If your Windows user profile becomes corrupted or starts causing issues, you don’t always need to delete the user account. Instead, you can reset the Windows user profile by removing its registry association. This forces Windows to create a brand-new profile the next time the user signs in while keeping the user account intact.
Although this method is commonly described online as “deleting a Windows user profile,” that’s not entirely accurate. The existing profile folder remains on your hard drive. Only the connection between the user account and the profile is removed, allowing Windows to generate a fresh profile with default settings during the next login.
What Happens When You Reset a Windows User Profile?
Resetting a Windows profile removes the registry entry that links the user account to its existing profile.
When the affected user signs in again, Windows detects that no profile is associated with the account and automatically creates a new one using the default profile settings.
This process:
- Creates a new user profile with default Windows settings.
- Preserves the user account itself.
- Does not delete the old profile folder from the hard drive.
The previous profile remains stored in the C:\Users directory until you manually remove it.
How to Reset a Windows User Profile Using Registry Editor
Important: Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can cause system problems. Before making any changes, create a backup of the registry or a system restore point.
Step 1: Open Registry Editor
- Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
- Type regedit and press Enter.
- Approve the User Account Control prompt if it appears.
Step 2: Navigate to the ProfileList Key
Go to the following registry location:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList
This key contains all user profiles registered on your Windows installation.
System Profiles You Should Never Delete
Inside the ProfileList key, you’ll notice several folders beginning with S-1-5.
The following entries belong to Windows system accounts and should never be removed:
- S-1-5-18 – System Profile
- S-1-5-19 – Local Service
- S-1-5-20 – Network Service
These are essential Windows accounts required for normal system operation.
Identify the Correct User Profile
Regular user profiles typically begin with:
S-1-5-21-...
Click each entry and check the ProfileImagePath value in the right pane. This value displays the folder associated with that profile, such as:
C:\Users\John
If you’re unsure which account the profile belongs to, right-click the registry key, select Permissions, and review the listed user accounts.
Remove the User Profile Registry Entry
After identifying the correct profile:
- Right-click the corresponding S-1-5-21-… registry key.
- Select Delete.
- Confirm the deletion.
Removing this registry key disconnects the user account from its existing profile.
The next time the user signs in, Windows automatically creates a new profile with default settings.
The Old Profile Is Still Stored on Your PC
Deleting the registry entry does not remove the user’s existing files or folders.
The old profile remains in:
C:\Users
After confirming that the new profile works correctly, you can manually copy important files from the old profile if needed, including:
- Documents
- Pictures
- Downloads
- Desktop files
- Browser bookmarks
- Other personal data
Once you’ve recovered everything you need, you can safely delete the old profile folder to free up storage space.
Temporary Profiles and .bak Registry Entries
If Windows signs a user into a temporary profile, you may notice two registry entries with nearly identical names inside ProfileList.
One of them may include the .bak extension.
This usually indicates that Windows couldn’t load the original profile correctly.
In many cases, removing the incorrect registry entry or fixing the .bak entry allows Windows to load the original profile again. If you’re resetting the profile completely, ensure the unnecessary .bak entry is removed before the user signs in again.
When Should You Reset a Windows User Profile?
Resetting a Windows user profile can resolve a variety of profile-related issues, including:
- Corrupted user profiles
- Login errors
- Missing desktop icons
- Broken Windows settings
- Start menu or taskbar problems
- Persistent application configuration issues
This method is particularly useful in enterprise environments, shared computers, and older Remote Desktop or Terminal Server deployments where user profile corruption can occur more frequently.
Resetting a Windows user profile in the Registry Editor is an effective way to fix profile-related issues without deleting the user account. Since only the registry association is removed, Windows automatically creates a new profile while leaving the previous profile folder intact.
Before deleting the old profile, always verify that the new profile is working correctly and back up any important personal files. Taking a few extra minutes to preserve user data can save significant time if anything needs to be restored later.
