Access to target folder is denied. Windows cannot find the target Target folder what

After reinstalling (updating) Windows, users are often faced with the fact that they cannot make changes to some directories of the system. "No access to target folder - you need permission to perform this operation" writes the Windows operating system (7, 8 or 10), and does not allow the necessary operations to be performed. How to resolve the situation and gain access?

What is happening

Many will logically assume that this is due to Windows security policy and will be right. The operating system blocks access so that inexperienced users do not harm or affect the stability of the work, as well as to exclude the automatic actions of malicious software. On the opposite side, third-party antiviruses - which can block folders if malware is detected in them.

It is noteworthy that a user with an account below the Admin cannot remove the installed software, and the account received during the installation of the operating system, although it belongs to the Admin class, is not.

Important system directories are protected and cannot be changed unless the required permissions are obtained. Another cause of the problem is the "Owner", who is also the creator of the folder. This happens when, when reinstalling Windows, the PC username changed.

We bypass the protection "No access to the target folder"

Despite the seeming complexity of the manipulations, most of them are elementary simple and can be performed in a few minutes. We solve the problem in the following ways:

Third-party software (and operating systems).
By granting permissions through properties.
By including Superadmin's account.

We work with operating systems

First of all. You can try to delete / replace files in the directory in "Safe Mode". It starts when you turn on the computer by pressing the F8 key and is standard for tens and sevens. It didn't help - let's move on.

Access is denied for other reasons. Recommended actions.

There is no desire to change directory permissions and get Admin access - try Total Commander. The application does a good job of bypassing various locks. Just open this program and through its explorer perform the necessary operation with the folder.

Now let's look at more global actions that are not recommended for inexperienced users. As a last resort, the changes can really be rolled back.

Obtaining Admin rights

As already mentioned, the account of the Administrators group is actually not like that. To take advantage of Superadmin's privileges, you need to do the following.

After that, you need to decide whether to stay on the Admin account or return to your own. If you decide to return everything as it was, start the console on behalf of the Admin, and type in the command net user Administrator / active: no, or by analogy with the English version described earlier. This command affects the display and hiding of accounts. In fact, we only turn on the display of the SuperAdmin account we need.

We decided to stay in the system as an Administrator with minimal restrictions on rights - take care of the security of the PC, set at least a password. Do not forget that it is easier for malicious software to be implemented on computers where they work under the SuperAdmin account with disabled UAC.

For Experienced Users - Live CD

Experienced users have long prepared a flash drive with an image. Someone stores Windu on it, and someone Linux and other operating systems. The optimal solution in our situation would be the presence of LiveSD with Linux of any version. He's less picky.

The essence of the action is simple:

Switch the priority of loading to a USB flash drive while loading a computer or laptop.
Wait for the entrance to the operating system.
Make changes.
Reboot, giving priority to the hard drive.

We open access

There are 2 ways to achieve what you want: the first is simpler and more superficial, and the second is deeper and more difficult.

Method # 1: issue permits

If the issuance of permissions did not go through after saving, reboot the computer.

Method # 2: change of ownership

Likewise, adjustments sometimes take effect after a reboot. After the change of ownership has been completed, you may have to go through the permitting process again. Important! If the operating system does not allow saving the changes, then try another UAC mode: it was turned off - turn it on, it was turned on - turn it off.

Conclusion

The "No access to target folder" blocking alert in Windows is a common and easily fixable problem. It is easy to solve, and the actions will take a little time, saving you from the problem. Of course, start with the simplest steps - such as checking the Manager for unnecessary processes, or disabling the antivirus.

Surely, many Windows 7 users have faced the problem that sometimes when performing some actions with files and folders, the system not only asks for confirmation at the level of administrator rights, but also displays a message stating that there is no access to the target folder of Windows 7. How to correct this situation, now it will be considered. But first, a little theory.

Windows 7 target folder cannot be accessed. Why?

The thing is that the developers of the seventh version of the system, as well as all subsequent modifications, tried to protect it from accidental interference by inexperienced users by creating a super administrator account for this, on whose behalf all permissions for conducting critical operations for the system are executed.

