Fix Temporary Profile in Windows 10: Step-by-Step Guide

A temporary profile is loaded after you log on to Windows, whether you’re using Windows 7, 8, 8.1, or 10. The fix is the same for all versions of Windows.

How to Know if You Are Logged in as a TEMP Profile

When you log in on Windows 7, 8, 8.1, or 10, a notification will appear on the taskbar (near the time and date) indicating that you are logged in with a temporary profile. With this temporary login, you won’t be able to locate your files, pictures, or videos. In other words, you won’t see what you’ve saved on your computer.

But don’t panic! There is a way to fix the temporary profile in Windows 10 without losing your data.

Steps to Fix Temporary Profile in Windows 10

Step 1: Restart Your Computer

Restart your computer. Once the boot screen appears, start tapping the F8 key on your keyboard. This will bring up the boot options screen.

Step 2: Select Safe Mode

Use the down arrow key to select Safe Mode and press Enter. This will start Windows in Safe Mode, which is useful for troubleshooting issues like the temporary profile problem.

For Windows 8, 8.1, or 10, you can also navigate to Settings > Startup > Safe Mode to enable Safe Mode.

Step 3: Log in as Administrator

In Safe Mode, you’ll be prompted to log in with your administrator account credentials.

Step 4: Save Your Data

Before attempting to fix the temporary profile in Windows 10, it’s highly recommended that you save all your important data. Since Safe Mode should allow access to your files, make sure you back up any necessary documents, photos, and videos.

Step 5: Access the User Profile List in the Registry

The location of the User ProfileList in the system’s registry is as follows:

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList

It’s crucial to back up the registry before making any changes. Right-click on ProfileList and select Export, then choose a location to save the backup file.

Step 6: Modify the Registry

Look for the corrupt profile in the ProfileList. You should see two identical Registry keys differentiated by the .bak extension (e.g., S-1-5-21-XXXXXX1234.bak and S-1-5-21-XXXXXX1234). The Registry key with the .bak extension contains the user’s actual profile, while the key without the .bak extension is the temporary profile.

1. Delete the Registry Key without the .bak extension.
2. Rename the key with the .bak extension to remove the .bak (e.g., S-1-5-21-XXXXXX1234).
3. In the fields on the right, find the RefCount value and change it to 0.

Step 7: Reboot the Computer

After completing these steps, reboot your machine. The system should now load the correct user profile instead of the temporary one.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can successfully fix the temporary profile in Windows 10 without losing any of your personal files. Just make sure to back up your data before making any changes, and always proceed carefully when editing the system registry. After rebooting, you should be able to log in with your original user profile, resolving the temporary profile issue once and for all.