Windows
Corrupted user profile prevented remote desktop sign-in
The remote desktop sign-in screen was flickering off and on and the cursor kept spinning. The issue was resolved by creating a new user profile.
Killed once by someone from XL.net, on 2026-03-03.
Affects
Versions
- Windows
What you see
- Screen flickers off and on during remote desktop sign-in
- Mouse cursor keeps spinning and sign-in does not complete
Why it happens
Likely Corrupted user profile
When it shows up
A Windows user can reach the remote desktop sign-in flow but the screen keeps flickering and the cursor keeps spinning instead of completing sign-in.
You are in this case if:
- Remote desktop sign-in screen flickers repeatedly
- Spinning cursor during sign-in
- User profile is implicated by the technician's investigation
1 fix below
The steps that killed it
The steps are behind a quick check
There are two ways in and both take a few seconds. Signing in opens the steps on every bug page; so does reading the picture.
Or answer this
Drawing a picture for you.
Can't read it? Sign in instead.
Someone from XL.net killed this on a Windows computer on 2026-03-03. It is written up from that one repair, so it cites no outside page.