That is why sometimes a message may appear stating that the user does not have access to the target folder of Windows 7 when copying, moving, deleting or trying to change some important system components. Many such constant restrictions, frankly, annoy in earnest. However, they can be bypassed, and quite simply. But more on that later.

Problems copying or moving files

Usually, if the user's actions are not related to system components, but, for example, with installing programs, copying and moving some objects, usually a confirmation request is simply issued.

You just need to agree and the process will be completed without problems. The situation looks much worse when attempts are made to access or perform some actions with system files and folders. This is where a notification appears that the user does not have access to the target folder of Windows 7. In the simplest case, this is an attempt to copy an object to or from the system partition. To remedy the situation, it is logical to assume two solutions: disable the "account" of the superadmin and grant yourself absolutely all access rights or change system components.

Windows 7 target folder cannot be accessed: what to do?

For the first case, the technique looks quite simple, but first you still have to use administrator rights.

They are needed to start the command console, which is called through cmd in the Run menu. Here you need to register a single line: net user Administrator / active: yes (if the action is performed in the English version of Windows, instead of the Russian word, you should use its corresponding analogue - Administrator), and then press the Enter key.

The second technique will take a little longer, but it gives a complete guarantee that the message that the user, whether he is at least three times an administrator, does not have access to the target folder of Windows 7, will not appear again. True, this applies exclusively to single selected objects with which it is supposed to perform some action.

Here you need to use the context menu, called by right-clicking on a directory or file, in which you first select the property line, and then use the security tab, where you need to select a group or user for which you are supposed to set extended privileges. Below there is a button for additional settings, after clicking on which a new window appears.

In it, you need to use the permissions tab (it is the first), in the type column look at all the lines in which the ban is set, and then click the button for changing permissions. In a new window, find a similar line and press the button again, as in the previous case. After that, we simply change the type of permission by placing a checkmark in front of the full access line.

If you return to the first menu, you will be able to see that the checkboxes are automatically put in front of all types of operations in the permission column.

Now, when working with the selected object, the message that the user does not have access to the target Windows 7 folder will no longer appear. But keep in mind that this only applies to the selected object. If rights are required for another directory, the above operations will have to be performed again. By the way, this method also works in case of denial of access to removable devices, only in this case you need to use the properties menu of the device itself.

Access problems on local networks

But that's not all. Problems can arise with local computers. Sometimes the system also reports that the user (or a group of users) does not have access to the target folder; it can simply have such settings when some restrictions are set not only on shared access to directories on network terminals, but also on their detection on the network.

First, you need to check the additional network settings and set the enable options there for all parameters, except for password access. Thus, the visibility of computers on the network and everything that is on them is established.

Next, you should select a specific folder and just open it to public access through the corresponding line in the right-click menu. In addition, in the settings, you can specify a group of users or specifically selected users for which these parameters will be applied.

Instead of a total

As you can see, getting rid of a constantly pop-up message in different situations can be quite simple. Which method should you use? It all depends on the specific case. However, the first two techniques for home terminal users work flawlessly. For enterprise networks, you may need to contact your system administrator to apply some of the settings. In particular, this concerns the setting of network parameters. But the user can enable general access to a separate directory himself (for this, the administrator's permission is not required).

If in Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 you try to open, move or edit any system file, you will most likely get an error indicating that you do not have access rights. Moreover, this error occurs even if you are working with administrator rights. And why do you actually need to intervene in the system and change something there? There can be many reasons for this. Let's say you need to manually edit a log or image, or replace a file for some bold experiment. So, you cannot do this, even if you have administrator rights.

The reason is that in Windows 8 there are rights of an even higher access level, so to speak, root rights. They belong to the system itself. To get them, you need to change a few simple settings. There are two options - changing access rights manually and using a special utility TakeOwnershipEx... First, consider the first method. Let's say you want to get full permissions on the system file twinui.dll. Right-click on it and select Properties from the context menu.

In the properties window, switch to the "Security" tab and click "Advanced".

This will open the Advanced Security Settings window.

At the top of the window, you can see the file name and path, as well as the name of its true owner. By default it is TrustedInstaller, for some types of files it can be SYSTEM... This is exactly what you need to change. Click "Change", in the window that opens, enter your username and by clicking the "Check names" button, make sure the specified name is correct. If specified correctly, the computer name will be appended to it. Click OK and save the editing result.

