Logging Out In

Logging Out & In

If your computer is shared by multiple users, you may find it more convenient to log out when you're finished working. The Log Out command under the Apple menu (Figure 65) closes all applications and documents and closes your account on the computer. The computer remains running, making it quick and easy for the next person to log in and get right to work.

Tips

• If you are your computer's only user, you'll probably never use the Log Out command. (I hardly ever do.)

• Mac OS X's fast user switching feature makes it quicker and easier to switch from one user account to another. I explain how this feature works in Chapter 17.

To log out

1.	Choose Apple > Log Out User Name (Figure 65), or press .
2.	A confirmation dialog like the one in Figure 68 appears. Click Log Out or press or . Figure 68. A dialog like this one confirms that you really do want to log out. or Do nothing. Your computer will automatically log you out in 2 minutes. Your computer closes all applications and documents, then displays the Login Screen.

To log in

1.	If the Login Screen displays icons for user accounts, click the icon for your account.
2.	Enter your password in the Password box that appears.
3.	Click Log In.

Or

1.	If the Login Screen displays only Name and Password boxes, enter your full or short account name in the Name box and your password in the Password box.
2.	Click Log In.

Your Mac OS desktop appears, looking the same as it did when you logged out or shut down your computer.

Tips

• The appearance of the Login Screen varies depending on how the Accounts preference pane has been configured by the system administrator. (Unfortunately, Mac OS X does not allow me to take screen shots of these screens, so I can't show them to you.) Account options are discussed in Chapter 17.

• Your user name and short name are created when you use the Mac OS Setup Assistant to configure Mac OS X, as discussed in Chapter 1. You can use either name to log in.