The login loop is maddening: you enter the correct password, the screen goes to “Welcome,” spins for a moment — and dumps you right back at the login prompt. Your password is fine. Windows just can’t finish loading your desktop, so it gives up and retries forever.

Breaking out means getting into Windows through a side door — Safe Mode or the recovery environment — then fixing whatever is blocking the normal sign-in. Work through these in order. Brand-specific variants of this problem are covered in our ASUS login loop guide and Acer login loop guide . None of these steps delete your personal files, so work through them calmly — panicking and resetting is how data actually gets lost.

Why this happens

  • Corrupted user profile: The profile registry hive or user shell folders are damaged, so Windows can’t load the desktop and bails back to login.
  • Broken sign-in components after an update: Failed updates can damage credential providers or the Winlogon chain.
  • Misbehaving startup program or service: Something launching at sign-in crashes the shell immediately, and Windows interprets it as a failed login.
  • Damaged system files: Corrupted Explorer or shell files prevent the desktop from initializing.
  • Disk errors: Bad sectors in profile or system areas cause intermittent load failures that look like a loop.
  • Incorrect registry edits: Tweaks to Winlogon or Userinit keys (often from “optimization” guides) break the sign-in sequence.
  • Windows Hello or PIN credential glitches: A corrupted PIN or biometric credential can fail silently and bounce you back to the login screen; switching to password sign-in sometimes breaks the cycle.

How to fix it

Work through these in order — start with Fix 1 and stop as soon as you can log in normally.

Fix 1: Boot into Safe Mode

Safe Mode is your side door — it usually logs in fine when normal mode loops.

  1. At the login screen, hold Shift and click the power icon > Restart.
  2. Choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
  3. Press 4 for Safe Mode (or 5 for Safe Mode with Networking if you need internet).
  4. Log in. If it works, the problem is something that loads only in normal mode — continue with the fixes below from Safe Mode.
  5. If Safe Mode also loops, skip to Fix 5 (System Restore) and Fix 7 (new account via recovery).

Fix 2: Disable startup programs and services

A crashing startup item is a top cause — eliminate them all, then reintroduce gradually.

  1. In Safe Mode, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc for Task Manager.
  2. Go to the Startup apps tab and Disable everything.
  3. Press Win + R, type msconfig, and open the Services tab.
  4. Check Hide all Microsoft services, then click Disable all.
  5. Restart normally. If login works, re-enable items in small groups to find the culprit.

Fix 3: Repair system files

Corrupted shell or sign-in files get fixed by the standard repair pair.

  1. In Safe Mode, open an administrator Command Prompt.
  2. Run sfc /scannow and wait for completion.
  3. Then run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth.
  4. Restart and try logging in normally.

Fix 4: Check the disk for errors

Profile corruption is sometimes just disk corruption wearing a disguise.

  1. In Safe Mode, open an administrator Command Prompt.
  2. Run chkdsk C: /f and press Y to schedule at restart.
  3. Restart — let the scan finish completely.
  4. Try normal login afterward. If CHKDSK found and fixed errors in user profile areas, the loop often clears.

Fix 5: Use System Restore

Roll back to before the loop started — quick and non-destructive.

  1. At the login screen, Shift + Restart to reach recovery.
  2. Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > System Restore.
  3. Pick a restore point dated before the looping began.
  4. Let it complete and restart. Your files are untouched; only system and program changes roll back.

Fix 6: Create a new user account

If your profile is corrupt beyond repair, a fresh account gets you back in within minutes.

  1. In Safe Mode with an admin account, open Settings > Accounts > Other users > Add account.
  2. Create a local account (skip Microsoft sign-in for now) and change its type to Administrator.
  3. Sign out and log in as the new user. If it works, copy your files from C:\Users\YourOldName (Documents, Desktop, Pictures, etc.).
  4. Reinstall your programs as needed — program settings won’t transfer, but your data will.
  5. If you have no working admin account, enable the built-in one from recovery: open Command Prompt in the recovery environment and run net user administrator /active:yes, then restart.

Fix 7: Uninstall the latest update from recovery

When the loop started right after an update, remove it without needing to log in.

  1. Shift + Restart from the login screen to reach recovery.
  2. Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Uninstall Updates.
  3. Choose Uninstall latest quality update first; if the loop persists, try Uninstall latest feature update.
  4. Restart and attempt normal login.
  5. Once stable, update your drivers from your laptop maker’s site before reinstalling the update — check Microsoft’s Windows support hub for known issues with that update.

Closing

The login loop looks like a password problem but it’s really a desktop-loading problem, and the side-door approach — Safe Mode or recovery — defeats it every time. Most loops end at Fix 2 (startup items), Fix 3 (system file repair), or Fix 6 (new profile). Don’t factory-reset in frustration before trying these: your files are almost certainly intact, and a new user account takes five minutes. Once you’re back in, be wary of registry “tweaks” and aggressive startup optimizers — they’re the most common self-inflicted cause of this exact loop. Finally, create a restore point now while everything works, so the next surprise has a one-click undo. If the loop ever returns after a future update, you’ll know exactly which side door to use.

Frequently asked questions

What causes a Windows 11 login screen loop?
The most common causes are a corrupted user profile, a broken credential or sign-in component after an update, a misbehaving startup program, or damaged system files. Windows accepts your password, tries to load the desktop, hits the corruption, and drops you back to the login screen.
Can I fix a login loop without losing my files?
Yes — almost every fix here preserves your data. Safe Mode, System Restore, creating a new account, and SFC/DISM repairs all leave your personal files untouched. Only a full reset with ‘Remove everything’ deletes data, and that’s a last resort.
Why does Safe Mode work when normal login doesn't?
Safe Mode skips third-party startup programs, non-essential drivers, and many shell customizations. If login works in Safe Mode, the corruption is in something that only loads during a normal boot — usually a startup app, a driver, or a per-user shell setting.
What if I don't have another admin account on the laptop?
You can enable the built-in Administrator account from the recovery environment’s command prompt with ’net user administrator /active:yes’. That gives you an admin account to repair your main profile from, and you can disable it again afterward.