Advanced Computer Solutions

ACS Blog

How to Fix “The User Profile Service Failed the Logon” Error

| IT Fixes

Small-business employees who see “The User Profile Service Failed the Logon” when signing in to a new Windows account are affected by this issue. It is caused by the operating system being unable to access the Default user profile—either because the permissions on that folder are incorrect or because the profile itself has become corrupt. The two fixes below address each cause.

What Causes This Error

When you log in to a new account, Windows builds that account’s profile from a template called the Default user. If the operating system cannot read that template—due to missing permissions or file corruption—the logon fails and the error is displayed.

Fix 1: Check and Correct Default User Folder Permissions

  1. Open File Explorer and navigate to the Default user directory (typically found inside the Users folder on the system drive).
  2. Right-click the Default folder and select Properties.
  3. Go to the Security tab and review the permission entries.

  4. Confirm that each of the following accounts or groups is listed and has at minimum Read & Execute, List folder contents, and Read permissions:

    1. System
    2. Users
    3. Everyone
    4. Administrators
  5. If any entry is missing or the permissions are incorrect, click Edit, add or correct the entry, and apply the changes.
  6. Attempt to log in to the new account again to confirm the error is resolved.

Fix 2: Replace a Corrupt Default Profile from Another Computer

If the permissions are correct but the error persists, the Default user profile may be corrupt. Use a working computer running the same version of Windows to provide a replacement.

  1. Locate a second computer that is running the exact same version of Windows as the problem computer.
  2. On the working computer, copy the Default user folder from its Users directory to a USB drive or shared network location.
  3. On the problem computer, rename or back up the existing Default folder so it is not overwritten without a backup.
  4. Copy the Default folder from the working computer into the Users directory of the problem computer, replacing the corrupt one.
  5. Attempt to log in to the new account. Windows will now use the transplanted Default profile to build new user accounts.

Still Need Help?

If neither fix resolves the error, contact Advanced Computer Solutions for further assistance.

Common questions

What causes “The User Profile Service Failed the Logon” error?

The error occurs when Windows cannot access the Default user profile template. This happens either because the permissions on the Default user folder are incorrect or because that profile has become corrupt.

Which permissions does the Default user folder need?

The System, Users, Everyone, and Administrators accounts or groups each need at least Read & Execute, List folder contents, and Read permissions on the Default user folder.

Does the replacement computer have to run the same version of Windows?

Yes. The computer you copy the Default profile from must be running the exact same version of Windows as the problem computer so that the profile is compatible.