The user profile service service failed the sign-in, user profile cannont be loaded...

Question

Hello, i just recently tried a factory reset on my pc, now i get the message in the title every time i try to login.

I cant even boot into safe mode or pick any of the other options in the troubleshooter because it just goes to a black screen please help

Answer 1

Hi Az x DGK,

I’m really sorry you’re stuck in this situation. Based on what you described, it's likely that the reset process itself corrupts the default user profile or Windows shell, which also explains the black screen when entering recovery options. Here’s what you can try:

1 - Use the built-in admin account

• Power on the PC > force shutdown during boot 3 times to trigger recovery
• When in WinRE, choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt
• If Command Prompt opens, run these commands one by one:
  • bcdedit | find "osdevice" - Note the drive letter here (often C: but not always).
  • C: - Replace C: if needed
  • cd \Windows\System32
  • net user administrator /active:yes
• Close and restart the PC > Sign‑in with Administrator (default no password)
• Once logged in, create a new user account and move all your data there.

2 - If you cannot reach Command Prompt at all, Windows recovery itself is damaged

• Boot from a Windows 10 USB installation media > choose Repair your computer
• If repair still fails, choose Reset this PC > Keep my files.

If none works, you might need to do a Clean Install. If it comes to that or/and there's any step you are not sure about, feel free to let me know and I can explain further!

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Answer 2

The error indicates a corrupted or unusable Windows user profile, and the black screen after sign-in means the profile and/or shell are failing to load.

Because Safe Mode and normal sign-in both fail, the practical options are:

1. Use another account (if available)
   • On the sign-in screen, select a different account in the lower-left corner and try signing in.
   • If sign-in succeeds with another account, back up data and then repair or recreate the broken profile by following the guidance in Fix a corrupted user profile in Windows from the sign-in troubleshooting article.
2. Treat this as a corrupted profile that cannot be recovered in-place
   • The error message “The User Profile Service service failed the sign-in. User profile cannot be loaded.” is a classic symptom of a corrupted profile.
   • The recommended resolution is to follow Fix a corrupted user profile in Windows to either repair the profile or delete and recreate it. If the system will not load any desktop (only black screen), this typically requires:
     • Signing in with a different local or Microsoft account that still works, or
     • Booting from Windows installation/recovery media and using it to repair or reset the installation.
3. If no account can sign in and the system never shows a usable desktop
   • At this point the environment matches the scenario where the system fails to load the user profile and desktop and only shows a black screen.
   • If registry or shell configuration is damaged, and there is no working account to fix it from inside Windows, the supported path is to perform a repair install or reset the PC from recovery options or external media.
   • If a prior factory reset already failed and left the system in this state, performing another reset or a clean install from Windows installation media is the reliable way forward.
4. For SQL Server or domain environments
   • If this PC is also used for SQL Server and the profile is corrupted, the guidance is the same: treat it as a corrupted Windows user profile and follow Fix a corrupted user profile in Windows to repair or recreate the profile.

If there is important data under the broken profile, copy it out (for example, via another working account or by attaching the disk to another machine) before deleting or fully reinstalling.

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References:

• Windows user profile can't be loaded in SQL Server
• Troubleshoot Problems Signing In to Windows