Hi,

Tried what was posted here. Did not work. Tried the steps in the follow up link that was posted, did not work. Tried the alternative method posted there, did not work. Nothing posted on the net that is linked in anything here has worked. Why is it so hard to do this when it never has been before?

Hello,

We appreciate your time and effort for getting back to us.

Try the following suggestions and check if it helps:

I would suggest you to run Microsoft account troubleshooter and check.

The Microsoft Account Troubleshooter scans your system for issues and repairs problems that are found in relation to your Microsoft Account.

The following issues are checked by the Microsoft Account Troubleshooter program:

 •Corrupt Microsoft Account settings

•Can’t connect to the sync service

•Problems with Microsoft account Policy

•Microsoft Account required

•Connection issues due to proxy or certificate issues

•Check for roaming GPO enabled status

•Problem with system registration

•Signed in with a guest account, or Roaming User Profiles enabled

•You are not connected to the Internet

•Proxy Settings

•You have reached your daily sync quote

•Sync your settings is turned off

•Check system not activated.

Refer to the following link to run the troubleshooter:

Microsoft Account Troubleshooter

http://download.microsoft.com/download/F/2/4/F24D0C03-4181-4E5B-A23B-5C3A6B5974E3/microsoftaccounts.diagcab

If the issue persists, try check if the same issue occurs in safe mode:

Safe mode is a troubleshooting option for Windows that starts your computer in a limited state. Only the basic files and drivers necessary to run Windows are started. The word Safe Mode appears in the corners of your monitor to identify which monitors mode you are using.

To use a Safe Boot option, follow these steps:

1. Press Windows Key + R.
2. Run will open, type msconfig and hit the Enter key.
3. A system configuration box will pop up.
4. Click on Boot Tab.
5. Select or click the check box Safe mode with networking.
6. Click on Apply and ok.
7. You will then see a restart button. Click it to restart your computer.

Once you are in safe mode try to set user account picture and check.

Once you completed the steps above follow the below steps on how to go back to normal mode:

1. Press Windows Key + R.
2. Run will open, type msconfig and hit the Enter key.
3. A system configuration box will pop up.
4. Click on Boot Tab.
5. If you see safe mode box has a check mark in it, uncheck the safe mode box and hit apply or ok.
6. You will then see a restart button. Click it to restart your computer.
7. When your computer comes back up, sign in and you will now be in "normal mode".

Let us know the status of the issue. For further assistance feel free to post your queries in Microsoft forums. We will be glad to assist you.

Thank you.

Tried the above, there were no issues found with the account troubleshooter and I still could not change it in Safe Mode.

Hi,

Thank you for the update.

I suggest you to refer the below link answered by Kapil Arya and see if it helps.

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_8-desktop/setting-the-account-picture-failed-please-try/2db9660f-9f89-4aec-a4d6-a8a0e609c1b6

If the issues still persists, I would suggest you to create a new user account and verify the result.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-in/windows/create-user-account#create-user-account=windows-8 

Note: The above article applies to Windows 10 as well.

Keep posted on the status of the issue and we'll be glad to assist you further.

Sorry for such a late response to this above but I have tried both of those before making this post and neither worked.

Hi,

Thanks for the update.

I suggest you to check if windows is activated or not .

Go to settings.

Navigate to Update and security.

Click on Activation, and check if windows is activated.

Please share the results,

Regards,
Anusha

It says it is activated.

I have read this entire thread and I find it ridiculous.  Why can't someone with administrator rights just go in through a user interface and change any user photo? In previous versions you could.  I can't find any interface that allows it.

Crazy!

This can be an issue with the size of the picture, let's try this for diagnostic purpose.

Step 1: Enable hidden files and folder

1. Open ThisPC icon.
2. Click on Options via Ribbon View.
3. A new window appears, choose View tab and then check Show hidden files, folders, and dives. Then, click on OK and process to showing.
4. To hide files or folder by using this method, just check Don’t show hidden files, folders, or drives and click OK.

Step 2: Check the picture size.

1. Open the C: drive by pressing Windows + E and open the “Microsoft\User Account Pictures” under the Program data folder > Microsoft > User account pictures.
2. You will find the several pictures of yours that you want to keep as an account picture. Now resize all the pictures found there to “448 × 448” and replace with the old ones.

Let us know if you need further assistance. We will be glad to help you further.

_______________

Thanks & Regards,

Isha Soni