Several M1 Mac users report a bizarre bug in their macOS machines that causes them to log out automatically when using Apple's Fast User Switching feature.
There is a new bug in town and it affects dozens of Apple M1 Mac owners. Apple forums went ablaze with a bizarre issue that seems to hound Apple's new M1 Mac machines and its Fast User Switching feature. Apparently, the bug automatically logs out users who keep two or more accounts on their machines.
#macsecurity | #operatingsystem | Bug in macOS Fast User Switching logs out M1 Mac users https://t.co/DPjfpO2odD — National Cyber Security (@NcsVentures) January 19, 2021
According to M1 Mac users who posted the bizarre bug incident, they saw their screensaver suddenly start and before they knew it, the machine logged them out. Most of them suspect that Apple's Fast User Switching feature may play a role in why the machine automatically logs out its users. The feature, which was introduced in 2003 with OS X Panther, along with a security feature, is reportedly the culprit behind the strange issue.
More Than One Mac Account
Apple's Fast User Switching allows users to maintain more than one login account on their Macs, including the Guest account, and switch between the two. However, there are indications that the switching feature, according to reports, activates unexpectedly, which causes the bizarre bug leading to M1 Macs automatically logging out its users.
"What happens is that a user can be working at their Mac when, without prompting, it displays a screensaver and logs the user out," AppleInsider, an online news outlet, wrote in its report. Some industry observers offered explanations as to what causes the bizarre bug that causes M1 Macs to log out its users automatically. Many of them say that Apple's Fast User Switching is a likely source of the issue.
Setting Screen Saver To Never Might Solve The Problem
A user who also saw the bizarre bug log him out automatically while working on his M1 Mac recounted his experience on Reddit. "I have a brand new M1 MacBook Pro running macOS 11.1 and I'm having a small yet annoying issue. At random times, while in the middle of working, my machine will suddenly activate the screensaver. I cannot click out of it, and my keyboard does nothing," the user said. Some are saying that Apple's Fast User Switching feature is the likely reason why the M1 Mac logs out its user.
Others who also experienced the bizarre bug, causing the M1 Mac to log out users automatically, say setting the screen saver to never might temporarily solve the issue. As for the user who posted his complaint about the same issue, he said his temporary fix involves closing his MacBook for a couple of seconds, then opening and reloading it. As of posting, Apple did not say if its Fast User Switching is the one responsible for the bizarre issue. Until then, M1 Mac owners would have to rely on temporary fixes until an official fix comes along.
