Hide your name (or user icon) in the Mac menu bar

Why it happens

Fast User Switching lets people who share a Mac swap accounts without logging out, and its menu shows your name in the menu bar. It's handy on a shared Mac but takes space, and some people don't want their full name on screen. Hiding it doesn't delete anything or change your account.

How to fix it

1. Click the Apple menu, choose System Settings, then click Menu Bar in the sidebar.

2. Under Menu Bar Controls, find Fast User Switching. Untick it and your name disappears from the menu bar.

   Menu Bar›Menu Bar Controls›Fast User Switching

3. Prefer to keep the user menu? Leave it ticked and open the pop-up menu next to it. Full Name shows your whole name, Account Name shows your shorter account name, and Icon shows just a small person symbol.

4. Look at the top right of your screen. The change happens right away, no restart needed.

Still not fixed?

1. A faster way for next time: hold Command and drag the name or icon down out of the menu bar, then let go.

2. If the name is still there, check you're changing the right setting. Your name in the menu bar comes from Fast User Switching, while app icons have their own switches under Allow in the Menu Bar on the same page.

   Menu Bar›Allow in the Menu Bar

3. If the setting is greyed out or comes back by itself, your Mac may be managed by a school or company. Ask whoever looks after it.

4. If the name keeps coming back after a restart on your own Mac, contact Apple Support so they can take a closer look.