Error 1316 “The specified account already exists” when updating, repairing, or uninstalling ArcGIS Pro

Error Message

This error is encountered when attempting to update, repair, or uninstall ArcGIS Pro, for example, when upgrading from version 3.5 to 3.6:

Error 1316: The specified account already exists.

This article involves uninstalling and reinstalling ArcGIS Pro using the Microsoft Fix-It utility, followed by replacing the necessary installation files to restore functionality.

Cause

This issue most often arises during software installation processes and results in the failure of critical actions such as upgrading ArcGIS Pro, performing repair procedures, or completing uninstallation operations. It is typically linked to underlying problems in the Windows environment, including corrupted or inconsistent registry entries and conflicts at the system installer level that disrupt normal execution of these workflows. 

Solution or Workaround

Follow the instrutions on the Microsoft Program Install and Uninstall Troubleshooter page. This tool does the following:

• Helps remove corrupted installer references 
• Cleans up invalid registry entries related to ArcGIS Pro 

After running the Fix-It utility: 

1. Uninstall ArcGIS Pro (if partially installed) 
2. Reinstall using a fresh installer package 
   • Ensure the installation is executed with administrative privileges