{"slug":"fast-user-switching","title":"Fast user switching","tags":["tailscale"],"agent_summary":"Last validated: Dec 4, 2025","trigger_phrases":[],"runnable":false,"markdown":"\r\n# Fast user switching\r\n\r\nLast validated: Dec 4, 2025\r\n\r\nFast user switching lets you quickly switch between two or more logged-in accounts on the same device, without\r\nrequiring you to re-authenticate.\r\n\r\nFast user switchingis available for [all plans](https://tailscale.com/pricing).\r\n\r\n## [How it works](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching\\#how-it-works)\r\n\r\nA Tailscale client device lets only one active account log in at a time.\r\nWith fast user switching, a user on the client device can quickly switch to an account on\r\nanother [tailnet](https://tailscale.com/docs/concepts/tailnet).\r\n\r\nThis will not require re-authentication unless one of the following is true:\r\n\r\n- The account being switched to has never been used on the device.\r\n- The device's [node key](https://tailscale.com/blog/tailscale-key-management#node-keys) for the tailnet being switched to has expired.\r\n\r\nA device is not able to transmit packets on multiple tailnets simultaneously.\r\nWhen using fast user switching between tailnets, one tailnet doesn't have knowledge of the other tailnet's existence, nor\r\nwhether the client device is also in another tailnet.\r\n\r\nNote that the active Tailscale client account is independent of which account is used to log into the\r\nTailscale [admin console](https://login.tailscale.com/admin). You can have only one active account logged into the Tailscale\r\nclient on a device, but if you have multiple browsers open, you can simultaneously use different accounts\r\nto log in to the admin console.\r\n\r\n### [Adding an account to a device](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching\\#adding-an-account-to-a-device)\r\n\r\nYou can add an account in either the client application (for macOS, iOS, and Windows) or using the\r\n[Tailscale CLI](https://tailscale.com/docs/reference/tailscale-cli) (for Linux, macOS, and Windows).\r\n\r\n#### [Adding an account using the client application](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching\\#adding-an-account-using-the-client-application)\r\n\r\n[macOS](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching?tab=macos) [iOS](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching?tab=ios) [Windows](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching?tab=windows) [Android](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching?tab=android)\r\n\r\nIf you are running Tailscale v1.60.0 or later:\r\n\r\n1. Select the Tailscale icon in the menu bar.\r\n2. Select **Settings**.\r\n3. Select **Accounts**.\r\n4. Select **Add Account**.\r\n5. In the browser window that opens, log in with the desired account to complete the authentication process.\r\n\r\nIf you are running a Tailscale version earlier than v1.60.0:\r\n\r\n1. Select the Tailscale icon in the menu bar.\r\n2. Select the account that is currently logged on.\r\n3. Select **Add another account**.\r\n4. In the browser window that opens, log in with the desired account to complete the authentication\r\nprocess.\r\n\r\n#### [Adding an account using the CLI](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching\\#adding-an-account-using-the-cli)\r\n\r\n1. Run the [`tailscale login`](https://tailscale.com/docs/reference/tailscale-cli#login) command:\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n```shell\r\ntailscale login\r\n```\r\n\r\n2. Use the URL that is opened to specify the account that you want to use and complete the authentication process.\r\n\r\n\r\n### [Switching between accounts](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching\\#switching-between-accounts)\r\n\r\nYou can switch between accounts in either the client application (for macOS, iOS, and Windows) or using\r\nthe [Tailscale CLI](https://tailscale.com/docs/reference/tailscale-cli) (for Linux, macOS, and Windows).\r\n\r\nThis step assumes you have already [added an additional account](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching#adding-an-account-to-a-device) to the client device.\r\n\r\n#### [Switching between accounts using the client application](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching\\#switching-between-accounts-using-the-client-application)\r\n\r\n[macOS](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching?tab=macos) [iOS](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching?tab=ios) [Windows](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching?tab=windows) [Android](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching?tab=android)\r\n\r\n1. Select the Tailscale icon in the menu bar.\r\n2. Select the account that is currently logged on.\r\n3. Select the account that you want to switch to.\r\n\r\nYou won't be asked to re-authenticate unless the device's [node key](https://tailscale.com/blog/tailscale-key-management#node-keys)\r\nfor the tailnet being switched to has expired.\r\n\r\n#### [Switching between accounts using the CLI](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching\\#switching-between-accounts-using-the-cli)\r\n\r\nUse the [`tailscale switch`](https://tailscale.com/docs/reference/tailscale-cli#switch) command to switch between accounts.