The User Profile Service failed the sign-in user profile cannot be loaded

The “User Profile Service failed the sign-in. User profile cannot be loaded” error typically occurs in Windows when there’s an issue with the user profile. This can happen due to corruption or a problem with the profile’s configuration files. Here’s how to troubleshoot and fix this error:

1. Restart Your Computer

• Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve temporary glitches. Try restarting your computer to see if the problem persists.

2. Boot into Safe Mode

• Booting into Safe Mode can help you access your computer without loading the problematic user profile.
• To boot into Safe Mode:
  1. Restart your computer and press F8 (or the appropriate key for your system) repeatedly before Windows starts loading.
  2. Choose Safe Mode from the Advanced Boot Options menu.

3. Create a New User Profile

• If the profile is corrupt beyond easy repair, creating a new user profile might be necessary.
• To create a new user profile:
  1. Boot into Safe Mode or log in with another administrative account.
  2. Go to Settings > Accounts > Family & other users.
  3. Click Add someone else to this PC and follow the prompts to create a new user account.
  4. Log in with the new user profile and transfer your files from the old profile if possible.

4. Repair User Profile Using Registry Editor

• If you are comfortable editing the Windows Registry, you can try fixing the profile manually.
• To repair using the Registry Editor:
  1. Boot into Safe Mode or log in with another administrative account.
  2. Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
  3. Navigate to the following path:
     HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList
  4. Look for folders starting with S-1-5 followed by a long number. These are the user profiles.
  5. Click each folder, and look for the ProfileImagePath entry to find your user profile.
  6. If you see two folders with the same name, but one ends in .bak, do the following:
     • Right-click the folder without .bak and select Rename. Add .ba to the end of the folder name.
     • Right-click the folder with .bak and select Rename. Remove .bak from the end.
     • Right-click the folder with .ba and select Rename. Change .ba to .bak.
  7. Now, select the folder without .bak, double-click State, and change its value to 0.
  8. Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer.

5. Check Disk for Errors

• Corruption in the file system can also cause user profile issues.
• To check for disk errors:
  1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
  2. Type chkdsk /f /r and press Enter. Follow the prompts to schedule a disk check on the next restart.
  3. Restart your computer.

6. Perform a System Restore

• If this error started recently, a System Restore might help revert your computer to a previous state when everything was working correctly.
• To perform a System Restore:
  1. Boot into Safe Mode or use the recovery environment.
  2. Type “System Restore” in the search box and open the System Restore tool.
  3. Follow the prompts to choose a restore point and restore your system.

7. Scan for Malware

• Malware can sometimes corrupt user profiles or system files. Run a full system scan using Windows Defender or any reputable antivirus software to rule out malware.

8. Reinstall Windows

• If none of the above solutions work, reinstalling Windows may be the last resort. Be sure to back up your data before proceeding with a fresh installation.

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the “User Profile Service failed the sign-in” error.