standard user account.

I can confirm this problem. Easy way to check: With standard user account run an admin command prompt. Also others report this problem.

The problem is not the denied rights for user "system". The problem is the value itself. Check: If the value of "UserSwitch" is "0" then a standard user account can run "regedit" with admin rights and change the value to "1". After this change a standard user can't run any program with admin rights.

But we know:

• The value "1" is only needed whilst booting - to show "all user" login screen
• If the user "system" has the rights to change the value he will change this value back to "0".
• I explored that the user "system" do this change immediately after or whilst the login.

So we can do:

• Whilst shutdown we set the value to "1" - so it's ready for next boot to show "all user" login screen
• Immediately after or whilst the login the user "system" changes the value back to "0" - so there is no conflict with admin rights of standard user.

For "Windows 8 Pro" this can be done with "group policy editor":

• Start "gpedit.msc"
• Go to "Computer Configuration" -> "Windows Settings" -> "Scripts (Startup/Shutdown)" -> "Shutdown"
• "Add" a new shutdown script:
  Script name:
  C:\Windows\System32\reg.exe
  Script Parameters:
  ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Authentication\LogonUI\UserSwitch" /v Enabled /t REG_DWORD /d 0x00000001 /f

"Windows 8" doesn't have the "group policy editor" and I haven't found a stable solution.

I copied the shutdown script policy registry parts from "Windows 8 Pro" to "Windows 8" - but they have no effect.

I also tried to find a solution with "Task Scheduler" but don't found a stable trigger for "shutdown". I tried: Begin the task = "On an event", Log = "System", Source = "User32", EventID = "1074". This was me shown in "Event Viewer" for a shutdown event. This works sometimes - but "seldom". I also tested the trigger: Begin the task = "On disconnect from user session". But also this works sometimes - but "seldom".

As "Action" I choose:
Program/scripts:
C:\Windows\System32\reg.exe
Arguments (optional):
ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Authentication\LogonUI\UserSwitch" /v Enabled /t REG_DWORD /d 0x00000001 /f

Perhaps somebody can work on this to find a stable solution for "Windows 8".

I also play around a little with permissions of "UserSwitch" and add the users "Batch" and "Everyone" and give them full access - but also don't work stable.

 

[Brink]

Hello NiFu,

The method used in the tutorial is rock solid other than the side affect of standard users not being able to allow entering an administrator's password if prompted by UAC.

If you don't mind that, then it's a good solution for now. Luckily the side affect may even benefit those that do not want standard users to be able to do that anyway for better security. Like preventing the kids from doing stuff they shouldn't be.

So far, I haven't found away around the side affect and still have all users in the sign in screen.

 

[NiFu]

I read a comment in an other blog:

and it will break the remote desktop connection credentials to do remote desktop connections

I can't verify this - I have no remote desktop connection.

 

[Brink]

I haven't heard that before, but if it's from within a standard user account, then it would be part of the same UAC side affect.

Do you have a link to where this is posted?

 

[NiFu]

Do you have a link to where this is posted?

See here - comment of guest "Me" on December 10, 2012 at 2:37.

The other mentioned problem in this blog ("also the windows store would not let me log in no matter what I did") has other reasons - see end of comments (guest "Sergey Tkachenko" on December 13, 2012 at 8:29).

the side affect of standard users not being able to allow entering an administrator's password if prompted by UAC.

Hm, when I don't want that standard users can enter administrator's password - then I don't give them the administrator's password ...

 

[Brink]

I tested it, and it does indeed break RDC credentials as well while set to show all users.

For the standard account issue, it's really only an issue for those that use a standard account for everyday use instead of their administrator account, and want to perform an elevated action while still signed in to their standard account. Otherwise, most folks would want a standard user to know or be able to use the administrator's password anyways.

 

[NiFu]

it's really only an issue for those that use a standard account for everyday use instead of their administrator account

Yes, but if you have more than one account - and only then you want to show the all user login screen - then the other user accounts are most standard accounts. Think of a family PC where "father" is the administrator and mother, son and daughter have standard accounts.

 

[Brink]

Yes, it would be an issue anytime you wanted enter an administrator's password in a UAC prompt in a standard user account.

In that case, you would have to use the default "show last user" option, and have all accounts password protected to not have them signed into automatically.

To bad MS doesn't have an option to have "all users" show at sign in by default without the UAC credential issues.

 

[Abe Lincoln]

changing the registry value in the initial steps is causing an issue with UAC, such that I cannot then run anything as an administrator from a standard user account.

I can confirm this problem. Easy way to check: With standard user account run an admin command prompt. Also others report this problem.

The problem is not the denied rights for user "system". The problem is the value itself. Check: If the value of "UserSwitch" is "0" then a standard user account can run "regedit" with admin rights and change the value to "1". After this change a standard user can't run any program with admin rights.

But we know:

• The value "1" is only needed whilst booting - to show "all user" login screen
• If the user "system" has the rights to change the value he will change this value back to "0".
• I explored that the user "system" do this change immediately after or whilst the login.

So we can do:

• Whilst shutdown we set the value to "1" - so it's ready for next boot to show "all user" login screen
• Immediately after or whilst the login the user "system" changes the value back to "0" - so there is no conflict with admin rights of standard user.

For "Windows 8 Pro" this can be done with "group policy editor":

• Start "gpedit.msc"
• Go to "Computer Configuration" -> "Windows Settings" -> "Scripts (Startup/Shutdown)" -> "Shutdown"
• "Add" a new shutdown script:
  Script name:
  C:\Windows\System32\reg.exe
  Script Parameters:
  ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Authentication\LogonUI\UserSwitch" /v Enabled /t REG_DWORD /d 0x00000001 /f

"Windows 8" doesn't have the "group policy editor" and I haven't found a stable solution.

NiFu,

Many thanks for that information. I have Win8 Pro so I only needed to add the shutdown script as you described. It does what I want: Multiple user logon screen but standard user (i.e. my own personal account) can enter Admin password to run updates, when necessary. I prefer not to use an Admin account for general use - I only log on as Admin when I have to.


Brink,

Any chance you could add the above instructions for Win8 Pro users to the Tutorial? I read the whole thread but I got the wrong idea that I had to run the VB script and then follow NiFu's instructions for 'Pro users. Once I understood, I had to do a System Restore and then follow NiFu's instructions, only.

Many thanks to both of you.

P.S. I now have Win8 Pro almost the way I want it:
No lock screen, multi-user logon screen (+ passwords), no Metro interface, straight to Windows Classic Desktop with old school Start Menu and Control Panel. Call me old-fashioned but I know what I like and I like what I know!

 

[Brink]

Hello Abe Lincoln, and welcome to Eight Forums.

I have updated the tutorial to add the new OPTION ONE for this that does not have the elevated credentials issue that OPTION TWO and OPTION THREE has.