\r\n\r\n```shell\r\ntailscale switch alice@example.com\r\n```\r\n\r\nYou won't be asked to re-authenticate unless the device's [node key](https://tailscale.com/blog/tailscale-key-management#node-keys) for the tailnet being switched to has\r\nexpired.\r\n\r\nIf you previously [set a nickname](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching#setting-a-nickname) for an account, use the nickname when you switch between accounts.\r\n\r\n```shell\r\ntailscale switch work\r\n```\r\n\r\n### [Viewing all accounts](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching\\#viewing-all-accounts)\r\n\r\nYou can access accounts that have authenticated with the device, using either the client application\r\nor the [Tailscale CLI](https://tailscale.com/docs/reference/tailscale-cli).\r\n\r\n#### [Viewing account using the client application](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching\\#viewing-account-using-the-client-application)\r\n\r\n[macOS](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching?tab=macos) [iOS](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching?tab=ios) [Windows](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching?tab=windows) [Android](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching?tab=android)\r\n\r\n1. Select the Tailscale icon in the menu bar.\r\n2. Select the account that is currently logged on.\r\n\r\nThe list of accounts will be displayed, with a check mark indicating which account is currently logged in.\r\n\r\n#### [Viewing accounts using the CLI](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching\\#viewing-accounts-using-the-cli)\r\n\r\nRun the [`tailscale switch`](https://tailscale.com/docs/reference/tailscale-cli#switch) command with the `--list` flag:\r\n\r\n```shell\r\ntailscale switch --list\r\n```\r\n\r\nThe list of accounts will be displayed, with an asterisk indicating which account is currently logged in.\r\n\r\n```shell\r\nalice@example.com\r\nalice@gmail.com *\r\n```\r\n\r\nIf you [set a nickname](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching#setting-a-nickname) for an account, the `tailscale switch --list` command displays the\r\nnickname:\r\n\r\n```shell\r\nalice@example.com\r\nwork *\r\n```\r\n\r\n### [Setting a nickname](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching\\#setting-a-nickname)\r\n\r\nUse the [`tailscale set`](https://tailscale.com/docs/reference/tailscale-cli#set) command to set a nickname for the currently active account.\r\n\r\nBefore setting the nickname in this example, let's assume that `tailscale switch --list` shows the\r\nactive account is `alice@example.com`.\r\n\r\n```shell\r\ntailscale switch --list\r\n```\r\n\r\nThe output is:\r\n\r\n```shell\r\nalice@example.com *\r\nalice@gmail.com\r\n```\r\n\r\nSet the nickname of the active account to `work`:\r\n\r\n```shell\r\ntailscale set --nickname=work\r\n```\r\n\r\nRun `tailscale switch --list` again, and read the nickname `work` appear in the output (instead of `alice@example.com`):\r\n\r\n```shell\r\nalice@gmail.com\r\nwork *\r\n```\r\n\r\n### [Logging out of an account](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching\\#logging-out-of-an-account)\r\n\r\nYou can log out of an account using either the client application or the [Tailscale CLI](https://tailscale.com/docs/reference/tailscale-cli).\r\n\r\n#### [Logging out using the client application](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching\\#logging-out-using-the-client-application)\r\n\r\n[macOS](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching?tab=macos) [iOS](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching?tab=ios) [Windows](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching?tab=windows) [Android](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching?tab=android)\r\n\r\nIf you are running Tailscale v1.60.0 or later:\r\n\r\n1. Select the Tailscale icon in the menu bar.\r\n2. Select **Settings**.\r\n3. Select **Accounts**.\r\n4. Select **Log Out**.\r\n\r\nIf you are running a Tailscale version earlier than v1.60.0:\r\n\r\n1. Select the Tailscale icon in the menu bar.\r\n2. Select the account that is currently logged on.\r\n3. Select **Log out**.\r\n\r\n#### [Logging out using the CLI](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching\\#logging-out-using-the-cli)\r\n\r\nRun the [`tailscale logout`](https://tailscale.com/docs/reference/tailscale-cli#logout) command to log out the currently active account:\r\n\r\n```shell\r\ntailscale logout\r\n```\r\n\r\n### [Limitations](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching\\#limitations)\r\n\r\n- You aren't prevented from switching between accounts in the same tailnet. If you don't want to switch\r\nbetween accounts in the same tailnet, re-authenticate the device instead of switching between accounts.\r\n","html":"<h1>Fast user switching</h1>\n<p>Last validated: Dec 4, 2025</p>\n<p>Fast user switching lets you quickly switch between two or more logged-in accounts on the same device, without\r\nrequiring you to re-authenticate.</p>\n<p>Fast user switchingis available for <a href=\"https://tailscale.com/pricing\">all plans</a>.</p>\n<h2><a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching#how-it-works\">How it works</a></h2>\n<p>A Tailscale client device lets only one active account log in at a time.