How to Fix “The User Profile Service failed the logon” Error?

The User Profile Service failed the logon error occurs when the User Profile Service does not start correctly. This error prevents users from logging into their accounts, which could be corrupted or damaged. However, there are several ways to restore the account, and even if these methods fail, the data can still be recovered.

Errors such as The User Profile Service failed the sign-in. User cannot be loaded or The User Profile Service service failed the logon. User profile cannot be loaded suggest that the User Profile Service might not have started due to a duplicate profile entry in the registry editor. This duplication is usually the primary cause of a corrupted user profile.

Before attempting the solutions below, we recommend restarting your computer. If the issue persists, proceed with the following methods:

Boot Windows in Safe Mode

To resolve issues in Windows when you cannot log in due to an error message, you must boot in Safe Mode. Safe Mode only loads essential services and drivers, which can help diagnose and resolve problems.

1. On the sign-in screen, click the power button in the bottom right corner.
2. Hold the Shift key and click Restart.
3. On the Options screen, click Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings

   

4. Then, click Restart in the bottom right.

   

5. Once the computer restarts, press 5 or F5 to enable Safe Mode with Networking.
6. After entering Safe Mode, proceed with the following methods to resolve the error.

Edit Registry Profile Entry

The Registry Editor has a key named ProfileList, which stores user profile subkeys. Duplicate entries in this key can cause the user profile error. It is advisable to back up the registry before making changes. 

1. Press the Start Menu button and type Registry Editor.

   

2. Launch the Registry Editor and navigate to:

   Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList

3. In the ProfileList, if you find a subkey with a .bak extension, this indicates a duplicate. If no .bak subkey is present, proceed to step 6.
4. Right-click the subkey with the .bak extension and select Rename.

   

5. Remove the .bak extension and then right-click the non-extension subkey and select Rename.
6. Add .bak or .ba to the original subkey name and press Enter to save the changes.

   

7. In the right pane, right-click the State key and select Modify.

   

8. Set the value data to 0.

   

9. Do the same for the RefCount key.
10. After completing these steps, close the registry editor and restart your computer to check if the error is resolved.

1. Replace NTUSER.DAT

The NTUSER.DAT file contains your individual configurations and settings; if it becomes corrupted, it could be the direct reason for login issues. By renaming the old file and copying a working version from another profile, you effectively reset your profile’s state, which can fix any errors preventing you from signing in. This process makes sure that you’re not held back by past corruptions while keeping your environment personalized.

1. Boot into Safe Mode as instructed above.
2. Open File Explorer and navigate to the drive where your operating system is installed.
3. Go to the Users directory.
4. Click on View at the top and check the Hidden Items option.

   

5. Navigate to the Default folder.

   

6. Right-click the NTUSER.DAT file and select Rename.
7. Add .old to rename the file to NTUSER.DAT.old.

   

8. Return to the Users directory and enter the Guest folder or another user folder.
9. Copy the NTUSER.DAT file from here.

   

10. Paste the copied file into the Default folder.
11. Restart your computer to see if the error is fixed.

2. Use System Restore

If renaming and editing registry entries do not resolve the error, consider using a system restore point, assuming one was created before the error occurred. If no restore point is available, you cannot use this feature.

System Restore can revert Windows to an earlier state using a restore point, which may correct various issues, including driver corruption and the current login error. 

1. Click the power button, hold Shift, and click Restart.
2. Navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options.

   

3. Select System Restore and click Next.

   

4. Choose a restore point and click Next.

   

5. Click Finish to start the restoration.

   

6. Following the completion of the restoration process, the error should no longer occur.

3. Restart the User Profile Service

If the User Profile Service is disabled, it may cause the error. This service is important for user logon management in Windows. If it’s not running due to a glitch or configuration issue, users may be unable to log into their accounts, thus causing the error message.

By restarting the service and setting it to Automatic, you’re making sure it’s active and ready to manage user profiles as soon as the system boots up, hence resolving any login issues.

1. Boot into Safe Mode following the instructions given above.
2. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
3. Type Services.msc and press Enter.

   

4. Locate and right-click the User Profile Service and select Properties.

   

5. If the startup type is not set to Automatic, change it, and click Apply. If the service is not running, click Start, then OK.

   

6. Close the window and restart the service to test if the error has been fixed.

4. Create a New User Account

By creating a fresh new user account, you remove any potential corruption in the profile that’s causing the logon issue. The new user account essentially acts as a clean slate and, if successful, provides a path to smoothly transition your personal files without the issues of the previous account’s errors.

1. Boot into Safe Mode as described above.
2. In Safe Mode, click the Start Menu and type Command Prompt into the search box.

   

3. Type the following command to add a new user:

   net user /add username password

   Note: Replace username with your desired account name and password with your chosen password (optional).

   

4. Use the following command to add the new user to the administrators group:

   net localgroup administrators username /add

   

5. Log in with the new account and transfer your data into it.

5. Switch to Normal Startup

Selectively disabling Microsoft services during a clean boot can result in various errors. Make sure no Microsoft services are disabled and consider switching back to a normal startup, which enables all drivers and services.

1. Boot into Safe Mode using the instructions provided in previous methods.
2. Press Win + R, type msconfig, and click OK.

   

3. If the startup selection is set to selective startup, change it to Normal Startup.

   

4. Go to the Services tab, and if available, click ‘Enable All‘.

   

5. Restart your computer and verify if the issue has been resolved.

6. Reset or Reinstall Windows

If the error persists, consider resetting or reinstalling Windows as a last resort. Follow the link to learn how to perform a clean installation. For a reset that keeps your files, follow these steps:

Note: A reset will not affect personal data, such as photos and documents, but it will remove installed drivers, applications, and settings.

Enable Safe Mode following the instructions from the first method:

1. In Safe Mode, click the Start Menu and type Reset This PC.
2. In the settings, select Get Started to initiate the process.

   

3. Choose the Keep My Files option and then select Local Reinstall.

   

4. Click ‘Next‘, then click ‘Reset‘ to start resetting your computer.