Apr 18, 2018 To resolve this behavior, the file must be decrypted by the user who encrypted the file, or by the designated Recovery agent. Files that are encrypted by using the Encrypting File System (EFS) are accessible only to the person who encrypted the file, regardless of.
It’s always interesting when Windows tells you don’t have permission to access something on your own computer. Sometimes, when you attempt to access a folder Windows will lock you outWindows File System Woes: Why Do I Get Access Denied?Windows File System Woes: Why Do I Get Access Denied?Ever wonder why you might get an 'Access Denied' error message in Windows? It might have something to do with your file-system permissions.Read More with an Access Denied error.
Of course, if you’re not an administrator on your computer, you’ll see these errors if you try to access protected folders or other users’ files. Assuming you have admin rightsWindows Administrator Account: Everything You Need to KnowWindows Administrator Account: Everything You Need to KnowStarting with Windows Vista, the built-in Windows Administrator account is disabled by default. You can enable it, but do so at your own risk! We show you how.Read More and still see these permission denied errors, here’s how to fix them.
Open up a File Explorer window and browse to the folder you need to access. Right-click on it and choose Properties. In the resulting window, change to the Security tab and click the Advanced button at the bottom. Here, you’ll see some text that says Owner: and probably Unable to display current owner next to it. Click the Change link to the right of this to change the item’s owner.
Now, you’ll need to select which people or groups can access the resource. In the Enter the object name to select box, type Administrators to allow all PC admins to access it, or just your username5 Tips for Managing Windows User Accounts Like a Pro5 Tips for Managing Windows User Accounts Like a ProWindows user accounts have evolved from isolated local accounts to online accounts with various privacy challenges. We help you sort out your accounts and find the settings that work for you.Read More if you prefer. Click Check Names and the box text will auto-correct to PCNAMEAdministrators; click OK to accept this.
Finally, back on the Advanced Settings window, check the box for Replace owner on subcontainers and objects below the Owner field. This ensures you can access everything inside that folder without having to repeat these steps. Click OK and you’re all set to access the folder!
Have you encountered a folder error like this? Let us know if this method worked for you in the comments!
Image Credit: KUMOHD via Shutterstock
Explore more about: Troubleshooting, Windows 10.
- I tried it. No success. I am running 1809 with the latest updates. I have let Microsoft Techs remote control the device with no success, 4 times now. The Case is still openOnly two directories are affected. All my files are synched on OneDrive. Still the same result. Is there something in the Registry to fix this? Any help would be appreciated. BTW, the problem started when I decided to use AutoSave to OneDrive in Word.
- Thank you very much it worked! I'm happy?
- It seems to me that the last step in this process has been overlooked - at least for a Win 10 OS. 'Permissions' also have to set for the Owner.After you establish OWNERSHIP, close out of all the screens, then again open Security-Advanced to set PERMISSIONS for the Owner.In the 'Permission Entries' box, the Owner's name/account will probably still NOT be shown. So you need to ADD the name. Click the ADD button below the 'Permission Entries' box. On the next screen, click on 'SELECT A PRINCIPAL'. In the pop-out window, type your account name [such as Bob or Jane], then click CHECK NAMES and 'OK'. It will say something like MyComputerBob. Click 'OK'.The popup window disappears, and now you are on a screen which allows you to specifically set 'BASIC PERMISSIONS' for the Owner (such as MyComputerBob). Click the box next to 'FULL CONTROL' .That screen disappears and you are back to the 'PERMISSION ENTRIES' screen that now shows that your Owner account has full permissions. At the bottom of that screen, click the box 'replace all child entry permission entries ... '. Click 'OK'. The window closes with a message or two from Windows - and now you're set ! You have BOTH 'Ownership' and 'Full Permissions' on that file or folder.In the original 'Permissions' screen, after you have taken ownership, it usually shows that both Administrators and Users have full permissions. On the face of it, that would seem to enough. But to really work with the file/folder, in practice, it seems you need to expressly set FULL PERMISSIONS for the OWNER account.
- didn't work.
I'm a window insider. Just changed my system to 64bit and now the 10T external harddrive cannot be accessed through win explorer . D: is not accessible, access denied. But I can use Glary disk explorer to access it ok, but that limits what I can do with the files and directories ????????Ver 1809 64bit - when I press change next to unable to display current owner it doesn't ask me for password and just says denied
- my problem was self inflicted I wanted to have only me be able to access one of my drives so i set it so only administrators could access the drive, which somehow made it impossible for me to access the drive too haha, i am the administrator though.i used this method to let my account access the drive and seems to be working. so thankyou. but i'm worried i wrecked something because the recycle bin got corrupted aaa and i'm worried that i'll have issues down the road because of my foolhardiness.
- Thanks for the tips! But in the latest released Windows 10, Build (1803), it's not possible to get Administrator rights to some folders, no matter how many times you try to adding rights! It goes back to the status it had, before changing!
So how it will be possible to delete a Folder, I really would like to know!
This here, is more than frustrating, not to could have access to you'r own Computer! - Thanks a lot! this totally helped me!! I did a custom install of windows 10 in my laptop cos it crashed and when i went to windows old to access my google drive folder i could not enter, i got the access denied message. I was really confused because i had all my important files on it, like all my work!! Thank you very much for the help.
