How to Change the Default User at Mac Startup Login

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Level 1

11 points

How to Change the Default User at Mac Startup Login

I have several user accounts on my Mac. I have one in particular that I use for diagnosing issues etc, but don't regularly use. I have another admin account that is my primary user account. For quite some time now (going back pre-Tahoe), when I boot up the machine, when it finally gets to the login screen, it ALWAYS defaults to the diag user. I have to then select my day-to-day account to log in. It's a minor thing but very annoying. How do I change which account is chosen as the default user at startup time?

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 26.1

Posted on Nov 24, 2025 3:43 PM

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Answer 1

Eoin_C Author

Level 1

11 points

Nov 24, 2025 6:03 PM in response to HWTech

HWTech wrote:

Of course clicking on (perhaps hovering over) the user will show a list of all users. I believe you can also use the Up Arrow or maybe it is the Down Arrow key to have it display a list of all the users.

IIRC, On the login screen you can try pressing Option + Enter which seems to cause it to display all the users across the middle of the screen like it did with older versions of macOS. I tried this on one Mac and it seemed to cause the login screen to remain that way, but I cannot say for how long.

That's what I'm trying to avoid having to do every time.

FYI, I believe the macOS 15.x+ login screens default to the last user to log into the Mac.

Aha -- I think you're on to something. I started it, logged into my main account only, shut it down & restarted, and it defaulted to my main account. Now if there were a way to turn off the dynamic selection.....

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Answer 2

Eoin_C Author

Level 1

11 points

Nov 24, 2025 6:14 PM in response to John Galt

John Galt wrote:

"For the purposes you describe, the following might be useful: Hide a user account in macOS - Apple Support. Be advised that I have not tried it recently."

That might be the answer. Thanks

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Answer 3

Eoin_C Author

Level 1

11 points

Nov 24, 2025 4:52 PM in response to John Galt

As I said, when it finally gets to the login screen, it defaults to the diag user. The diag user's name is displayed and a password box is offered for the input of the diag user's password. It doesn't give a list, it pre-selects the diag user as default

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Answer 4

HWTech

Level 9

68,240 points

Nov 24, 2025 5:04 PM in response to John Galt

John Galt wrote:

Unless I am misunderstanding your question, the list of users (icons) appears in alphabetical order from left to right. None are selected by default... you have to do that.

macOS 15.x Sequoia unfortunately changed things. All of the users are now hidden behind a single user & are located at the bottom center of the screen. Very annoying change.

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Answer 5

John Galt

Level 10

154,892 points

Nov 24, 2025 4:26 PM in response to Eoin_C

Unless I am misunderstanding your question, the list of users (icons) appears in alphabetical order from left to right. None are selected by default... you have to do that.

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Answer 6

John Galt

Level 10

154,892 points

Nov 24, 2025 6:03 PM in response to Eoin_C

Apparently I did misunderstand your question. The "diag user" as you described it is just another user.

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Answer 7

Eoin_C Author

Level 1

11 points

Nov 24, 2025 6:11 PM in response to John Galt

John Galt wrote:

Apparently I did misunderstand your question. The "diag user" as you described it is just another user.

Correct. One of several I created, and not the primary one on this machine

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Answer 8

HWTech

Level 9

68,240 points

Nov 24, 2025 5:15 PM in response to Eoin_C

Of course clicking on (perhaps hovering over) the user will show a list of all users. I believe you can also use the Up Arrow or maybe it is the Down Arrow key to have it display a list of all the users.

IIRC, On the login screen you can try pressing Option + Enter which seems to cause it to display all the users across the middle of the screen like it did with older versions of macOS. I tried this on one Mac and it seemed to cause the login screen to remain that way, but I cannot say for how long. I was unable to find a way to revert it to the new default so I didn't want to try it on anyone else's Mac.

FYI, I believe the macOS 15.x+ login screens default to the last user to log into the Mac.

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Answer 9

John Galt

Level 10

154,892 points

Nov 24, 2025 6:07 PM in response to Eoin_C

For the purposes you describe, the following might be useful: Hide a user account in macOS - Apple Support. Be advised that I have not tried it recently.

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