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

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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.

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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.​

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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)​

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

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

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

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

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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.​

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

NOTE: This is the default setting.​

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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.​

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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.

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1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor.​

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

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

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

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

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

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

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C:\Windows\System32\reg.exe​

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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

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

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

NOTE: This is the default setting.​

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

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

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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

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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)​

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

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  [*=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).

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

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

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  [*=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.

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

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

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

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

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

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  [*=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.

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

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

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  [*=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

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

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  [*=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.

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

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M) Close Task Scheduler.​

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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)​

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

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

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All_Users_Sign-in.reg​

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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.

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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)​

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

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

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Last_User_Sign-in.reg​

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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

 

[Brink]

Stupid question: Is it possible to transform the first method in a manual procedure that is without running any utility

Thanks

Bye

I have another manual method I'm working on now that will replace Option Two and Option Three, and does not have any side effects.

I'll have this tutorial updated with it later today, and will post back when it's ready.

Where is this new manual procedure without side effects?

Thanks

Bye

See my quote.

 

[Brink]

Tutorial has been updated with the new OPTION TWO to manually set to always have "All Users" or "Last User" on sign in screen without any side effects.

 

[balubeto]

I tried the new second method, and I found a bug.

I applied the procedure on Windows 8.1 Update 1 Enterprise 64 bit and the screen of all users is displayed when I restart the system.

Now, if I log in using one of them, I lock it (Start ---> <username> ---> Lock), I unlock it by inserting the password and then I restart the computer correctly, the last user screen is displayed again. How come?

Thanks

Bye

 

[Brink]

Balubeto,

Thank you for pointing that out.

I've added step 3G and 3H in Option Two to fix that for when you unlock now.

You can just go back and edit your task, and add the new trigger from these new steps to update.

 

[balubeto]

Balubeto,

Thank you for pointing that out.

I've added step 3G and 3H in Option Two to fix that for when you unlock now.

You can just go back and edit your task, and add the new trigger from these new steps to update.

Perfect.

For now, I can not find any other bugs. Hurray!

Thanks

Bye

 

[Brink]

Perfect.

 

[Digweed]

Brink
Hello,
After using option #2 for Windows 8.1 x64 now I can not run as administrator of the program as a user.
Did everything according to the instructions that it can be? For example, Command line (Administrator) give me error fast pogress bar and File system error (-1073741819).

 

[Brink]

Hello Digweed, and welcome to Eight Forums.

I'm not sure why since OPTION TWO would have no affect on that. The elevated task created in Option Two basically just sets the Enabled DWORD in the registry key below to 1 at startup, sign in, or unlock to have all users show on the sign in screen. The task is needed to set the DWORD back to 1 since it gets automatically reset to 0 after a restart, lock, or sign out.

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

Step 4 in OPTION TWO will undo step 3.


I would recommend to do a system restore using a restore point dated before this started to hopefully undo and fix it.

 

[Digweed]

Brink
When you turn off the task problem gone ofc. But to me it is necessary that it would work with the task

And 1 should remain after the full system boot? I have it still.

 

[Brink]

Did you disable UAC by setting the EnableLUA registry DWORD to 0 (zero) at the registry location below? It should be set to 1 instead. That would cause standard users to not be able to enter an administrator's password when prompted by UAC.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/5509-user-account-control-uac-change-settings-windows-8-a.html

 

[Digweed]

yeah its EnableLUA = 1

 

[Brink]

Ok, good.

Just to try and clarify better, is this happening only with a specific program that you're trying to "Run as administrator", or all programs?

...and that this only happens when using step 3 in Option Two?

I'm not certain what may be causing this since there's no way that OPTION TWO could affect UAC or the ability to "Run as administrator".

I'm thinking that it must be something else. As a test, do a system restore using a restore point dated before this started to see if it still happens. If not, then start over fresh with Option Two again to see how it behaves for you.

 

[Digweed]

Brink

I thought maybe it's with my OS problems and try it on clean virtual machine Win 8.1 x64 and have same error.

Just to try and clarify better, is this happening only with a specific program that you're trying to "Run as administrator", or all programs?

With any program which i try start as admin. I try with CMD, Soundrecorder & Total Commander.

...and that this only happens when using step 3 in Option Two?

Yep, if i disable task everything ok.

 

[Brink]

Digweed,

I see what the issue is now. This isn't related to this show all users on sign in screen tutorial.

The issue you are having is that the association for .exe files and "Run as administrator" has been messed up somehow.

You should be able to use step 2 in the tutorial below to restore and fix this association back to default.

Run as Administrator - Add or Remove from Context Menu in Windows 7 - Windows 7 Help Forums

 

[Digweed]

It is totally clean VM + updates from Windows Update. And if I stop task then everything works fine, ie it is certainly not due to the associations. This is something else - a mystery!


Just in case i apply fix "run as admin" but it did not help.

 

[Brink]

Your screenshot below is definitely showing an association issue.

There's just not anyway that Option Two could possible cause that, so I'm not sure why stopping the task also stops the error. I can't reproduce what you're seeing.

Delete the task and create a new one from scratch in case you may have entered the password incorrectly, or made some other unknown mistake.

If it happens again, then as a test, download and merge the .reg file for the listed .exe option in the tutorial below to restore the default associations of .exe files to see if that may sort it.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/8486-default-file-associations-restore-windows-8-a.html

 

[nichigo13]

I thought maybe it's with my OS problems and try it on clean virtual machine Win 8.1 x64 and have same error.
View attachment 47065
View attachment 47066


i have same problem. for some reason my UAC on 'standard users' got broke and cant run programs with administrative rights when i do this procedure .

 

[Brink]

Hello Nichigo, and welcome to Eight Forums.

What did you use to cause this?

 

[nichigo13]

Hello Nichigo, and welcome to Eight Forums.

What did you use to cause this?

i have no problems on uac on all users but after doing the option 2 my UAC get broke and produce the error when i tried to open programs with administrative rights. .... it only occur on standard accounts.. but when i delete the task everything works fine.

Thanks for your welcome , hope u understand my bad english :huh:

 

[Brink]

What happens is the tasks changes the Enabled DWORD value to 1 at the registry location below when a user signs in. If it doesn't get changed from 0 to 1, then you get the issue you see with a broken UAC prompt for standard users not able to enter an administrator password.

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

It sounds like your Enabled DWORD is not getting changed to 1.

I'll look into it more tonight to see what may be happening. Possibly something has changed from an update.

As you stated, doing all of step 4 in Option Two does indeed restores the default settings and stops the issue.