- HelloAfter following your step-by-step, on the 'Permissions' tab in 'Advanced Security Settings for ' window, I have the following message: 'You do not have permission to view or edit this object's permission settings'.What else could I do?
- To leave this site without saying thank you for helping me recover very vital information would be so ungrateful of me. Thank you very much for your insights. I followed all the steps and recovered my data.
- I tested your advise on a file within an external drive. The drive was removed from my XP desktop (hardware failure). Everything in that drive was noted as inaccessible through windows 10. Can this approach be used to access all files on the external drive without having to go though this for each individual file. As you can probably tell, I'm a novice. I stuck with XP because it worked well with SkechuUp. Sadly, Windows 10 not so much. Thanks
- Hii I'm sandhiya:
I'm using windows 8 on my laptop my local disk e can not be open while i can try to open the drive location is not available
E:is not accessible.
Access is denied
Is be shows in case I've been to open Disk e properties to change the security advanced to click mean's it's shows unable to display current owner to click the change
You do not have permission to view this objects security properties, even as an administrativeuser to taking ownership of the object, which includes permission to view it's properties, click change above .
It can be to show how can be to change? - Hello, i downloaded a program and every folder and file is like this. Do you have any idea how to do this to all folders and files at once, or in a faster manner than doing it over and over again?
- Your instructions were so much clearer than any others I've found. Worked all morning and failed until I found your article. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!!!
- Thank you for this information :) But If the problem persists, try or install Long Path Tool program. It's effective and efficient to use. I hope this helps because it helped me a lot. My friends recommended it to me so I'm recommending it to people who faced the same problems as I did.
- This fixed my problem. I got a new computer and downloaded my Carbonite data, but some folders (My Photos, My Videos) wouldn't open. When I did the above Owner showed but there was a permission entry labeled Deny access to everyone. I was able to select and edit that, toggle from Deny to Allow, apply and voila! Thanks!!!
- Sadly this fix failed to accomplish anything.
Likewise various Regedits have had no effect.It would be nice if Microsoft would upgrade the filesystem.
I've seen suggestions that a linux mount will fix things up. - Thank you! It worked
- This is the dumbest shit ever. Every day I go to use my new surface, I'm having to google how to use this retarded thing because of the limitations on everything.
- yeah, i'm feeling the same with my new lovely computer
it has windows 10 and everything is different and hard to access
and it makes me mad a lot
- Thank you!
- It worked according to the steps you gave.
- Fix worked thanks
- Apparently I don't have permission to change ownerships
- You will not be able to change ownership if you are not logged onto the computer as an Administrator. You can set up a separate logon account as an Administrator or change your current account type to Administrator.
- There is only one login.. I'm having the same issue. When I tried to complete these steps, I was listed as the owner and didn't have permission to change it.
- I only have one user account on my pc and it's an admin. I've been trying to delete an unimportant folder in a root gaming folder and it keeps telling me I need permission. Did this step by step and it still asks me for permission. Tried renaming the folder... and windows 10 shows how absolutely awesome it is by telling me that 'The action can't be completed because the folder or file is open in another program.' It's not open in another program, not even in the background.
- That's because there are empty folders in the folder. That happens to me a lot with Steam. I just go through each folder and manually delete each one.
- This worked for me. Excellent! Thank you!
- This was not the issue for me. I eventually figured out that the files were encrypted before being copied from one computer (Win 7) to this one (Win 10). I had to go back to the source drive, un-encrypt the folders/files, and then copy them back over. To un-encrypt (in Win 7), I go to the folder's Properties, click Advanced button, and un-check 'Encrypt contents to secure data'. Then click OK and follow prompts to apply it to all sub-folders and files.
- ARGH!!! I have followed the steps, but after I click Advanced, I am NOT taken to a window that says Owner anywhere. My tabs are for Permissions, Auditing, and Effective Access. I cannot change anything. I am extremely frustrated that I cannot delete a folder from my computer even WITH administrator rights. HELP!
- Does not work,it won't let me apply the changes.Then goes on to say something about error if you propogate changes ..bla bla bla.My problem 'i think'has to do with OS/me /user is on C drive but folder/files are on D drive.So i tried this for the entire D drive and it won't let me.In the security field there is desktop ...../users and desktop/administrators but there is not my actual name which is adminstrators/Bob.
- this worked well for me, i did have to restart a couple times while attempting the process as it was giving me access denied errors DURING the process. once it was complete however, a wide range of bizarre issues went away, thanks a ton.
- I think that I had to reboot the computer after making this change. So far, anyway, that is working (though saving is very slow, probably a problem independent of this change), whereas before rebooting and after changing ownership I was still getting 'access denied' messages.
- When I click on the button to change the item's owner, it tells me I don't have permission to view or edit this object's permission settings.
- same
- same here, I fking hate windows 10, I'm getting all kinds of errors where it wont let me view move or delete files even as an admin. WTF kind of OS doesn't even let you delete files?!
- This is what I did to solve his problem: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/3587-change-owner-file-folder-drive-registry-key-windows-10-a.htmlGood luck.
