How to Fix The User Profile Service failed the logon (Windows User Profiles)
Quick Answer
The error 'The User Profile Service failed the logon. User profile cannot be loaded.' indicates that Windows cannot load your user profile, often due to a corrupted profile or incorrect registry settings. The fastest fix often involves restarting the computer, or if that fails, using System Restore to revert to a previous working state.
What Causes This Error
- Corrupted user profile due to disk errors, unexpected shutdowns, or malware.
- Incorrect permissions or ownership settings on the user profile folder.
- Damaged or incorrect entries in the Windows Registry related to user profiles.
- Issues with the User Profile Service itself, preventing it from starting or functioning correctly.
- Temporary glitches or conflicts with system files or services.
Step-by-Step Fixes
1Restart Your Computer
- Save any open work and close all applications.
- Click the 'Start' button.
- Click the 'Power' icon.
- Select 'Restart' from the options.
- Attempt to log in to your user account after the computer restarts.
2Use System Restore to Revert System Changes
- Access the Advanced Startup Options. This can often be done by restarting your computer while holding the Shift key, or by booting from a Windows installation media.
- Navigate to 'Troubleshoot' -> 'Advanced options' -> 'System Restore'.
- Select a restore point created before the issue began. Choose a point when your system was functioning correctly.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to confirm and start the System Restore process.
- Allow the process to complete. Your computer will restart, and you can then attempt to log in.
3Check User Profile Service Status
- Press the 'Windows key + R' to open the Run dialog.
- Type 'services.msc' and press 'Enter' to open the Services management console.
- Locate 'User Profile Service' in the list of services.
- Verify that the 'Startup type' is set to 'Automatic' and the 'Service status' is 'Running'. If not, right-click 'User Profile Service', select 'Properties', set 'Startup type' to 'Automatic', click 'Apply', then click 'Start' if the service is stopped, and finally click 'OK'.
- Restart your computer and attempt to log in.
4Check and Repair Disk Errors
- Open Command Prompt as an administrator. Search for 'cmd' in the Start menu, right-click 'Command Prompt', and select 'Run as administrator'.
- In the Command Prompt window, type 'chkdsk C: /f /r' and press 'Enter'. Replace 'C:' with the drive letter where Windows is installed if it's different.
- If prompted to schedule the check on the next restart, type 'Y' and press 'Enter'.
- Restart your computer to allow the disk check to run. This process may take some time.
- After the check completes and your computer restarts, attempt to log in.
Advanced Fixes
Modify Registry Entries for User Profile
- Log in with an administrator account (if possible) or boot into Safe Mode with Command Prompt.
- Press 'Windows key + R', type 'regedit', and press 'Enter' to open the Registry Editor.
- Navigate to 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList'.
- Look for folders starting with 'S-1-5' followed by a long number. You may find two similar folders, one ending with '.bak' and one without. The one without '.bak' is likely the corrupted profile.
- If a folder without '.bak' exists and a corresponding folder with '.bak' exists, rename the folder without '.bak' by adding '.bak.old' to its name. Then, rename the folder with '.bak' by removing '.bak'.
- If only a folder ending with '.bak' exists, rename it by removing '.bak'.
- Select the renamed folder (the one that originally had '.bak' or was the only one without it). In the right pane, double-click 'RefCount' and set its 'Value data' to '0'. Click 'OK'.
- Double-click 'State' and set its 'Value data' to '0'. Click 'OK'.
- Close Registry Editor and restart your computer. Attempt to log in to the affected user profile.
Create a New User Profile and Migrate Data
- Log in with an existing administrator account or enable the built-in administrator account (if no other admin account is available).
- Open 'Settings' -> 'Accounts' -> 'Family & other users' (or 'Other users').
- Click 'Add someone else to this PC'.
- Follow the prompts to create a new local user account. Choose a different username than the problematic profile.
- Once created, change the account type to 'Administrator'.
- Log out of the current administrator account and log in to the newly created administrator account.
- Navigate to 'C:\Users\' and locate the folder of the old, problematic profile. Copy important data (Documents, Pictures, Downloads, etc.) from the old profile folder to the corresponding folders in the new user profile.
- Once all data is migrated and the new profile is confirmed to be working, you can optionally delete the old, corrupted user profile via 'Settings' -> 'Accounts' -> 'Family & other users'.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'The User Profile Service failed the logon' error mean?
This error indicates that Windows is unable to load your user profile when you attempt to log in. This typically happens because the profile data is corrupted, permissions are incorrect, or the User Profile Service itself is not functioning correctly.
Can I recover data from a corrupted user profile?
Yes, in many cases, you can recover data from a corrupted user profile. Even if you cannot log into the profile, you can often access its files by logging in with another administrator account or by booting into Safe Mode and navigating to the 'C:\Users\Your_Old_Profile_Name' folder to copy your documents, pictures, and other personal files.
What is the User Profile Service?
The User Profile Service is a Windows system service responsible for loading and unloading user profiles. It manages the settings and data associated with each user account, ensuring that personal preferences and files are available upon logon and properly saved upon logoff.
Will creating a new user profile fix the issue?
Creating a new user profile is a common and effective solution if your existing profile is severely corrupted. While it resolves the logon error, you will need to manually transfer your personal data and reconfigure your settings in the new profile.
Is it safe to edit the Windows Registry?
Editing the Windows Registry carries risks. Incorrect modifications can lead to system instability or prevent Windows from starting. It is strongly recommended to back up the registry before making any changes, and only proceed if you are comfortable following precise instructions. If unsure, consider other fixes or seek professional assistance.