Now we return to the properties window of twinui.dll, click the "Change" button,

in the list, select the username that we assigned instead TrustedInstaller, set the checkboxes in the checkboxes and save the result.

Congratulations, you are now the rightful owner of this property. In much the same way, you can set permissions on directories.

Everything that we have done manually up to this point can be done using the utility TakeOwnershipEx... This very simple and easy-to-use application performs all the above operations, only much faster. In the utility window, you need to click the "Get access rights" button and specify the path to the folder or file that you want to "unblock".

The utility remembers all changes, so it will not be difficult to restore access rights, especially since for this in TakeOwnershipEx there is a corresponding option.

By the way, during installation, the program is built into Explorer, which makes working with it even more convenient and quick.

Compared to the first method, the use of the utility has certain limitations. So, you will not be able to set the rights to directories recursively, that is, when setting the rights to a folder, subfolders and the files they contain not processed ... And in conclusion, I would like to draw your attention to the following. It is not recommended to change access rights to system files and directories unnecessarily, as this weakens Windows protection and makes it vulnerable to malware attacks ... If possible, after editing one or another system object, the access rights to it should be returned to the default values.

Previous / Next

When opening, deleting or otherwise manipulating files and folders, you may encounter a file access error. I will talk about how to deal with this and why it happens.

1. How to get full access to files and folders

First, an instruction on how to get full access to folders and files. The next chapter will be an explanation for the curious.

Open the folder where the problematic file or folder is located. To get full access to their content, you need to configure access to files:

1. Right-click on a locked file (or folder) without access - Properties - select the tab Security:

2. Push the button Additionally - select the tab Owner:

3. Push the button Change and select your username (in my case it is Dima, you will have something else), also put a daw on Replace owner of subcontainers and objects:

4. If a window appears with the text “You do not have permission to read the contents of the folder. Do you want to replace the permissions for this folder so that you have full access rights? " Yes:

5. After changing the owner of the folder, a window will appear with the text “You have just become the owner of this object. You need to close and reopen the properties window for this object to see or change the permissions. " Push OK, then press again OK(in the window Additional security options).

6. In the window Properties – Security press again Additionally, only now we are looking at the first tab of the window that opens - Permissions. Gotta push a button Change permissions:

7. Click the button Add:

(If you are working with properties folders, not a file, check the box next to Replace all child object permissions with inherited permissions from this object.)

8. In the "Select: users or groups" window that opens, you will need to enter the name of your user (you can see it in the "Start" menu - the name will be the very top line), click Check names, then OK:

If you need a folder (or file) to open without restrictions by absolutely all users, i.e. not only yours, then press again Add and enter the name " Everything"Without quotation marks (" All "in an English version of Windows), then click Check names and OK.

9. In the tab Permissions in turn, double-click on the lines with usernames and check the box "Full access":

This will automatically check the boxes below.

10. Then press OK, in the next window respond to the warning Yes, again OK to close all windows.

Ready! Full access to files and folders received! You can safely open them, change and perform other actions with them.

Output: you need to take two steps: become the "owner" of the file or folder (item 3), then assign yourself access rights (item 6). Many instructions on how to get full access to files and folders mention only the first step, forgetting about the second. This is not entirely correct, because the security settings of a file / folder may be different, it is necessary to bring them back to their normal form, and not only to become the "owner".

2. Why do we need permissions to files and folders

The mechanism of delimiting access to files and folders is necessary for many reasons. For example:

1. Restriction of access to information by different users.

If several (more than one) users work on the same computer or in a shared network, it is logical to restrict access to information - some users have access to all information (most often they are administrators), others - only their own files and folders (ordinary users).

For example, at home, you can restrict the rights of one user in such a way as to protect important files and folders from deletion (so that the child cannot unknowingly delete important documents), while from another (parental profile) you can do whatever you want.

In the first chapter, I showed how allow access to certain users. The same can be done limit access - the steps are the same, only in paragraph 9 it is necessary to put other checkboxes.