Ever try to delete a file and get an Access is Denied error? Or maybe you’re trying to copy or move a file or folder and you get a message stating the source file may be in use? This type of error can occur for several reasons: you do not have ownership of the file or folder and therefore cannot perform any actions on it or the operating system or another program is currently using it.
You can usually figure out which situation you’re involved with by taking a look at what exactly you’re trying to do. If you get the Access is Denied or You don’t currently have permission to access this folder message, then you’re probably looking at a permissions problem. If you’re not an Administrator on the computer, you’re probably not going to be able to fix this issue, so first make sure you can get access to an admin account.
Access Is Denied Error
This particular error is normally caused by NTFS permissions, but it can also be caused by other issues like a corrupt user profile, encryption on the file or if the file is in use. We’ll talk about file in use errors in the next section.
To gain access to the file or folder, you’ll need to have the correct permissions configured for your account. Before you start doing any work, you should try to click on the Continue button that will show up in Windows 7 and Windows 8 automatically. This will try to give your user account permissions to the folder as long as you are the owner.
If you get the You have been denied permission to access this folder message after clicking Continue, that means you are not the owner and you’ll have to first take ownership of the folder before you can change any permissions.
Take Ownership of Files and Folders in Windows
Taking ownership is unfortunately quite a process, so it’s best to have ample time and patience before attempting this. To get started, you need to right-click on the file or folder, choose Properties and then go to the Security tab.
If you have no access to the folder, you’ll see a message stating you have to be an Administrator to view the security properties. Go ahead and click on Continue. This will pop up another dialog where you get the option to change the owner.
In the Change owner to box, select your user account or Administrators. I personally choose my own account because that’s the default behavior in Windows when you create a new folder/file. Also make sure to check the Replace owner on subcontainers and objects box. Click OK and you’ll get another message saying you don’t have permissions to read the contents, do you want to replace permissions and grant yourself Full Control. Click Yes.
Now make sure to click OK on any remaining open windows so that all dialogs are closed. Don’t try to change any other settings at this point. You have to first close any open dialogs and go back to the Explorer screen. Once there, again right-click on the file/folder and choose Properties and go to the Security tab. It should now look a bit different.
You can access the contents of the file/folder at this point, but it’s best to reset the permissions completely. At this point, you have just added yourself and that’s it. If you want the default Windows permissions that would be applied, you can follow the next couple of steps. Click on the Advanced button and then click on Change Permissions.
Click the Remove button and remove all of the permissions currently listed. At this point, it should just be your user account. Once the listbox is empty, go ahead and check the Include inheritable permissions from this object’s parent box. Then click the Apply button, not the OK button.
You should see several entries appear in the listbox, including one for your user account. The default permissions also include SYSTEM and Administrators usually, so it’s a good idea to reset them properly this way. If the folder has many sub-folders with files, you can check the Replace all child object permissions with inheritable permissions from this object box. Close all dialogs and you should be good to go!
![Denied Denied](https://www.easeus.com/images/en/resource/access-denied.png)
As I mentioned earlier, Access is Denied can be caused in some cases by other issues. A corrupt user profile is one of those odd issues that I have seen more in domain environments. You can create a new user profile and then try to access the file or folder.
The other issue is if the file is encrypted. You can always try checking to see if the file is encrypted or not by right-clicking and choosing Properties. Then click on the Advanced button from the General tab and uncheck the Encrypt contents to secure data box.
If someone else has encrypted the file/folder, you won’t be able to access it until you can decrypt it using their user account. The last issue if the file itself is corrupt. In that case, you will have to search for software that can help repair corrupt files, though this is a very rare cause of the problem.
File in Use or Sharing Violation Error
Note that getting the Access is Denied message can be caused by a sharing violation, so if the above method did not work, try the following procedure below.
You can download and install a free program called Process Explorer from Microsoft. You can use it to find out which processes are locking up a file. Right-click on the executable file after unzipping and choose Run as Administrator to run the program. Then don’t worry about all the crazy colors and bars, just go to the top and click on Find and then Find Handle or DLL.
Now type in the name of the file in question in the box and type search. You don’t have to type the full name of the file; just part of it will also work most of the time.
You should get back a list of processes that currently have locks on the file. In my case, Notepad.exe locked my test document. Now select the item in the box and then close the search box. You should be back at the main process explorer screen. At the bottom, a row should be highlighted and it should be the path to the file that you had selected in the search box.
Right-click on that row and choose Close Handle. If there was more than one process in the search box, you will have to repeat the same procedure for each process. At this point, you should be able to delete or modify the file as you please. The program is very useful when you get these types of error messages:
- Cannot delete file: Error 5 Access is denied
- There has been a sharing violation
- The source or destination file may be in use
- The file is in use by another program or user
- Make sure the disk is not full or write-protected and that the file is not currently in use
Program is very lightweight and does not take up very many resources at all. It can also tell you a lot of other information about Windows processes, but that’s for another post. Like I said above, if someone has denied you access manually, you will not be able to get into that folder or file unless you are given permissions from an Administrator! Have any questions, post a comment. Enjoy!