How to Enable or Disable Log On Users with Temporary Profiles in Windows
When adding a new user account in Windows 10, a profile for the account is automatically created when the user signs in to the new account for the first time.
A user profile is a collection of settings that make the computer look and work the way you want it to for a user account. It is stored in the user's C:\Users\<user name> profile folder, and contains the account's settings for desktop backgrounds, screen savers, pointer preferences, sound settings, and other features. User profiles ensure that your personal preferences are used whenever you sign in to Windows.
A user's profile folder also contains their personal folders such as the 3D Objects, Contacts, Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Favorites, Links, Music, OneDrive, Pictures, Saved Games, Searches, and Videos folders.
If Windows cannot access the user profile folder or the profile contains errors that prevent it from loading, Windows will sign in the user with a temporary profile by default.
This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable signing in users with temporary profiles in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.
You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable signing in users with temporary profiles.
Contents
- Option One: Enable or Disable Log On Users with Temporary Profiles in Local Group Policy Editor
- Option Two: Enable or Disable Log On Users with Temporary Profiles using a REG file
EXAMPLE: Log On Users with Temporary Profiles enabled and disabled
In Windows 7, the Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Professional, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions.
In Windows 8, the Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Pro and Enterprise editions.
In Windows 10, the Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.
All editions can use Option Two.
1 Open the Local Group Policy Editor.
2 In the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor, click/tap on to expand User Configuration, Administrative Templates, System, and User Profiles. (see screenshot below)
3 In the right pane of User Profiles, double click/tap on the Do not log users on with temporary profiles policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)
4 Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you would like to do.
A) Select (dot) either Not Configured or Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)
Not Configured is the default setting.
7 When finished, you can close Local Group Policy Editor if you like.
The downloadable .reg files below will add and modify the DWORD value in the registry key below.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System
ProfileErrorAction DWORD
(delete) = Enable
1 = Disable
1 Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.
This is the default setting
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Enable_sign-in_users_with_temporary_profiles.reg
Download
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Disable_sign-in_users_with_temporary_profiles.reg
Download
4 Save the .reg file to your desktop.
5 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
7 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn
Related Tutorials
- How to Fix "We can't sign into your account" and 'You've been signed in with a temporary profile' Error in Windows 10
- How to Fix 'User Profile Service service failed the sign-in. User Profile cannot be loaded.' Error in Windows 10