\r\nWith fast user switching, a user on the client device can quickly switch to an account on\r\nanother <a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/concepts/tailnet\">tailnet</a>.</p>\n<p>This will not require re-authentication unless one of the following is true:</p>\n<ul>\n<li>The account being switched to has never been used on the device.</li>\n<li>The device's <a href=\"https://tailscale.com/blog/tailscale-key-management#node-keys\">node key</a> for the tailnet being switched to has expired.</li>\n</ul>\n<p>A device is not able to transmit packets on multiple tailnets simultaneously.\r\nWhen using fast user switching between tailnets, one tailnet doesn't have knowledge of the other tailnet's existence, nor\r\nwhether the client device is also in another tailnet.</p>\n<p>Note that the active Tailscale client account is independent of which account is used to log into the\r\nTailscale <a href=\"https://login.tailscale.com/admin\">admin console</a>. You can have only one active account logged into the Tailscale\r\nclient on a device, but if you have multiple browsers open, you can simultaneously use different accounts\r\nto log in to the admin console.</p>\n<h3><a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching#adding-an-account-to-a-device\">Adding an account to a device</a></h3>\n<p>You can add an account in either the client application (for macOS, iOS, and Windows) or using the\r\n<a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/reference/tailscale-cli\">Tailscale CLI</a> (for Linux, macOS, and Windows).</p>\n<h4><a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching#adding-an-account-using-the-client-application\">Adding an account using the client application</a></h4>\n<p><a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching?tab=macos\">macOS</a> <a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching?tab=ios\">iOS</a> <a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching?tab=windows\">Windows</a> <a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching?tab=android\">Android</a></p>\n<p>If you are running Tailscale v1.60.0 or later:</p>\n<ol>\n<li>Select the Tailscale icon in the menu bar.</li>\n<li>Select <strong>Settings</strong>.</li>\n<li>Select <strong>Accounts</strong>.</li>\n<li>Select <strong>Add Account</strong>.</li>\n<li>In the browser window that opens, log in with the desired account to complete the authentication process.</li>\n</ol>\n<p>If you are running a Tailscale version earlier than v1.60.0:</p>\n<ol>\n<li>Select the Tailscale icon in the menu bar.</li>\n<li>Select the account that is currently logged on.</li>\n<li>Select <strong>Add another account</strong>.</li>\n<li>In the browser window that opens, log in with the desired account to complete the authentication\r\nprocess.</li>\n</ol>\n<h4><a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching#adding-an-account-using-the-cli\">Adding an account using the CLI</a></h4>\n<ol>\n<li>Run the <a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/reference/tailscale-cli#login\"><code>tailscale login</code></a> command:</li>\n</ol>\n<pre><code class=\"language-shell\">tailscale login\n</code></pre>\n<ol start=\"2\">\n<li>Use the URL that is opened to specify the account that you want to use and complete the authentication process.</li>\n</ol>\n<h3><a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching#switching-between-accounts\">Switching between accounts</a></h3>\n<p>You can switch between accounts in either the client application (for macOS, iOS, and Windows) or using\r\nthe <a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/reference/tailscale-cli\">Tailscale CLI</a> (for Linux, macOS, and Windows).</p>\n<p>This step assumes you have already <a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching#adding-an-account-to-a-device\">added an additional account</a> to the client device.</p>\n<h4><a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching#switching-between-accounts-using-the-client-application\">Switching between accounts using the client application</a></h4>\n<p><a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching?tab=macos\">macOS</a> <a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching?tab=ios\">iOS</a> <a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching?tab=windows\">Windows</a> <a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching?tab=android\">Android</a></p>\n<ol>\n<li>Select the Tailscale icon in the menu bar.</li>\n<li>Select the account that is currently logged on.</li>\n<li>Select the account that you want to switch to.</li>\n</ol>\n<p>You won't be asked to re-authenticate unless the device's <a href=\"https://tailscale.com/blog/tailscale-key-management#node-keys\">node key</a>\r\nfor the tailnet being switched to has expired.</p>\n<h4><a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching#switching-between-accounts-using-the-cli\">Switching between accounts using the CLI</a></h4>\n<p>Use the <a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/reference/tailscale-cli#switch\"><code>tailscale switch</code></a> command to switch between accounts.</p>\n<pre><code class=\"language-shell\">tailscale switch alice@example.com\n</code></pre>\n<p>You won't be asked to re-authenticate unless the device's <a href=\"https://tailscale.com/blog/tailscale-key-management#node-keys\">node key</a> for the tailnet being switched to has\r\nexpired.