It can be frustrating if your Windows 10/11 PC keeps creating temporary profiles. This problem typically arises when the system encounters errors with the default user profile, leading it to generate temporary profiles instead. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to resolve this issue, from checking system drive space and running specific scans to creating new accounts. This guide will walk you through effective solutions to help you regain normal functionality and avoid temporary profiles.
Why Is Windows Signing You In With a Temporary Profile?
When Windows logs you in with a temp profile, it usually means there’s a problem with your user profile. Here are some reasons:
- Your user profile may be corrupted.
- Insufficient free space on your system drive might prevent Windows from loading your user profile.
- Issues within the Registry Editor could interfere with the User Profile Service’s normal operation.
- Other random system files might be corrupted.
How to Stop Windows 10 from Creating/Signing a Temporary Profile
Method 1: Repair System Files Using the System File Checker
The first is to run the SFC tool to check and repair the system files and fix corrupt user profiles. The good news is that if the infected profile is accessible, you can try to run the scan from there. Otherwise, use another user account or the temporary profile that Windows generated. Here is what you need to do:
Step 1: Press Win + R to open the RUN box and type “cmd.”
Step 2: Press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open the Command Prompt in the admin mode.
Step 3: The Command Prompt window will open. You must copy and paste the following command and the Enter key into it.
sfc /scannow
Step 4: Wait for the process to complete and then exit the command prompt to restart the computer to check if the issue persists.
Method 2: Repair System Files Using The Deployment Image Servicing And Management Tool
Another built-in tool in Windows OS is the DISM utility. You can replace the OS image with a fresh, clean image. Here are the steps to use this
Step 1: Press the Win key and type cmd.
Step 2: The Command Prompt tool will appear under best match. Click on Run as Administrator.
Step 3: If you receive a UAC prompt box, click Yes.
Step 4: Copy and paste the following command with the Enter key.
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Step 4: Wait for the process to complete and then exit the command prompt to restart the computer to check if the issue persists.
Method 3: Utilize The System Restore Tool
If this issue has occurred recently, use System Restore to return your PC to its current state before the problem starts. This process can help resolve user account corruption and fix any path or settings issues that might be causing Windows to create temporary profiles. Here is what you need to do:
Step 1: Press Win + R to launch the RUN box and type “rstrui.exe.”
Step 2: Click the OK button to open the System Restore box.
Step 3: Choose a restore point before the issue starts on your PC, click Next, and Finish.
Note : Your data will not be affected. However, it will undo any changes made to Windows settings and remove any new programs you have installed after the restore point date.
Method 4: Check System Drive Space
Make sure that the system drive (typically the C drive) has adequate free space. If there isn’t enough space on the system drive, Windows may create a temporary profile instead of loading the default one. To address this, try freeing up space on your PC. Here are the steps to clean unwanted files:
Step 1: Press Win + R to open the RUN box and type “CMD.”
Step 2: Press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open the Command Prompt in Admin mode.
Step 3: Type “cleanmgr.exe /D C” and press Enter.
Step 4: A new box will open. In it, check the boxes for the junk files you wish to remove.
Step 5: Click on >OK button, and then > Delete Files.
Step 6: Next, click the Clean System Files button followed by OK and Delete files.
Step 7: Reboot your PC.
Note : If you cannot delete files from the system drive, consider moving some data to another. The goal is to ensure enough free space on the system drive, even reducing the available space on other drives.
Method 5: Make Changes To Your Registry
The Registry Editor in Windows holds numerous settings and configurations for user profiles. If the registry entries associated with your profile become corrupted or modified, the User Profile Service might not load your profile correctly. Here are the steps:
Step 1: Press Win + R to open the RUN box and type “cmd”.
Step 2: Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete to open the Command Prompt in admin mode.
Step 3: If the UAC prompt box appears, click Yes.
Step 4: Copy and paste the following command with the Enter key.
whoami/user
Step 5: The SID for your current account will appear on the screen. Copy this SID and paste it into a new Txt file or doc saved on your desktop.
Step 6: Press Win + R and type “Regedit,” followed by Enter.
Step 7: Copy and paste the following path into the address bar of the Windows Registry.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList
Step 8: Under the ProfileList, look for the SID keys and locate the Key that matches the one you copied earlier.
Step 9: Click on that key, and a few registry entries will appear on the right side.
Step 10: Now locate ProfileImagePath and double-click on it to open a small box.
Step 11: In the value data, replace the Value data with the path of your current user profile, which you can find in File Explorer.
Step 12: Exit the Registry Editor and restart your PC.
Method 6: Make A New User Account
This might seem drastic, but it’s quite straightforward. If you cannot repair the corrupted profile, consider creating a new account and deleting the old one. In Windows Settings, go to Accounts -> Other Users, and click Add Account to set up a new account. Be sure to create it as an administrator account.
After creating the new account, transfer data from your old account by copying and pasting the files from the Users folder on the system drive. You can then delete the corrupted profile from the same Other Users page.
Bonus Tip: Recover Your Files And Data
If you cannot log in to your default user profile, you may have to create a new profile. To recover data from the previous user profile, you can use the Advanced Disk Recovery Software. Here are the steps:
Step 1: Download and Install Advanced Disk Recovery using the download button below.
Step 2: Launch the software and choose the areas to be scanned.
Step 3: Click on the Start Scan Now Button.
Step 4: Choose the Deep scan option to recover files from the deepest sectors of your hard drive and click on Scan Now.
Step 5: A list of files that can be recovered will be displayed. Click on the check box next to the files you wish to recover and click on the Recover button.
Step 6: You will have to specify the location where you wish to save these recovered files and click on OK.
Step 7: Wait for some time, and you will have recovered all your important data.
Have You Fixed the “Windows Creating Temporary Profile” Issue?
We hope you have resolved the issue. By following the troubleshooting steps—such as checking system drive space, running scan tools, or creating a new account—you can address the root causes of this problem and prevent it from recurring. Do let us know in the comments section which method helped you fix this issue.
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