9 Fixes: User Profile Service Failed The Sign-In Issue In Windows

The Windows operating system loads your Windows account from the user profile files on the C disc when you log in. The OS cannot access your account if these user profile files are damaged.

9 Best Ways: Fix User Profile Service Failed The Sign-In Issue In Windows 10/11

The error notice “The User Profile Service failed the sign-in” will appear if the OS cannot access the desired user profile. Keep reading this to know more about the “user profile service failed the sign-in” error and how to fix it.

You should start by starting Windows in Safe Mode. You can still use your computer in safe mode even though you can’t log in normally. Windows starts in safe mode with the bare minimum set of functions and applications.

Causes Of “User Profile Service Failed The Sign In” Error

The error message “User profile failed the sign-in” can occur for various reasons.  The default Windows user profile has been corrupted if you get any of these problem messages, which can be linked to any one or more of the following factors:

  • Windows Update Issue: The User Account Control (UAC) is intended to stop unauthorized changes to your computer. Host files necessary for UAC to function correctly can occasionally become corrupted by irregular or incomplete updates.
  • Antivirus software: When you attempted to log in, your computer was scanned by an antivirus application. It may have terminated the user profile and launched the incorrect one.
  • Improper shutdowns and restarts: If you did not log out of a local account you created on your computer without incident, you could experience a user profile error when you attempt to log in again.
  • Error In Partition Resizing: Windows components can become corrupted when we resize the partition via “Disk Management,” which results in an inaccurate user profile.

Methods To Fix User Profile Service Failed The Sign-In Error In Windows 11/10

Here are some of the best fixes to solve the “User Profile Service Failed The Sign-In” Issue

  1. Restart Windows 11/10 From Its Lockscreen
  2. Move Ntuser.Dat File To The Default Username Folder
  3. Delete A Local User Account In Windows 10/11
  4. Use Windows Registry Editor In Safe Mode
  5. Windows User Profile Repair Using Command Prompt
  6. Create A New User Account
  7. Use System Restore
  8. Restart The User Profile Service
  9. Reset Windows PC To Solve the “User Profile Failed To Sign In” Error

1. Restart Windows 11/10 From Its Lockscreen

Sometimes the User Profile Service Failed. The Sign In Issue problem can be resolved with a restart or shutdown from the lock screen window.

  • To leave it and access the Windows lock screen, press Win + L.
Windows lock screen
  • Enter the administrator profile’s location (if the guest profile was used for logging in).
  • Select the shutdown/restart options for the lock screen. During the subsequent startup, ensure you are logged in as the administrator.

2. Move Ntuser.Dat File To The Default Username Folder

A user profile is a group of customized desktop, download, and document menu items kept in a folder under “C:/Users.” There is an NTUSER.dat file for each of these profiles .dat is a product of Windows. It has user-specific settings.

  • Log in using your administrator account or a user account with administrator rights.
  • On your computer, launch File Explorer (Win+E).
  • Check the File name extensions and Hidden Items boxes under the View tab on the File Explorer screen.
Hidden Items boxes under the View tab on the File Explorer screen
  • Select any Working User Profile Folder by going to This PC > Local Disk > Users and clicking on it.
This PC > Local Disk > Users
  • Right-click the NTUSER.DAT File in the User Folder and choose Copy.
Right-click the NTUSER.DAT File
  • Rename NTUSER.DAT to NTUSER.DAT1 by going to This PC > Local Disk > Users > Corrupted User Folder.
  • Paste NTUSER.DAT File from Working User Profile into Corrupted User Folder after renaming the file.

3. Delete A Local User Account In Windows 10/11

You should temporarily delete the unnecessary local account using the Run command netplwiz. Faulty shutdowns and restarts brought on the user profile issue during a logon.

  • Using Win + R, open the Windows Run command window and type netplwiz.
netplwiz
  • For these operations, use the Windows Safe boot option.
  • Enter your administrator password on the Advanced User Accounts Control Panel screen.
  • Select “Remove” next to your local or guest account. The local profile will be deleted even if you still use the local account to connect to your computer.
Select "Remove" next to your local or guest account
  • To close the local account login window, press Win + L. Restart the machine and sign back in with your usual Microsoft account.

4. Use Windows Registry Editor In Safe Mode

The subkey for user profiles is located in a key named ProfileList in the registry editor. When the user profile keys are copied, the “user profile service failed the sign-in” issue occurs. The duplicate profiles’ names need to be modified.