2. Security of the operating system.

In Windows XP, everything is arranged quite primitively - users with administrator rights can change (and delete) any folders and files on the hard disk, including system ones, i.e. owned by Windows. In fact, any program running in the admin user profile could do with the contents of the hard drive anything... For example, delete the boot.ini file, which will cause Windows to stop loading.

Under the rights of a limited user, where, thanks to the security settings, it was impossible to delete important system files, few people sat, preferring an administrator account. Thus, an account with administrator rights in Windows XP creates the most favorable environment for viruses.

In Windows Vista, in Windows 7 and Windows 8, "User Account Control" (UAC for short) works: when working in an administrator account, programs launched by the user work with limited rights. That is, delete or change the system files of the program can not... Programs are able to gain more complete access by requesting it from the user using the UAC window, which I already mentioned:

If the file permissions are configured correctly and UAC is enabled, viruses running in the Vista / 7/8 administrator account cannot seriously harm the system without the permission of the person sitting at the computer.

UAC useless in cases:

1. If a user is sitting at the computer, thoughtlessly pressing the "Yes" and "OK" buttons

2. If you run programs "as administrator" (right-click on the program's shortcut - Run as administrator).

3. UAC is disabled.

4. For system files and folders on the hard disk, full access is allowed for all users.

Programs running in a Windows Vista / 7/8 restricted user account (of the "Basic access" type) cannot bring up the UAC window and work with administrator rights, which is quite logical.

I repeat once again: when there is no way to elevate your rights to administrator rights, you cannot harm the files of the operating system protected by restricting access rights.

3. Reasons and solution of problems with access to files

The problem is that you are trying to access files and folders created under a different account. There are two solutions: either allow to all users access, or allow only those who need it by listing them. Both solutions are easy to implement according to the instructions above. The only difference is that you will enter in paragraph 8 - the word "All" or listing users.

By the way, you can allow access to all, but deny access to one (several) users, while the deny setting will be a priority for the listed users.

There are many reasons for file access problems. Most often they appear if you have several accounts, several operating systems or computers - all accounts are different, when creating files and folders, the rights are also assigned differently.

4. What can not be done with the rights of files and folders

Attention

Do not under any circumstances assign full access to files and folders on the entire hard disk with the installed operating system!

There is a myth that the operating system does not consider the user to be the owner of its files, so you need to assign access rights to all files on the disk. This is not true and you cannot change the rights of all files! The system, which was not "poked", did not assign access rights manually, is able to correctly assign the necessary rights!

Use my instructions only in case of real problems, not to prevent contrived ones.

Let me explain: by allowing access to system files, Windows will still work, but any virus or incorrectly working program can do very bad things. You hardly need problems.

The folders “C: \ Windows”, “C: \ Program files”, “C: \ Program files (x86)”, “C: \ Users”, “C: \ System”, “C: \ ProgramData "," C: \ Recovery "and many others. You cannot change them, except in cases where you need to make some manipulations with the files (for example, to change the Windows theme), and you need to return the settings back.

Attention

Do not change the security settings "just like that", making the system defenseless against viruses and crashes! After installing Windows, the permissions to system folders are configured correctly, no need to change them!

Advice: if the program works correctly only if it is run "as administrator", and produces errors during normal startup, try assigning full rights to change the folder with it in "C: \ Program files" or "C: \ Program files ( x86) "(not the Program files folder itself, but the folder with the desired program inside it!).

Very often it helps to run old games on Windows Vista / 7/8, which store settings files, save files inside their folder. Launched without permission to modify their own files, such games, at best, cannot save game progress, at worst, they close or do not start at all. It's the same with old programs.

5. Conclusions

1. Assigning access rights is relatively easy.

2. Access rights cannot be changed without a justified purpose.

3. Changed the permissions of system files - change them back. To change the rights systemic

It so happens that Windows 10 denies users access to files and folders stored on the computer. Basically, this problem is due to the fact that users do not have the appropriate rights, even though they have an account with administrator rights. This usually happens in the case of system files / folders, or those that were previously owned by a user whose account no longer exists. What to do if access to a file or folder is denied in Windows 10? If this problem torments you too, this instruction should help you, in which it is described, how to get full access to files or folders in Windows 10.

