5 Fixes for Logged in With a Temporary Profile Error on Windows

Pankil is a Civil Engineer turned freelance writer. Since his arrival at Guiding Tech in 2021, he delves into the world of how-tos, and troubleshooting guides for Android, iOS, and Windows. Besides his new-found love for mechanical keyboards, he’s a disciplined footfall fan and loves international travel with his wife.

Try Basic Fixes

Fix 1: Enter and Exit Safe Mode

To start, you can try booting your Windows PC into safe mode and then exiting it. This should take care of any temporary glitches that may be causing Windows to log you in with a temporary profile repeatedly.

Step 1:Press theWindows + Rkeys to open the Run dialog box. Typemsconfigin the text field and clickOK.

Step 2:Switch to theBoottab and tick the checkbox that readsSafe boot.

Step 3:ClickApplyand thenOK.

Step 4:Select theRestartoption to boot your PC into safe mode.

After your PC boots into safe mode, repeat the above steps to uncheck the safe boot option. Then, restart your PC and see if Windows boots with your profile.

Fix 2: Modify Registry Files

Several users on aMicrosoft Community postreported fixing the temporary profile issue on Windows by modifying a few registry files. Here’s how to do it.

Step 1:Right-click on theStart iconand selectTerminal (Admin)from the list.

Step 2:In the Command Prompt window, typewhoami /userand pressEnterto get the SID (security ID).Note the value under SID.

Step 3:Press theWindows key + Rto open the Run dialog. Type inregeditand hitEnter.

Step 4:In the address bar of the Registry Editor, copy and paste the path given below and pressEnter.

Step 5:Within theProfileListsubkey, find and click the SID noted earlier. Then, double-click the ProfileImagePath entry on the right.

Note:If you see two identical SID keys under theProfileListsubkey, select the one without “.bak” at the end.

Step 6:Type the correct profile path and clickOK. Your profile path isC:\Users\YourProfileName, whereYourProfileNameis the name of your profile.

Step 7:Within theProfileListkey, right-click on the duplicate SID key (with .bak at the end) and selectDelete.

Restart your computer after this and Windows should sign you in to your profile instead of a temporary one.

Fix 3: Configure Windows Services

Another way to stop Windows from logging you in with a temporary profile involves modifying a few system services. Here are the steps for the same.

Step 1:Press theWindows key + Rto open the Run dialog box. Typeservices.mscin the box and pressEnter.

Step 2:Double-click onUser Profile Service.

Step 3:Click the drop-down menu next to Startup type to selectAutomatic. Then, hitApplyand thenOK.

Step 4:Double-click theWindows Defender Advanced Threat Protectionservice. Change the startup type toDisabledand hitApplyfollowed byOK.

Fix 4: Run the SFC Scan

Corrupt or damaged system files can also give rise to such issues on a PC. Fortunately, Windows includes a tool calledSystem File Checker (SFC)that can automatically identify and repair such system files.

Step 1:Click the search icon on the taskbar, type incmdand selectRun as administrator.

Step 2:Type the following command and pressEnter.

Wait for the process to complete and then restart your PC. After that, check if the issue is still there.

Fix 5: Create a New User Account

There’s a chance that Windows is showing you the “You’ve been logged on with a temporary profile” error because some of the data in your user account has become corrupted. If that’s the case, your best option is to create and switch to a new user account.

Step 1:Press theWindows key + Ito launch the Settings app. In theAccountstab, click onOther users.

Step 2:Click theAdd accountbutton.

Step 3:Type in your email address and follow the on-screen instructions to create a new user account on Windows.

Switch to your newly created user account, and Windows should no longer log you in with a temporary profile.

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Last updated on 18 July, 2024

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