Remove the Login Window section from the OS X Lion menu bar

This article will guide you step by step to remove the 'Login Window' item (known as Fast User Switching) from the menu bar of the latest operating system released by Apple - OS X Lion. In the images shown below, access to Fast User Switching is set to your default name. This will probably take up a lot of space in Menu Bar.

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One of the features of OS X is to switch users very quickly. This allows you to log into the Mac with another account (while the system has an account in use) and can switch between accounts quickly when needed.

Even if you previously disabled this feature (in OS X Snow Leopard or earlier), when you install OS X Lion (10.7) it will be reactivated.

If you do not use this feature frequently, you can remove it (or edit) to free up space for Menu Bar. Here are the steps to take:

1. As shown below, having Fast User Switching in your Menu Bar, especially when setting the default user mode will take up a lot of space.

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2. To remove it from Menu Bar (or make it smaller) click on it and select Users & Groups Preferences… from the drop down menu bar.

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3. Next select your account name from the left menu and click the lock icon in the bottom left corner.

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4. Enter your password when asked:

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5. Click Login Options from the left menu.

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6. To complete the removal of Fast User Switching items from the OS X menu bar, uncheck the box titled Show fast user switching menu as :

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7. Now the " Login Window '/ Fast User Switching /' Your Name ' entries will no longer appear on your Menu Bar.

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8. In case you want to keep the Fast User Switching feature on Menu Bar, but do not want it to occupy space because the name is too long, check the option box titled Show fast user switching menu as to click activate it and select Icon from the pop-up menu that appears.

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9. You can now use the thumbnail icon to access Fast User Switching from Menu Bar.

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