The Handle is Invalid error on Windows 10 [Fix]

Windows 10 might sometimes have issues while logging in after a Windows update with The Handle is Invalid error. Let’s learn what is it and how to fix it.

What is The Handle is Invalid error?

Sometimes when you are trying to login into your windows computer and after you enter your password it shows an error “The Handle is invalid”. This error might be due to an incorrect password being entered after a windows update. And if you are sure that you have entered the correct password then it might be due to a Windows system update that might have caused the issue.

This error also occurs in Windows 10 even after login sometimes.

Let’s learn how to fix this error when it occurs during login.

How To Fix The Handle is Invalid error on Windows 10

Follow the following fixes one by one until your issue is resolved.

Fix 1: Shift + Power Combo Shutdown

Step 1: Restart your computer and wait till the login screen appears.

Step 2: Shut down forcibly by pressing the shift key and power key on the login screen. You will have to keep it pressed till the screen goes black and the PC turns OFF.

Step 3: Release the shift key and power button once you are sure that your computer is OFF.

Step 4: Now Restart your Windows computer.

This is a shortcut that makes Windows 10 load with new updates if any. Shift+Power is a way to execute complete shutdown, and is great for fixing the handle is an invalid error on Windows 10.

Fix 2: Use Safe Mood to uninstall the latest updates

Sometimes it is the latest updates that are installed unsuccessfully or with corrupt registries that lead to the handle is an invalid error. To boot your system in Safe Mode and then uninstall any new updates. You can:

Step 1: Open the Windows 10 Settings Application by searching for settings on the Windows search bar.

Step 2: Now go to Update and Security option.

Step 3: Now Choose View Update and History.

Step 4: Click on the Uninstall Updates option as shown in the screenshot below.

Step 5: After the updates are uninstalled, reboot your computer in normal mode

Fix 3: Use Command Prompt to Run DISM

Step 1: Press Shift + Restart on the login screen to enter into Advanced Startup. 

Step 2: Go to Troubleshoot option.

Step 3: Now choose the Advanced Option.

Step 4: Choose Command Prompt option to run CMD.

Step 5: Now run the DISM tool by entering the following command on the CMD window and press enter.

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

Step 6: Then type in the following command for RestoreHealth. This will take some time to complete.

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

After the Dism scan is done, reboot, and try to login to see if the Fix The Handle is Invalid problem has gone.

Fix 4: Perform Automatic Repair

Startup Repair/ Automatic Repair is an option you can use. It does a lot of things like scan system files, registry settings, configuration settings, etc. by itself. 

So to do the Automatic Repair follow the below steps.

Step 1: Press Shift + Restart on the login screen to enter into Advanced Startup. 

Step 2: Go to Troubleshoot option.

Step 3: Then choose the Advanced Option.

Step 4: Now click on the Automatic Repair option. Now your system might boot several times when you do this, but it will automatically repair the problem of invalid handle error.

Remember to keep your Microsoft account login details handy when you do this, as the system is going to ask you for it. If you do not remember that, keep your local admin account details handy.

Hope this helped, and you were able to Fix The Handle is Invalid error on your Windows 10 computer. Do let us know your valuable comments in the comments section below.