How to Fix “Signed In With a Temporary Profile” in Windows 10

“You’ve been signed in with a temporary profile” means Windows 10 couldn’t load your user profile, so it gave you a blank one. Anything you save during this session may be deleted when you sign out. First, restart your PC (not just sign out), because a temporary glitch or an antivirus scan often causes it. If it keeps happening, the usual fix is in the registry: a duplicate profile entry ending in .bak under ProfileList needs to be renamed so Windows points to your real profile again. Your files are almost always still in C:\Users\your name.

Work through the fixes below in order. Don’t save new files while you’re on the temporary profile.

Why Windows loads a temporary profile

• A program, often antivirus or backup software, was using your profile files at sign-in.
• A Windows update or a crash damaged your profile’s registry entry.
• Disk errors or corrupted system files.
• Your profile folder was renamed, moved, or its permissions changed.

Fix 1: Restart your PC

1. Click Start > Power > Restart.
2. Sign in again. If your desktop and files are back, you’re done.

Try this two or three times. If you just installed updates, let them finish first.

Fix 2: Repair the profile in the registry

Editing the registry incorrectly can cause problems, so create a restore point first (Start > type Create a restore point > Create). You need to be signed in with an administrator account. The temporary profile usually has admin rights if your normal account does.

Step 1: Find your account’s SID

1. Open Command Prompt.
2. Type whoami /user and press Enter.
3. Note the long number that starts with S-1-5-21-. This is your SID.

Step 2: Open ProfileList

1. Press Windows key + R, type regedit, and press Enter. Click Yes.
2. Paste this into the address bar and press Enter:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList
3. Look for keys starting with your SID.

Step 3: Fix the keys

If you see two keys for your SID, one ending in .bak:

1. Right-click the key without .bak, choose Rename, and add .ba to the end.
2. Right-click the key with .bak, choose Rename, and delete .bak from the end.
3. Right-click the .ba key and rename it to end in .bak.

If you see only one key, and it ends in .bak: Rename it and delete .bak from the end.

Step 4: Check the values

1. Click the key for your SID (without .bak).
2. Double-click ProfileImagePath and make sure it shows your real folder, like C:\Users\Alex. Check in File Explorer that the folder exists.
3. Double-click RefCount, set it to 0, and click OK. If it’s missing, you can skip it.
4. Double-click State, set it to 0, and click OK.
5. Close Registry Editor and restart your PC.

Fix 3: Repair Windows files and the disk

1. Right-click Start and choose Windows PowerShell (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin).
2. Run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth, then sfc /scannow.
3. Run chkdsk C: /f. Type Y to schedule it, then restart.

Fix 4: Check your antivirus

Some third-party antivirus programs lock profile files while scanning at startup. Temporarily disable yours, or check for an update, then restart. If the problem stops, contact the antivirus maker or switch to Microsoft Defender.

Fix 5: Create a new profile and copy your files

If nothing else works, make a fresh account and move your files into it.

1. Go to Settings > Accounts > Family & other users > Add someone else to this PC, and create a new local account. Make it an administrator.
2. Sign in to the new account once, then sign out.
3. Sign back in with any working admin account, open C:\Users\old name, and copy Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Downloads, and other folders you need into the new profile’s folders.

For details, see how to create a new user on Windows 10. If you use a Microsoft account, you can switch the new local account to your Microsoft account later.

Frequently asked questions

Did I lose my files?

Almost never. Your files are still in your original profile folder under C:\Users. Windows just isn’t loading them.

Can I keep using the temporary profile?

No. Anything saved there, including desktop files and settings, is deleted when you sign out.

What if I don’t have admin rights?

Ask the PC’s administrator or your IT department to apply the registry fix for you.

Does this fix work on Windows 11?

Yes. The ProfileList fix and the other steps are the same on Windows 11.