Get full access to a file or folder in Windows 10 through File Explorer

Open up Conductor and find the file or folder you want. If you can't see a file or folder in File Explorer, don't forget.
Right-click on a file or folder and click on the item Properties.
Go to Security and click on the button Additionally.
In the window Additional security options click the link Change.
Press Additionally - Search.
Select your preferred owner from the list of users and groups and click OK.
Check the box next to Replace owner of subcontainers and objects, and click on OK.
Right-click on the file or folder again and open Properties – Security.
Press Additionally – Add.
Click on the link Select subject.
Press Additionally – Search, select a subject from the list and click OK.
Under the inscription General Permissions check the box next to Full access and click on OK.
Check the box next to Replace all child object permission entries with inherited from this object.
Press OK to apply all changes.

Take ownership of a file or folder in Windows 10 with TakeOwnershipEx utility

Alternatively, you can use the TakeOwnershipEx utility. It allows you to change the owner of a file or folder and get full access to them in a few simple clicks. Users just need to do the following:

Was this guide helpful? Did it help you solve the problem with accessing files and folders in Windows 10? Write your answer in the comments.

By default, the main user "Administrator" located in Windows 10, 8, 7 operating systems does not actually have full rights that would allow you to edit (move, copy, rename or delete) any system files.

Which, in turn, causes the error “No access to target folder. You need permission to perform this operation "when changing a system document or directory.

All that is needed in this case is to set the necessary privileges. What we will do next.

Removing restrictions

First, let's remove all the restrictions imposed on the standard user "Administrator". To do this, you need to log in with it in the system.

After that, to access the target folder, you need to do the following.

We reboot the computer and check the result.

Alternative option using:

The problem must be resolved.

Checking permissions

If the error "No access to the target folder" continues to appear, then most likely the required permissions are simply not set for the required directory. Let's see how to fix this using Windows 7 as an example.

We do the following:

Select the file or directory to which you want to access with the right mouse and go to "Properties".
Go to the "Security" section and click on the "Advanced" button.
Go to the "Owner" tab and select "Change".
We set the "Administrator" as the new owner, to do this, select it and click "Apply", then "OK".
In the same "Security" tab, click the "Change" button.
We click on "Administrator" and in the lower part of the window in the column "Allow" set the checkboxes. Then we click “Apply”, agree to change the parameters by clicking “Yes”, and at the very end we click “OK”.

Now you can perform any actions with this object.

On Windows 10 and 8 error “Access to target folder is denied. You need permission to perform this operation ”is corrected in a slightly different way.

We follow the instructions:

Open the file properties, go to the "Security" section and click the "Advanced" button.
In the "Owner" column, select "Change".
Click "Advanced".
Then we make "Search". In the displayed list, we find the user "All" and click "OK".
Click OK again.
In the initial window, select "Apply", then "OK".
Go back to the "Security" section and click "Change".
Select the user "Administrators" by clicking on it with the mouse, then in the lower part of the window in the column "Allow" activate the available items and click "OK".
Click "OK" again.

After that, you can modify this file at your discretion.

Third Party Applications

In some cases, you can access the target folder using special programs like "Unlocker". The main task of which is to unblock files protected by the Windows system.

Unlocker advantages:

Free;
Ease of use;
Lightness (does not load the system);
Support for all OS versions.

Now let's talk about how to use it.

After that, the program will try to perform the specified action. If unsuccessful, the user will see a corresponding notification.

Viral exposure

Often the error "No access to the target folder" appears as a result of virus activity. As you know, viruses can not only steal data, but also block access to it. Therefore, it does not hurt to check for their presence.

For this:

The problem will most likely be fixed.

A few more solutions

In a situation where the problem is observed when accessing any element of the network, adding all computers that are members of the network to the "Homegroup" can help. At the same time, setting the type of network profile "Home network". In Windows 7, all this is done through the "Network and Sharing Center". In Windows 10, starting with the 1803 update, this feature was removed. An alternative is to change the network profile from Public to Private. How all this is done, read the article "".
Another option is to boot from the LiveCD and perform any manipulations with the files you need.

I hope that at least one of the presented solutions will help you. If not, I am at your service. Describe your situation in the comments and I'll try to help.

Video instruction