Successfully Tested On: Mac OS X 10.11 - macOS 11.2
The macOS login screen can be customized in System Preferences under Users & Groups > Login Options. One of the options here allows for the login screen to display either a list of users or a name and a password field. When set to a list of users, all available accounts will be graphically listed to be selected from:
In the environment I work, some computers have hidden accounts that don’t show up in this list view. Therefore someone can be caught off guard if they need to log in to a hidden account and the login screen is set to list view.
Luckily there’s a simple trick to force the name and password fields to show while using a list view login screen:
- Step 1 for macOS 10.14 Mojave and prior: Press the down arrow on the keyboard to highlight any user (make sure the password entry box is NOT open)
- Press Option + Return on the keyboard
The name and password boxes will appear which then allow a specific username to be entered:
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Hello,
I have only name and password field, how can I turn into user list view?
Thank you very much
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Hello Marcus,
This trick only works going from User List View to showing username and password fields; not the other way around. I do not believe there is a way to do what you’re looking for from the login screen. Rather that must be set from within the System Preference option referred to in this article after you’re already logged in.
Cheers!
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This didnt work for me any other solutions?
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Sorry, marcus, I’ve been on a looong vacation! I’ve tested this process successfully on 10.11 up to 10.15. The tricky part is step 1, making sure you use the down arrow to get a user highlighted without actually opening up the password field. Also make sure you’re on the front login screen — meaning if you see an option on the bottom to “Switch User”, click that first.
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