How to Recover Files from Temporary Profile in Windows 10

Did you log into your Windows 10 account only to find yourself in a temporary profile—and all your files missing? Don’t worry just yet. This issue is more common than you think, and in many cases, your data is still intact. In this guide, we’ll show you how to recover files from temporary profile Windows 10 using free tools like WinfrGUI and Microsoft’s Windows File Recovery. Both are beginner-friendly and effective at restoring lost data. We’ll also explain why this error happens—often due to corrupted user profiles or failed updates—and provide clear steps to fix it for good. Whether you’re dealing with important documents, photos, or work files, this guide will help you get back on track and prevent it from happening again. Follow along to restore your original profile and recover files from temporary profile Windows 10. Your missing data may be just a few steps away.

Quick Options

✔️Option1. Use WinfrGUI to Recover Files from Temporary Profile

WinfrGUI is a free and user-friendly graphical version of Microsoft’s Windows File Recovery tool. Instead of typing complicated commands, you get a clean interface that makes file recovery easy—even for beginners. It’s perfect for recovering files that went missing due to a temporary profile issue.

Step 1: Download and open WinfrGUI, then click “Select Folder” to choose the original location where your files were stored before the temporary profile issue, and press OK to begin scanning.

Step 2: Once the scan starts, use the built-in filter option to narrow down the results by file type or name so you can quickly find the exact files you need.

Step 3: Preview the scanned files, select the ones you want to restore, and click “ Start Recover” to save them to a different drive than the one you’re recovering from to avoid overwriting data.

✔️Option 2. Use Windows File Recovery Tool (Command Line)

If you prefer the official Microsoft solution, use the Windows File Recovery tool:

Step 1: Search Windows File Recovery in the Microsoft Store and install it.

Step 2：Launch Command Prompt and run the following commands:

To recover standard files:

winfr C: E: /regular /n \Users\YourUsername\Documents\

To recover files using extensive mode:

winfr C: E: /extensive /n *invoice*

Replace C: with the source drive and E: with your destination drive.ows 10. It is worth knowing various solutions to solve temporary profile errors in Windows 10. Try exploring more fixes:

How to Fix a Temporary Profile Error in Windows 10

If you’ve logged into a temporary profile and your files or settings seem to be missing, don’t panic—there are several ways to fix it. Start by restarting your computer and trying to sign in a few times, as this alone can resolve minor glitches. If the issue persists, continue with the solutions below.

Solution 1: Disable Temporary Antivirus Software

Sometimes, third-party antivirus programs or real-time protection settings can interfere with your profile during login, causing Windows to load a temporary profile instead.

For Windows Defender:

Step 1: Click Start, then select Settings.
Step 2: Go to Update & Security > Windows Security > Open Windows Security.
Step 3: Click Virus & Threat Protection, then click Manage Settings under “Virus & threat protection settings.”
Step 4: Turn Real-time Protection to Off (you can turn it back on after troubleshooting).

For Third-Party Antivirus Software:

Step 1: Find the antivirus icon in the bottom-right system tray (near the clock).
Step 2: Right-click the icon and choose an option like “Turn Off,” “Disable,” or “Pause Protection.”
Step 3: Open the antivirus program itself and look for settings such as “Tamper Protection” or “Self-Defense” that might prevent full disabling, and turn those off temporarily.
Step 4: Restart your computer and try signing in again to check if the problem is fixed.

After disabling antivirus, restart your PC and try signing in again to see if the issue is resolved. If it works, consider updating or replacing your antivirus software to avoid future conflicts.

Solution 2: Scan and Repair System Files

Temporary profile errors can be caused by corrupted system files or damaged user profiles. To fix this, use the System File Checker (SFC) tool to scan and repair your Windows files by following these steps:

Step 1: Type Command Prompt into the Windows search bar.
Step 2: Right-click the Command Prompt app and select Run as administrator to open it with elevated privileges.
Step 3: In the Command Prompt window, type sfc /scannow and press Enter to start the system scan and automatically repair any corrupted files it finds.

sfc /scannow

⚠️ This process may take some time—wait until it completes before closing the window or restarting your PC.

Solution 3: Create a New Admin Account

If your current user profile is corrupted, creating a new admin account can help resolve the temporary profile error. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Open Settings, then go to Accounts > Family & other users.
Step 2: Click Add someone else to this PC and follow the prompts to create a new user account.
Step 3: Once the account is created, select it under Other users, click Change account type, and set it to Administrator.
Step 4: Restart your computer, then sign in using the new administrator account to see if the issue is resolved.

Solution 4: Fix the Temporary Profile Error by Editing the Registry

This method involves tweaking some registry settings to fix the temporary profile issue—but be careful, because messing with the registry can cause problems if you’re not sure what you’re doing. It’s a good idea to back up your registry or ask a pro for help before you start.

Step 1: Open Command Prompt and type whoami /user to find your SID (a unique ID for your user account) and write it down.
Step 2: Press Win + R, type regedit, and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
Step 3: Go to this folder inside the Registry Editor:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList
Step 4: Find the folder named with your SID. If you see two folders with the same SID and one ends with .bak, rename the one with .bak by removing that extension.
Step 5: Double-click ProfileImagePath and make sure it points to your user folder, like C:\Users\YourUsername.
Step 6: Find the entries named State and RefCount and set both their values to 0.
Step 7: Close the Registry Editor and restart your PC.

This usually helps Windows recognize your real profile instead of loading the temporary one..

Recover Deleted User Profiles and Files in Windows FAQs

Here are four frequently asked questions about recovering deleted user profiles and important files in Windows 10.

Q1. What is a Windows user profile?

User profiles provide account settings and information. You may log in to your computer using the user account even if you have numerous user accounts in Windows 10.

Q2. How to remove user profiles from Windows 10?

There are several ways to delete user profiles in Windows 10, including manually deleting, deletion through system properties, and using the Settings app. You can also choose to copy and transfer the user profile.

Q3. Is it possible to recover deleted user profiles in Windows 10?

System Restore allows you to restore your Windows PC to its previous state, where everything including the user profiles have been backed up. Using system restore, you can restore deleted users profiles.

Q4. What causes the user profile to be corrupted?

Corrupted user profiles can be caused by various reasons, including the corruption or lack of a user profile. The integrity of the file system is destroyed due to disk writing errors, discontinuations or virus attacks.

Q5. Can I recover files from a deleted or corrupted user profile?

Yes, tools like WinfrGUI or Windows File Recovery can help scan your hard drive to recover files from deleted or corrupted user profiles, even if the profile itself can’t be restored.

Q6. How can I prevent user profile corruption in the future?

Regularly updating Windows, running antivirus scans, avoiding forced shutdowns, and backing up your data can help prevent profile corruption and data loss.

Conclusion

Whether it was a sudden Windows glitch or a corrupt user profile that triggered the issue, you now have reliable methods to recover files from temporary profile Windows 10. Start with WinfrGUI for a quick, easy recovery, and don’t forget to address the root causes to protect your data moving forward. Regular backups and system maintenance go a long way in preventing future data loss.

🔗 Also Read: 6 Tools to Fix and Extract Corrupted ZIP File