Fix temporary profile windows 10

Fixing the “Temporary Profile” issue in Windows 10 is a common problem many users face. It occurs when Windows fails to load your user profile correctly, causing it to log you into a temporary account where changes made are not saved after a reboot. 

What is the Temporary Profile Issue?

When you log into Windows 10 and notice that your desktop looks different or your personal files are missing, you might be signed into a temporary profile. This happens because Windows is unable to read your regular user profile, often due to corruption or misconfiguration. Instead, Windows creates and signs you into a temporary profile, which is stored in the system temporarily.

When using a temporary profile:

Any changes you make to your desktop or files are not saved.

You might receive an error message saying, “You’ve been signed in with a temporary profile.”

Once you log off or restart the computer, the profile disappears, and you will be signed in with a clean slate again.

Common Causes of Temporary Profile Issue

Corrupted User Profile: This is the most common reason. The user profile might become corrupt due to sudden shutdowns, malware, or installation of third-party software.

Registry Issues: The Windows registry might have conflicting entries or be misconfigured, causing Windows to load a temporary profile.

Disk Errors: Hard drive corruption, bad sectors, or disk errors can also prevent Windows from reading your profile correctly.

Antivirus Software: Over-aggressive antivirus software might restrict access to certain user files, leading to profile issues.

Windows Update Problems: Sometimes, a Windows update can cause profile corruption or result in configuration errors.

How to Fix the Temporary Profile Issue

Now that we know the causes, let’s go through different methods to fix this issue.

Method 1: Restart the Computer

Before you dive into advanced troubleshooting steps, restart your computer. Sometimes, a simple reboot resolves the issue, and Windows loads the correct user profile upon the next login.

Method 2: Check for Windows Updates

Make sure your Windows 10 system is up-to-date. In some cases, Windows might be facing bugs that can be resolved by installing updates.

Open Settings.

Go to Update & Security.

Click on Windows Update.

Check for updates and install any pending ones.

Method 3: Create a New Local User Account

Sometimes, the easiest way to solve the issue is to create a new user account and migrate your data to it. Here’s how you can do it:

Open Settings > Accounts > Family & other users.

Click on Add someone else to this PC.

Choose I don’t have this person’s sign-in information.

Select Add a user without a Microsoft account.

Enter a username and password for the new account.

After creating the new account, log into it and check if the issue persists.

You can copy your files from the old profile to the new one:

Go to C:\Users\Old_Username and copy your documents, pictures, and other files.

Paste them into C:\Users\New_Username.

Method 4: Fixing via the Registry Editor

This is a more advanced method and should be followed carefully. Editing the registry incorrectly can cause system instability, so create a backup first.

Press Windows + R and type regedit to open the Registry Editor.

Navigate to the following path:

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

You will see multiple folders with long names starting with “S-1-5-21.” These are your profile keys. You need to find the one corresponding to your corrupt profile.

Look for the keys with .bak at the end. The one without .bak is your temporary profile, and the one with .bak is your actual user profile.

Rename the key without .bak by adding _temp at the end. Rename the key with .bak by removing the .bak.

In the renamed key, check for the State and RefCount values. Set both of these values to 0.

Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer. After restarting, Windows should load your correct profile.

Method 5: Use System File Checker (SFC) and DISM Tools

Corruption in system files can also cause profile issues. You can use built-in tools to check and repair corrupted system files.

Open Command Prompt as an administrator (right-click the Start button and choose Command Prompt (Admin)).

Type the following command and press Enter:

bash

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sfc /scannow

Wait for the scan to complete. If any issues are found, the system will attempt to fix them automatically.

After the scan is complete, restart your computer and see if the issue is resolved.

If the issue persists, use the DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) tool by typing the following command in Command Prompt:

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DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Once DISM finishes, restart your computer and check if your profile loads correctly.

Method 6: Check Disk for Errors

If there are issues with your hard drive, they can lead to user profile corruption. Running the chkdsk command can help identify and fix disk errors.

Open Command Prompt as an administrator.

Type the following command and press Enter:

bash

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chkdsk C: /f

If prompted to schedule the disk check for the next restart, type Y and press Enter.

Restart your computer, and the system will check the disk for errors. Allow the scan to complete, which might take a while.

Method 7: Disable Antivirus Software

In some cases, over-aggressive antivirus software might block access to important system files, leading to the temporary profile issue. Try disabling your antivirus temporarily to see if it resolves the problem.

Open your antivirus software.

Temporarily disable the real-time protection or shield function.

Log out and log back in to check if your profile loads correctly.

If the profile loads successfully, consider switching to a less aggressive antivirus program.

Method 8: Perform a System Restore

If the problem started recently, performing a system restore can help revert your system to a previous state where the profile was working correctly.

Press Windows + R and type rstrui to open the System Restore wizard.

Choose a restore point from before the issue started and follow the on-screen instructions to restore your system.

Method 9: Reset Windows 10

If none of the above methods work, consider resetting Windows 10. This will reinstall Windows while keeping your personal files. Note that this will remove installed programs, so back up important data beforehand.

Open Settings > Update & Security > Recovery.

Under Reset this PC, click Get started.

Choose the option to Keep my files, and follow the on-screen instructions to reset your computer.

Preventing the Temporary Profile Issue

To prevent the issue from recurring, follow these guidelines:

Perform regular backups: Back up your user profile, files, and system regularly to avoid data loss.

Ensure proper shutdown: Avoid hard shutdowns or abrupt power-offs, as they can corrupt your profile.

Run periodic disk checks: Use tools like chkdsk and S.M.A.R.T. to monitor the health of your hard drive.

Update Windows regularly: Keep your system updated to avoid bugs and glitches.

Install reputable antivirus software: Use antivirus software that provides strong protection without interfering with system files.

Fixing the temporary profile issue in Windows 10 can be complex, but by following these steps methodically, you can resolve it and restore access to your original user profile. Start with the simple fixes like restarting, checking for updates, or creating a new user account, and move on to more advanced solutions like registry edits or system restores if necessary. Preventative measures like regular backups and maintaining system health can help you avoid running into this issue again in the future.