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NTUSER.DAT: What Is It & How to Delete or Fix It
Replace the original file to get it working like new again
5 min. read
Updated onApril 1, 2024
updated onApril 1, 2024
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Key notes
NTUSER.DAT is a file that Windows creates housing all of the information for a user account, like itssystem settingsand various customizations. It is strongly recommended that you do not delete this file.
Without this NTUSER.DAT, Windows won’t be able to load in your settings and may evencorrupt your user profile. Instead, you will be replacing the old file with a new one.
What causes the NTUSER.DAT file not to work?
If an NTUSER.DAT file is corrupt or broken in some way, you may get message windows on your computer stating that it failed to load, it’s missing, or some general error occurred.
Below is a list of the most likely culprits of a damaged or missing NTUSER.DAT file.
How can I fix the NTUSER.DAT file?
There are several things that you can do to fix performance problems centered around the NTUSER.DAT. Because it’s not always just the file that’s causing errors.
Also, it’s recommended that you do these fixes while using an administrator profile. You can learn how to create one in the first complex solution down below.
1. Create an administrator profile
As a reminder, this is the first step you should take because it impacts all the solutions; both simple and complex.
2. Remove NTUSER.DAT
Once you remove NTUSER.DAT, go on to the next part. If you still don’t see the file after selectingHidden Items, trybooting your computer in Safe Mode. It should appear then.
3. Recover the NTUSER.DAT file
4. Delete the user profiles
This should be considered a last-ditch effort if you can’t fix a corrupt user profile.
5. Use Third-Party Tools
In some cases, it may be possible to repair a corrupted NTUSER.DAT file using athird-party tooldesigned to fix registry problems.
However, some tools can cause further damage or compromise the security of your system, so you should be careful and use only reputable tools. Always back up your system before attempting any repairs.
What can I do if other important system settings go missing?
Understanding the importance of the NTUSER.DAT file and how it affects Windows user accounts is essential to maintaining a smooth and stable computing experience.
Knowing how to repair, restore, or replace this critical file can help prevent potential problems and keep your system in top shape.
Regularly checking for Windows updates, running antivirus software, and making backup copies of important files can also help avoid problems related to the NTUSER.DAT file and other system components.
To solve this problem, it’s recommended that you run an SFC scan as stated earlier, anduninstall recent Windows 11 updates. Sometimes the updates aren’t tested as well as they should be.
Feel free to comment below if you have questions about other Windows 11 errors. And please tell us if there’s a specific guide you’d like to see regarding other registry file errors.
More about the topics:Fix corrupt files,NTUSER.DAT,Windows 11
Cesar Cadenas
Networking & Security Specialist
Cesar has been writing for and about technology going on for 6 years when he first started writing tech articles for his university paper. Since then, his passion for technology blossomed into a prosperous writing career. He first started writing about tech in the entertainment world and would later move on to write about smart life tech and social media. He was recently a Technical Writer for tech company Extron where he wrote user guides for audio and video equipment.
He has since moved on to being a freelance writer looking to have a career in copywriting and hopes to share his love and knowledge of technology with the world. Recently, Cesar has written for the cryptocurrency news site, BTCPro and helping people understand tech.
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Cesar Cadenas
Networking & Security Specialist
Cesar is a tech expert passionate about Windows, Microsoft, and anything surrounding the world of PCs.
