Have you ever been greeted by that frustrating “User Profile Service Failed the Sign In” error on your Windows system? Imagine it like a door slamming shut right when you need it to swing open. But do not sweat it, as this tutorial has the keys to fix this!
In this tutorial, you will learn step-by-step solutions to get you back into your system smoothly.
Read on and kick that sign-in error to the curb!
Prerequisites
Before you begin fixing the “User Profile Service Failed the Sign In” error, ensure you have these essentials in place for a smooth troubleshooting journey:
- Windows 7 or later installed on your computer – This tutorial uses a Windows 10 system.
- Administrative access to your Windows account.
Restarting Your Computer
After you have covered the essentials, you can dive into some practical solutions to fix the “User Profile Service Failed the Sign In” error. Computers often speak in riddles, telling you there is a problem but not spilling the beans on what is causing it.
On that note, start with a classic but often underestimated step — restarting your computer. This action might sound simple, but it can work wonders. A restart refreshes system processes, potentially clearing any glitches causing the sign in error.
To properly restart your computer, proceed with the following:
1. Save any open documents or files you are working on to prevent data loss.
2. Click on the Start menu → power button icon → Restart to restart your computer.
3. Once your computer boots up, try logging in with your user account and see if the sign-in error has been fixed. If not, no worries. A computer restart is a foundational troubleshooting step that sets the stage for more advanced fixes, as in the following sections.
Booting Into Safe Mode
If the error persists after giving your system a fresh start, you may need to wear your detective glasses to spot the culprit. Dig deeper to isolate and fix various system issues, starting with booting into Safe Mode to start your computer with only essential system services and drivers.
To boot into Safe Mode, follow these steps:
1. Press the Window + R keys to open the Run dialogue box.
2. Next, type msconfig and press Enter to launch the System Configuration window.
3. In the System Configuration window, choose your target OS from the list (i.e., Windows 10), and configure the following Boot options:
- Safe boot – Tick this box to set your system to boot into Safe Mode after a reboot.
- Minimal – Choose this option so that only essential system services and drivers start on reboot.
Once configured, click Apply and OK to save the changes.
4. Lastly, click Restart when prompted to confirm restarting your computer.
If you can log in to your user account in Safe Mode, there is one less problem to work on. Yet, the failed sign-in error might be caused by corrupted system files, so jump to the following sections to keep looking for the best solution.
Scanning and Repairing System Files
If safely booting up does not bring up the failed sign-in error, but the normal boot still does, you may need a bit of digital-first aid. The System File Checker (SFC) utility allows you to scan and repair system files for corruption or errors.
To scan and repair your system files via SFC, carry out the steps below:
1. Boot into Safe Mode, and open Command Prompt as administrator.
2. Next, run the below sfc command in the Command Prompt to scan (/scannow) your system files for any issues and attempt to repair them if necessary.
Patiently wait for the process to complete, as it may take some time, and avoid interruptions.
sfc /scannow
3. Once the scan and repair process completes, restart your computer and check if the “User Profile Service failed the sign in” error is resolved.
💡 Besides fixing corrupted system files, sign-in errors may also be caused by third-party applications. Therefore, uninstalling recently installed applications via trusted software like Revo Uninstaller may also help fix the sign-in issues.
Restoring Your System to a Previous State
Imagine you have already given your system a fix for corrupted system files but still getting a failed sign-in error — frustrating, right? Why not dip into a bit of time-travel magic?
Restoring your system to a previous state is like hitting the rewind button on your computer, returning it to a time when everything ran smoothly. This process lets you undo recent changes that triggered the sign-in issue.
To perform a system restore, proceed with the following steps:
1. Open the Run dialogue box (Win+R), input rstrui, and press Enter to open the System Restore window (step two).
2. Click Next on the System Restore window to continue.
3. Select a restore point from the list that is dated before you started experiencing the “User Profile Service failed the sign in” error, and click Next.
The ones listed are the points in time when Windows created a snapshot of your system settings.
4. Click Finish to confirm your restore point selection and start the restoration process.
Your computer will restart during this process, so save any open work.
💡 Optionally, click the Scan for affected programs hyperlink first since System Restore will uninstall recently installed programs and updates.
5. After restarting, try signing in with your account and confirm if the error is resolved.
Creating a New User Account (If the previous attempts did not fix the “User Profile Service Failed the Sign In)
If the previous attempts did not fix the “User Profile Service Failed the Sign In” error, do not fret. Creating a new account can often sidestep any glitches tied to the previous one.
But should you be worried about your data? Nope! Post account creation, you can transfer your data from the old one.
1. Boot into Safe Mode, open the Run dialogue box, type netplwiz, and press Enter to open the User Accounts window (step two).
2. Click Add under the Users tab in the User Accounts window to create a new user account.
3. Now, provide an email address you will use when signing in to the new user account, and click Next to proceed.
4. Click Finish to complete the user account creation.
5. Lastly, restart your computer, log in with the newly created account, and transfer your data from the old user profile.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You have just navigated a potentially frustrating hiccup in your Windows journey – the dreaded “User Profile Service Failed the Sign-In” error. You have explored several effective troubleshooting steps, from booting into safe mode to scanning and repairing crucial system files.
You have also touched on restoring your system to a previous stable state and even creating a fresh user account if needed. Armed with this knowledge, you are now well-equipped to tackle similar challenges. But do not let the learning stop here. Delve deeper into Windows troubleshooting techniques, exploring various error codes and their solutions.
Familiarize yourself with advanced system diagnostic tools and commands, like SFC and Deployment Image Service and Management Tool (DISM). Confidently tackle even more complex system issues!
