Guest Sessions in Ubuntu

Note: This article has been updated to reflect name changes in Ubuntu 10.04. Version 9.04 uses the User Switcher application, which is now the Indicator Applet Session.

Microsoft Windows offers a guest login feature and so does Ubuntu Linux. This feature, by default, is available through the Indicator Applet Session, which offers the ability to log out, shut down, restart, and even switch to a guest session. This can be a helpful items to use, but what if you wanted to instead have this options available through the menu bar? Removing the indicator applet session allows for some of the options to appear there, but the guest session is missing. With just a little bit of work, we can add in a guest session option for ourselves.

Removing the Indicator Applet Session

First we will need to remove the indicator applet session. Right click on it and select Remove From Panel. With it removed, the lock screen, logout and shutdown options appear in the menu bar, under the system menu. The restart, suspend, and hibernate appear when you choose shutdown. However, the guest session is missing. Let's add it in so we have it.

Add Guest Session to the Menu Bar

Right click the menu bar and choose Edit Menus. Select System from the left side and click New Item on the right side. Enter as follows:

Name: Guest Session
Command: /usr/share/gdm/guest-session/guest-session-launch
Comment: Launch a Guest Session

Click OK. You will now have a Guest Session option under the system menu on the menu bar.

Guest Session: Main Menu, Desktop, and Panel

Other options are available to add a guest session to your system. These include using the Main Menu (right click panel, choose Add to Panel and select Main Menu), which offers a Microsoft Windows style menu system, or adding the guest session option right to the desktop or even a panel

If you are using the Main Menu, follow the steps above except select Applications instead of System from the left side and drag the resulting item below the --- entry to have it appear on the main menu.

Want to add the guest session to the desktop instead? Create a launcher right on the desktop by right clicking the desktop and choosing Create Launcher... Enter the same information as listed under the menu bar section and this will add guest session to the desktop.

Alternatively, you can add the guest session to the desktop or even a panel if you have already added it to either the menu bar or main menu. Right click guest session in the menu and choose either "Add this launcher to panel" or "Add this launcher to desktop".