Enable “Sign In As Different User” in SharePoint 2013

Introduction

In SharePoint 2010, there was an option available for signing as a different user. But in SharePoint 2013, that option has been removed.

I don’t know why Microsoft has removed this precious feature, but there are some workarounds to get back that feature.

Workaround 1

• Start Internet Explorer by using the Run as different user option, and then go to the SharePoint site.
  Note: The Run as different user option is visible if you hold the Shift key when you right-click a program icon.
• Access the SharePoint site by using the URL as http://siteurl/_layouts/15/closeConnection.aspx?loginasanotheruser=true

  Important: This option uses an unsupported browser feature which is unreliable and causes other issues. Currently, this option does not work in Internet Explorer 10 and Safari.

Workaround 2

• Go to the location C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft shared\Web ServerExtensions\15\TEMPLATE\CONTROLTEMPLATES

  There will be file called Welcome.ascx.

  

• Open welcome.ascx in Visual Studio or in Notepad and add the following code and save.

  <SharePoint:MenuItemTemplate runat="server" 
      ID="ID_LoginAsDifferentUser" 
      Text="<%$Resources:wss,personalactions_loginasdifferentuser%>" 
      Description="<%$Resources:wss,personalactions_loginasdifferentuserdescription%>" 
      MenuGroupId="100" Sequence="100" UseShortId="true" />

  

• Once you save this file, the feature will be enabled.

  

Very simple workarounds to get back this feature.