Last Updated on October 10, 2026
Having multiple user accounts on a computer is nothing new. Many people like to have more than one user account in Windows for things such as a secondary local admin account. Or if you are on a shared computer, then you can give each person who uses it their own login to keep files and settings separate between accounts.
If you are on Windows 11, then you are most likely familiar with the extra steps required to switch user accounts on your computer. And if this is something you do on a regular basis, you may want to set up an easier way to do so. In this article, we will be showing you how to create a switch user shortcut for your taskbar, desktop or start menu so you can switch between user accounts with less effort.
To switch user accounts in Windows 11, you normally need to click the Start button, then your username, then the ellipsis and finally on the user account you want to switch over to. It takes too many clicks. We will bypass this entirely.
To create a switch user shortcut, we will be creating a new shortcut just like you would for any program or app. We will make our shortcut on the desktop and then we can move it to the taskbar or start menu as needed.
Creating the Desktop Shortcut
1. Initiate the Shortcut Wizard
The first step involves right clicking on the desktop and choosing New then Shortcut. In the box labeled Type the location or the item, you will enter the exact system path. You can copy and paste %windir%\system32\tsdiscon.exe directly into the text field and then click the Next button.
2. Name Your New Shortcut
The next step involves giving your shortcut a proper name. You can make this whatever you like or use the text from the sample image. Type in a recognizable phrase like Switch User. Then you will click the Finish button to generate the desktop icon.
Some modern Windows 11 installations might lack the required executable file by default. If you get a message saying that Windows cannot find the tsdiscon.exe file, you can download it from our provided link. You must then copy it directly into your C:\Windows\System32 folder to make the command function properly.
Customizing and Placing the Shortcut
1. Open Shortcut Properties
Once you have your shortcut created, you can then change its icon if you do not like the generic one that Windows uses. We have provided a custom icon included in the link above if you want to use that specific design. To change the icon for your new shortcut, you can right click on it and choose Properties. Then on the Shortcut tab, click the Change Icon button.
2. Bypass the Missing Icon Warning
You may see a warning message pop up on your screen. The system will state that tsdiscon.exe contains no icons. This is completely normal behavior. You can just click on the OK button to continue past the prompt.
3. Select a Custom Icon
You will then be shown the default Windows icon files from the System32 folder. You can use one of these if you find something you like. If not, you can click the Browse button and then navigate to the custom icon you downloaded. Apply that specific file to your new shortcut.
4. Pin to Your Taskbar
This is how the shortcut will look on your desktop using the custom icon. You can leave it right there on your desktop screen. You can also drag it directly to the taskbar for much easier access. Pinning it keeps the tool available no matter what applications you have open.
5. Test Your New Shortcut
Now you are ready to test your configuration. When you click on the switch user shortcut, you will be instantly logged out. The system takes you back to the main login screen. You can then log in with a completely different user profile.
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