The “User profile cannot be loaded” is a frustrating issue that holds you up at the log-in screen of your PC. This prevents users from accessing their profiles, preventing them from accessing their files and data. Corrupt profile settings or system files are the primary cause of this error. Fortunately, the methods we have covered below will solve this issue.

Key Takeaways
  • Corrupt files, user profile service malfunction, or anti-virus corruption are the main culprits for this error.
  • The corrupt files are causing the “User Profile cannot be loaded” error to spread rapidly among Windows Users.
  • You can try a handful of methods to solve this issue, which include utilizing System Restore, creating a new user account, or running the SFC Scan.
  • Although this error is not harmful, we observed it to cause disturbances and inconveniences during use by locking you out of your system.

The error is displayed as follows:

The User Profile Service service failed the sign-in. User profile cannot be loaded error for user profile.
User Profile Cannot Be Loaded Error – Image Credits [Tech4gamers]
Error Message: The user profile service failed the sign-in. The user profile cannot be loaded. 
Method Difficulty Rating

SFC Scan
Rated: 7/10

New Account
Rated: 7/10

System Restore
Rated: 6/10

NTUSER.DAT
Rated: 8/10

SFC Scan

SFC Scan, or System File Checker, is a Windows utility that detects and repairs corrupted system files. Its purpose is to restore system stability by verifying the integrity of critical system files and replacing any damaged ones. SFC Scan has been invaluable when faced with log-in issues on Windows profiles.

A handful of system files can cause this error to occur when corrupted. Hence, SFC Scan will check and repair all the corrupted system files. We have personally tested this command ourselves, and it worked for us. Follow the steps below:

  1. Booting into Advanced Startup: Press the Power button on the bottom-right > Hold the Shift key > click Restart.
    Login Screen showing Power button to restart the computer
    Power Button On Log-in – Image Credits [Tech4gamers]
  2. Opening Command Prompt: Click Troubleshoot > Go to Advanced Options > Click Command Prompt.
    Advanced options highlighting command prompt
    Command Prompt – Image Credits [Tech4gamers]
  3. Running SFC Scan Command: Type sfc /scannow > Hit Enter

New User Account

When locked out of a previous user account, one standard method involves creating a new account. This typically means accessing the command prompt and providing information such as username and password. Since your previous profile is locked, you can create a new profile to reaccess the system.

Creating a new user account is a generally straightforward process, as we have tested it ourselves. We have also observed several users on Microsoft Forums creating new user accounts, which resolved this error. Go through the steps provided below to perform this method:

  1. Accessing Advanced Startup: Click the Power button on the log-in page > Click Restart while holding the Shift key.
    Login Screen showing Power button to restart the computer
    Power Button On Log-in – Image Credits [Tech4gamers]
  2. Opening Command Prompt: Click Troubleshoot > Go to Advanced Options > Click Command Prompt.
    Advanced options highlighting command prompt
    Command Prompt – Image Credits [Tech4gamers]
  3. Making a New User: Type “net user /add username password” > Replace username and password with new input.
  4. Enabling Admin Rights: Type “net localgroup administrators username /add” > Replace username with the new input.
Tip: Keep in mind that if the locked user profile has some private settings, its data won’t be accessible from another user profile. Therefore, this method can only aid you in logging in to your computer and recovering public data.

System Restore

A System Restore point is a previously saved state of Windows. The System Restore feature allows the user to roll back the Windows version to an older state and restore old settings and configurations where the system was functional. As a result, you can eliminate minor glitches or errors, including the “User Profile Cannot Be Loaded” error.

We can confirm this is an excellent method for resolving this error, and we have also seen users on Acer Community solving this error after performing a system restore without losing their data. Carry out this method successfully by following the steps below:

  1. Loading Advanced Startup: Click the Power button > Press and Hold the Shift key > Click on Restart.
    Login Screen showing Power button to restart the computer
    Power Button On Log-in – Image Credits [Tech4gamers]
  2. Navigating to System Restore: Click Troubleshoot > Go to Advanced Options > Click System Restore.
    Advanced options highlighting System Restore
    System Restore – Image Credits [Tech4gamers]
  3. Running System Restore: Choose the latest restore point > Click Next > Click on Finish.
    Select A System Restore Point
    Choosing System Restore Point – Image Credits [Tech4gamers]
    Warning: If your PC doesn’t have a previously saved restore point, you will not be able to roll back the Windows.

Replace NTUSER.DAT

NTUSER.DAT file stores all the data related to a user profile, including personalization settings, data, etc. Each user has a different NTUSER.dat file, including the default profiles. In case of corruption, this file can cause a log-in issue. When locked out of a user profile, one method involves replacing the NTUSER.DAT file associated with the locked profile.

We’ve checked out this solution, which works like a charm for fixing the error. And guess what? During our research across TenForums, we also examined users who have successfully utilized this method to regain access to locked-out profiles. Here’s how you can replace the NTUSER.DAT file:

Important Tip: You will need to boot your system into Safe Mode to execute this method successfully. Since Safe Mode does not require logging in, you can utilize basic system calls and processes.
  1. Opening Windows File Explorer: Press Win + E.
  2. Showing Hidden Items: Click View at the top > Tick Hidden items.
  3. Navigating to the Default Profile Folder: Open your Windows Disk Drive > Go to Users > Open Default.
    Rename The Default User Account's NTUSER.dat File
    Default NTUSER.DAT File – Image Credits [Tech4gamers]
  4. Renaming Old File: Right-click on NTUSER.DAT file > Click on Rename > Rename it to NTUSER.DAT.OLD.
    Copy The Local User Account's NTUSER.dat File
    New NTUSER.DAT File – Image Credits [Tech4gamers]
  5. Replacing New File: Return to Users Folder > Open your local user folder > Copy NTUSER.DAT file > Paste into Default Folder.
  6. Reboot: Reboot your system.

Final Thoughts:

So, recapping the blog, corrupt files, and failure of the User Profile Service are the major causes for the User Profile Cannot Be Loaded error. As per our research, this error seems to be increasing rapidly. We observed several users report this issue on X as well.

Remember that the causes can vary from corrupted user profiles to system updates, so trying different methods might be necessary. Although Microsoft has not provided an official statement regarding this issue, the methods mentioned above will be sufficient to solve the problem.

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Abdul Hadi
Abdul Hadi
[How-To Guides Expert] Laiba, our tech guru at HI Digital, simplifies and crafts How-To Guides with a Google IT Support Certificate. Beyond tech, she captures the city's aesthetics through her lens. Join her journey where tech meets creativity! Get In Touch: Laiba@hidgt.com Google IT Certificate Shehryar Khan
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