How to Fix Windows 10 User Profile Service Failed the Logon

How to Fix "Windows 10 User Profile Service Failed the Logon" Error

Dealing with technical errors can be a frustrating experience, especially when they disrupt your daily workflow. The "User Profile Service Failed the Logon" error in Windows 10 is one such issue that can cause significant inconvenience. However, with the right guidance and troubleshooting steps, you can effectively resolve this error and restore your system to its optimal state.

In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through a series of steps to address the "User Profile Service Failed the Logon" error in Windows 10. From enabling the built-in administrator account to utilizing system restoration tools, we'll cover various methods to help you troubleshoot and resolve this common issue. By following these step-by-step instructions, you can regain access to your user profile and ensure that your Windows 10 system operates smoothly and efficiently.

Step 1: Enable the Built-In Administrator Account

The first step in resolving the "User Profile Service Failed the Logon" error involves enabling the built-in administrator account using the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). This account provides elevated privileges and can be utilized to modify the system registry, which is crucial for resolving the error. However, before making any changes, it's essential to back up your system registry on a USB drive to ensure that you can revert to a stable state if needed.

To enable the built-in administrator account, follow these simple steps:

1.1. Boot your Windows system into the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). This can typically be accessed by restarting your computer and tapping the appropriate key (e.g., F8 or F12) to access the advanced boot options.

1.2. Once in WinRE, select "Troubleshoot" and then choose "Advanced options."

1.3. From the advanced options menu, select "Command Prompt" to open a command prompt window.

1.4. In the command prompt, type the following command and press Enter:

```

REG LOAD HKLM\TempHive C:\Windows\System32\config\SOFTWARE

```

1.5. Next, type the following command to enable the built-in administrator account:

```

REG ADD "HKLM\TempHive\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon" /v "AutoAdminLogon" /t REG_SZ /d "1" /f

```

1.6. Close the command prompt and restart your computer. You should now be able to log in using the built-in administrator account.

Enabling the built-in administrator account using these steps will provide you with the necessary privileges to make changes to the system registry and further troubleshoot the "User Profile Service Failed the Logon" error.

Step 2: Boot Windows into Safe Mode

After enabling the built-in administrator account, the next step is to boot your Windows system into Safe Mode. Safe Mode is a diagnostic mode in Windows that loads only the essential features and programs needed for troubleshooting. By booting into Safe Mode, you can isolate any issues related to third-party software or drivers that may be causing the "User Profile Service Failed the Logon" error.

To boot into Safe Mode, follow these steps:

2.1. Restart your computer and continuously press the "F8" key during the startup process.

2.2. This will bring up the "Advanced Boot Options" menu. Select "Safe Mode" from the list of options and press Enter.

2.3. Your computer will now boot into Safe Mode, where you can proceed with troubleshooting the user profile error.

Booting into Safe Mode provides a controlled environment for troubleshooting, allowing you to identify and address any software-related issues that may be contributing to the error.

Step 3: Replace Corrupt NTUSER.DAT File

One common cause of the "User Profile Service Failed the Logon" error is a corrupt NTUSER.DAT file. The NTUSER.DAT file contains the user's registry settings and configurations, and if it becomes corrupted, it can lead to login issues. To address this, you can identify and replace the corrupt NTUSER.DAT file to resolve the error effectively.

To replace the corrupt NTUSER.DAT file, follow these steps:

3.1. Log in using the built-in administrator account that was enabled in Step 1.

3.2. Navigate to the user profile directory where the corrupt NTUSER.DAT file is located. This is typically found in the "C:\Users\" directory with the name of the affected user profile.

3.3. Once in the user profile directory, locate the NTUSER.DAT file and rename it to NTUSER.DAT.old. This will effectively create a backup of the file.

3.4. If there is a NTUSER.DAT file with a .bak extension, make a copy of it and rename the copy to NTUSER.DAT.

3.5. Restart your computer and attempt to log in with the affected user profile.

By replacing the corrupt NTUSER.DAT file with a backup or a copy of the .bak file, you can potentially resolve the "User Profile Service Failed the Logon" error and regain access to the affected user profile.

Step 4: Use System File Checker (SFC)