How to Recreate a User Profile in Windows 10 or 11

To recreate a corrupted user profile in Windows 10 or Windows 11, sign in with a different administrator account, back up the files from the old profile folder in C:\Users, and delete the broken profile from System Properties > Advanced > User Profiles > Settings. The next time the affected user signs in, Windows builds a fresh profile automatically. Then copy their files back. This fixes problems like the “We can’t sign in to your account” message, a temporary profile, a broken Start menu, or settings that won’t save.

Before you start: Recreating a profile removes that user’s settings and app data. Back up everything first, and don’t delete a profile folder until you’ve copied the files you need.

Signs you need a new profile

• Windows says You’ve been signed in with a temporary profile or We can’t sign in to your account.
• Your desktop, files, or settings reset every time you sign in.
• Start, search, or Settings doesn’t open for one user but works for others.
• Apps crash only for one account.

Step 1: Sign in with another administrator account

You can’t delete the profile you’re signed in with. If there’s no other admin account on the PC, create one first:

1. Go to Settings > Accounts > Other users (called Family & other users on Windows 10).
2. Click Add account > I don’t have this person’s sign-in information > Add a user without a Microsoft account.
3. Enter a name and password, click Next, then click the new account and choose Change account type > Administrator.
4. Sign out and sign in to the new admin account.

If the broken account can’t reach Settings, open Terminal (Admin) and run net user tempadmin P@ssw0rd123 /add followed by net localgroup administrators tempadmin /add. Use your own password.

Step 2: Back up the old profile’s files

1. Open File Explorer and go to C:\Users.
2. Open the old user’s folder. Click Continue if Windows asks for permission.
3. Copy Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Pictures, Music, Videos, and Favorites to an external drive or another folder, such as C:\ProfileBackup.
4. If the user saved files in OneDrive, they’re already in the cloud, but you can copy the OneDrive folder too.

To also save browser bookmarks and email, export them from each app or sign in to sync. Hidden app data lives in the AppData folder. See how to open AppData in Windows 11 if you need something specific from it.

Step 3: Delete the corrupted profile

1. Press Windows key + R, type sysdm.cpl, and press Enter.
2. Open the Advanced tab. Under User Profiles, click Settings.
3. Select the broken profile and click Delete, then Yes.

This removes the profile folder and its registry entry, but the user account itself stays. If Delete is grayed out, the profile is still in use. Restart the PC and sign in to the other admin account again.

Step 4: Sign in to create the new profile

1. Sign out, then sign in to the affected account. Windows shows Hi and Getting things ready while it builds a fresh profile.
2. Copy the backed-up files into the new folders in C:\Users\username.
3. Reinstall any apps that were installed only for that user, and sign back in to OneDrive, your browser, and email.

Fix a temporary profile without deleting anything (advanced)

If Windows keeps loading a temporary profile, a broken registry entry may be the cause. Back up the registry first, and only try this if you’re comfortable editing it.

1. Sign in with another admin account, open Registry Editor (regedit), and go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList.
2. Click each long S-1-5-21-… key and check ProfileImagePath to find the affected user.
3. If there are two keys for that user, one ending in .bak, delete the key without .bak, then rename the .bak key to remove .bak.
4. In that key, set RefCount and State to 0, then restart.

Frequently asked questions

Will recreating my profile delete my files?

Deleting the profile deletes everything in its folder, which is why you back up first. Your account name and password stay the same.

Can I recreate a Microsoft account profile?

Yes. The steps are the same. After the new profile is created, the account syncs your settings from Microsoft, and OneDrive files download again.

Why can’t I delete the folder in C:\Users directly?

Deleting only the folder leaves a registry entry behind, which can cause the temporary profile error. Always use the User Profiles dialog.

Is this the same on Windows 11?

Yes. The steps and menus are the same on Windows 10 and Windows 11.