The specified user does not have a valid profile error [Fix]
- Windows offers different type of user roles and permisions. In addition, each user has a certain profile associated with it to save various user preferences and settings.
- Most times this error can be fixed by giving the WindowsApps folder the right permissions or by simply quiting the app entirely and trying again.
- A strange error indeed but there are many others that we've written about in the Microsoft store hub. Check it out.
- If Windows sends you other error messages, visit our Windows 10 errors hub for articles on many different subjects.
The The specified user does not have a valid profile error is one of the commonly reported error across Windows platform. If you have encountered the same error recently, here are the a few quick fixes that will help you resolve the issue.
How can I fix The specified user does not have a valid profile?
- Restart your PC
- Quit the App
- Change Windows Store App Location
- Remove third-party apps
- Disable startup apps
1. Restart your PC
One of the commonly recommended fixes for The specified user does not have a valid profile is to restart your PC. While this is not a reliable fix, rebooting might be just enough to fix this problem.
A lot of users have reported a quick restart to have fixed the problem without doing anything else.
2. Quit the App
- Open Task Manager. Right-click on the Taskbar and select Task Manager.
- Under the Process tab, find the application that is giving you this error.
- Select the process, and click on End Task.
- Now go the Services tab. Look for any services related to the problematic application. Right-click on the service and select Stop.
- Close the Task Manager window and restart your computer.
If you get the The specified user does not have a valid profile while trying to start a program, you might be able to fix the issue by disabling the application from the Task Manager.
3. Change Windows Store App Location
Windows Store apps are by default stored in /WindowsApps folder. If you see the error The specified users does not have a valid profile while launching a Windows Store app, the folder may not have the required permission to run the app.
A workaround for this problem is to move the apps files to a different folder in the hard drive. Begin with accessing WindowsApp folder.
Note: You may need administrative permission to access
C:Program FilesWindowsApps
folder. If you don’t have required permission to provide admin access, you need to add your username in the security tab, which is by default to set to Trusted Installer in the Permission tab. Here is how to do it.
- Go to
C:Program Files
- Right-click on Windows Apps folder and select Properties.
- Open Security tab and click on Advanced button.
- In the next dialogue box, click on Change beside the Owner section.
- Type your username and click on Check names. If found, click on OK.
- Click on Apply and then on OK button save the changes. Close all the security and properties window.
- Open File Explorer and go to C:Program FilesWindowsApps.
- Look for the Windows Store folder. Right-click on the folder, select Cut and paste it in some other folder such as Documents or any other folder in the C: drive preferably.
- After the file is moved, open the moved folder and click the .exe file to run the program.
- If it was a permission related error, the program should run without any error.
4. Remove third-party apps
Some users have reported some third-party apps as the cause for The specified user does not have a valid profile error. Users reported the following applications as the potential cause for this error:
- CloudPaging Player
- Creo Trial (3D CAD software)
To remove these applications, it’s advised to use uninstaller software such as IOBit Uninstaller. Once you remove them, check if the issue is still there.
5. Disable startup apps
Microsoft Windows loads some apps automatically during the startup, however, these applications can lead to The specified user does not have a valid profile error. To disable startup applications, do the following:
- Open Task Manager.
- Go to Startup tab, select all the apps that have Enabled as the status and click on Disable.
Now restart your PC. Bear in mind that certain applications aren’t available on this list, so you’ll have to manually disable them.
The specified user does not have a valid profile error can be problematic, but you should be able to fix the problem by following one of these solutions. Do let us know if you have a new solution that is not listed in this article in the comments below.
FAQ: Learn more about user profiles
- What is a Windows user profile?
A user profile is a set of unique, specific settings pertinent to that user. Whenever the user logs on the computer, settings such as display resolution or desktop background will be applied according to the preferences previously set.
- How do I view profiles in Windows 10?
Each profile is associated to a user account. All you need to do is open Start, type in Computer Management to search for it and lick on the first result. On the left side, search for Local Users and Groups and click on Users. There is a list of all the accounts including the built-in ones such as administrator or Guest.
- How many types of user profiles are there?
There are three different types. These are: mandatory user profiles, roaming user profiles and local user profiles.
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in April 2019 and has been since revamped and updated in April 2020 for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.