  • From the Search menu, select “Advanced startup,” or in Windows 10, choose “Change advanced startup parameters.
  • To start an advanced restart, click “Restart now.”
  • Then, choose “Troubleshoot.” To restart the device once more, select “Advanced options-> Startup Settings” from the menu.
  • The number keys (1–9) or function keys will let you access many launch options (F1-F9). Select “Enable Safe mode” from the menu.
  • Using Win + R, open the Windows Run command window, and type Regedit. An automatic task with administrator rights will be generated.
Regedit
  • Go to the following path in the Registry editor by descending:
    • Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList
  • To see if there are any duplicates, look through the most recent entries under “ProfileList.”
  • If the previous entry has a .bak extension, change it to .ba.
  • Rename the second duplicate entry, but don’t forget to include the “.bak” extension.
  • Remove the “.ba” suffix from the newly renamed entry.
  • Click the right mouse button to change the “status” of the profile entry where.bak was deleted.
  • The hexadecimal DWORD (32bit) value data should be changed from a number to “0.” To save the adjustments, click “OK.”

5. Windows User Profile Repair Using Command Prompt

Some hard disk-related problems that may have contributed to the user profile error problem can be resolved using the Command Prompt. It must be opened in Admin mode from the Start menu search on Windows 11 or Windows 10, respectively.

a. SFC Scan

  • Right-click on the start menu icon, and open the elevated Command Prompt window. From the selection, choose Command Prompt (Admin).
  • You can get the command prompt by pressing Win + X, then choosing it.
  • Run the SFC scan by writing the following command after starting the Command prompt.
    • SFC /scannow
SFC /scannow
  • Wait for this step to finish, and make sure not to interrupt it.

b. DISM Scan

  • Launch the Start menu.
  • Enter “Command Prompt” into the search box, right-click the first option and choose “Run as administrator.”
  • To do a fast check, type the given commands and hit Enter.
    • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
    • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
    • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /restorehealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /restorehealth

6. Create A New User Account

If the “user profile service failed the sign-in” issue persists, you should register a new user account because the current one is corrupted. If the problem does not appear after creating an account, you must move all your data to the brand-new account.

  • You should start Windows in Safe Mode. Once the safe mode has been enabled, go to Start Menu and type “command prompt” into the search bar.
  • Enter the command net user /add username to create a new user.
net user /add username
  • Put the name you wish for your account in place of the username.
  • To add a new user account to the administrators, type the following command.
    • localgroup administrators username /add
localgroup administrators username /add
  • Use your freshly established account to log in and import your data.

7. Use System Restore

I advise utilizing a system restore tool. You can’t utilize this tool if you don’t have a restore point. A restore point is required for the system restore and should be made before the issue happens.

  • Go to the Start menu.
  • Access the System Properties page, search for “create a restore point,” and click the first result.
  • Select the “System” Restore in the “System Protection Settings” section.
  • Select Configure from the menu.
System" Restore in the "System Protection Settings
  • Select the option to enable system protection.
enable system protection
  • You can specify the storage for recovery using the slider under the “Disk Space Usage” column.
  • Additionally, there is a Delete option that you can use to eliminate all restore points. This function is helpful if you need to free up space or wish to use the recovery feature from scratch.
  • On the Apply button, click.
  • Choose the OK option.

8. Restart The User Profile Service

This problem can mainly be caused by a disabled user profile service. It is a service that allows users to sign in to their Microsoft or local accounts. You can see this error message on your screen if, for any reason, this service is not working.

  • Windows must start in safe mode.
  • When the Run dialogue box appears, type Services.msc and press Enter.
type Services.msc
  • Locate the User Profile Service and select “Right Click.”
  • Access Properties
User Profile Service and select "Right Click
  • Change the startup type to Automatic if it isn’t already, then click Apply.
Change the startup type to Automatic
  • If the service has been paused, click Start and then OK to save the modifications.
  • Close the Window once you’re finished, then try restarting the service.

9. Reset Windows PC To Solve the “User Profile Failed To Sign In” Error

Another option to solve the User Profile Cannot Be Loaded problem on Windows 10 is resetting the operating system without removing personal data. All the installed software and programs will be released throughout this process. Your files won’t be removed from the computer.

Ensure that the Administrator account is the one you are using to log into Windows.

  • Select the Settings option from the Windows Start menu once it is open.
  • It will launch the Settings panel. On that page, select Update & security.
Update & security
  • Click on the Recovery option in the Update & security window.
  • A Reset this PC section with a Get started button will be available while you are in the Recovery window; click Get Started.
Reset this PC section
  • Select the Keep my files option from the list of the following choices.
  • Windows 10 will be reset and reinstalled on your computer as you continue. 
  • The “user profile service failed the sign-in” issue would have been rectified once Windows 10 rebooted.
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Abdul Rahim has been working in Information Technology for over two decades. Learn how Abdul got his start as a Tech Blogger , and why he decided to start this Software blog. If you want to send Abdul a quick message, then visit his contact page here.