How to Fix User Profile Cannot Be Loaded Error?

When the “User Profile Service failed the logon” error occurs, the system prevents the user from logging in, displaying a message that the user profile cannot be loaded. This error means that the user profile, which contains settings and preferences for the user account, is corrupted or cannot be read by the system.

The most common cause of this issue is a corrupted user profile, which can happen due to a sudden shutdown, disk errors, or system updates. Other causes include incorrect permissions on the profile directory and registry issues.

Before attempting the solutions below, we recommend restarting your computer.

If the issue persists, proceed with the following methods:

Important Step: Boot Windows in Safe Mode

To follow up with the methods provided below, 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 boot into Safe Mode with Networking.
6. After entering Safe Mode, proceed with the following methods to resolve the error.

1. Edit Registry Profile Entry

Windows Registry contains a key named ‘ProfileList’ that stores information about user profiles. Each user profile is represented by a unique subkey under ‘ProfileList’, which includes various settings and paths related to that user’s profile. Sometimes, duplicate or corrupted entries in this key can cause user profile errors, such as “The User Profile Service failed the logon.”

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. 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. Add .bak or .ba to the original subkey name and press Enter to save changes.

   

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

   

7. Set the value data to 0.

   

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

2. 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.

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.

3. Use System Restore

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.

Note: Although System Restore method only works if you manually created a restore point prior to having this problem, it’s still recommended to try this method out as some programs automatically create restore points too.

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.

4. Restart the User Profile Service

The User Profile Service is crucial 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.

5. Create a New User Account

By creating a 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. In Safe Mode, click the Start Menu and type Command Prompt into the search box.

   

2. 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).

   

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

   net localgroup administrators username /add

   

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

6. 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.

7. 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