How to change a user reference field from select list to autocomplete in a Views exposed filter? In Views filter I have added user reference field and its showing me as select drop-down. I have exposed that field in the filter.

Those user reference fields are related to a content type, but I want those as auto-complete fields instead of drop-down, just as taxonomy fields can be drop-down or auto-complete fields.

The issue with select list is that there are thousands of users in that list and it is taking time to load all values and render the page.

How can I achieve this?
To get User Reference Field as autocomplete exposed filter,


Let me consider you have created a user reference field in your content type as Users-ref 


Now in your View :


Add a relationship for your entity reference field for Eg: Entity Reference: Users-ref and make it required.
Now add a filter criteria User:Name  with the relationship Entity Reference: Users-ref
you should find (User entity referenced from field_users_ref) User: Name (exposed) in your filter criteria now.
And this should be an autocomplete widget!!


There is also a module named Views Autocomplete Filters along with this wonderful tutorial!!