</p>\n<p>If you previously <a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching#setting-a-nickname\">set a nickname</a> for an account, use the nickname when you switch between accounts.</p>\n<pre><code class=\"language-shell\">tailscale switch work\n</code></pre>\n<h3><a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching#viewing-all-accounts\">Viewing all accounts</a></h3>\n<p>You can access accounts that have authenticated with the device, using either the client application\r\nor the <a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/reference/tailscale-cli\">Tailscale CLI</a>.</p>\n<h4><a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching#viewing-account-using-the-client-application\">Viewing account using the client application</a></h4>\n<p><a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching?tab=macos\">macOS</a> <a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching?tab=ios\">iOS</a> <a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching?tab=windows\">Windows</a> <a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching?tab=android\">Android</a></p>\n<ol>\n<li>Select the Tailscale icon in the menu bar.</li>\n<li>Select the account that is currently logged on.</li>\n</ol>\n<p>The list of accounts will be displayed, with a check mark indicating which account is currently logged in.</p>\n<h4><a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching#viewing-accounts-using-the-cli\">Viewing accounts using the CLI</a></h4>\n<p>Run the <a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/reference/tailscale-cli#switch\"><code>tailscale switch</code></a> command with the <code>--list</code> flag:</p>\n<pre><code class=\"language-shell\">tailscale switch --list\n</code></pre>\n<p>The list of accounts will be displayed, with an asterisk indicating which account is currently logged in.</p>\n<pre><code class=\"language-shell\">alice@example.com\r\nalice@gmail.com *\n</code></pre>\n<p>If you <a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching#setting-a-nickname\">set a nickname</a> for an account, the <code>tailscale switch --list</code> command displays the\r\nnickname:</p>\n<pre><code class=\"language-shell\">alice@example.com\r\nwork *\n</code></pre>\n<h3><a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching#setting-a-nickname\">Setting a nickname</a></h3>\n<p>Use the <a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/reference/tailscale-cli#set\"><code>tailscale set</code></a> command to set a nickname for the currently active account.</p>\n<p>Before setting the nickname in this example, let's assume that <code>tailscale switch --list</code> shows the\r\nactive account is <code>alice@example.com</code>.</p>\n<pre><code class=\"language-shell\">tailscale switch --list\n</code></pre>\n<p>The output is:</p>\n<pre><code class=\"language-shell\">alice@example.com *\r\nalice@gmail.com\n</code></pre>\n<p>Set the nickname of the active account to <code>work</code>:</p>\n<pre><code class=\"language-shell\">tailscale set --nickname=work\n</code></pre>\n<p>Run <code>tailscale switch --list</code> again, and read the nickname <code>work</code> appear in the output (instead of <code>alice@example.com</code>):</p>\n<pre><code class=\"language-shell\">alice@gmail.com\r\nwork *\n</code></pre>\n<h3><a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching#logging-out-of-an-account\">Logging out of an account</a></h3>\n<p>You can log out of an account using either the client application or the <a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/reference/tailscale-cli\">Tailscale CLI</a>.</p>\n<h4><a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching#logging-out-using-the-client-application\">Logging out using the client application</a></h4>\n<p><a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching?tab=macos\">macOS</a> <a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching?tab=ios\">iOS</a> <a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching?tab=windows\">Windows</a> <a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching?tab=android\">Android</a></p>\n<p>If you are running Tailscale v1.60.0 or later:</p>\n<ol>\n<li>Select the Tailscale icon in the menu bar.</li>\n<li>Select <strong>Settings</strong>.</li>\n<li>Select <strong>Accounts</strong>.</li>\n<li>Select <strong>Log Out</strong>.</li>\n</ol>\n<p>If you are running a Tailscale version earlier than v1.60.0:</p>\n<ol>\n<li>Select the Tailscale icon in the menu bar.</li>\n<li>Select the account that is currently logged on.</li>\n<li>Select <strong>Log out</strong>.</li>\n</ol>\n<h4><a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching#logging-out-using-the-cli\">Logging out using the CLI</a></h4>\n<p>Run the <a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/reference/tailscale-cli#logout\"><code>tailscale logout</code></a> command to log out the currently active account:</p>\n<pre><code class=\"language-shell\">tailscale logout\n</code></pre>\n<h3><a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/client/fast-user-switching#limitations\">Limitations</a></h3>\n<ul>\n<li>You aren't prevented from switching between accounts in the same tailnet. If you don't want to switch\r\nbetween accounts in the same tailnet, re-authenticate the device instead of switching between accounts.</li>\n</ul>\n"}