✅You Don't Have Permission to Access This Folder [Solved]

Here are three solutions for the You don't have permission to access this folder issue: clicking the security tab to gain access or change the ownership, or recovering data with EaseUS data recovery software. You can try them one by one to view and recover your files from a PC, USB flash drive, or external hard drive in Windows 11/10/8/7.

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Updated By

Jaden

Written By

Tracy King

Updated on

19 October 2026

Min Reading

9 Min

If your lost files total less than 2GB (such as a few photos, videos, or Word/PDF documents), you don't need to purchase the paid version.

You can use the free version of EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard to recover and export up to 2GB of data at no cost.

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You should know that the "You don't have permission to access this folder" error is typically caused by incorrect folder permissions, user account control, or system folder protection. Usually, you can solve this issue quickly by changing the permission settings in Windows 11/10.

When you can't access files saved in a folder, try any one of the 3 fixes listed below to bring your files back:

Workable Solutions Step-by-step Troubleshooting
Fix 1. Change Ownership (Recommended) Right-click inaccessible folder > "Properties" > "Security" > "Advanced"...Full steps
Fix 2. Gain Access (Work in Rare Case) Right-click inaccessible folder > "Properties" > "Security" > "Edit"...Full steps
Fix 3. Use File Recovery Software (Data Loss/Deleted) Run a professional data recovery software > Scan folder > Recover files...Full steps

"Hello! Please help me. I can't open any file in my Local D:\ It says You don't currently have permission to access this folder. Interesting enough. I only have one account and It is adminisator. from Microsoft Community"

"I'm having trouble accessing my files on my USB flash drive. Whenever I try to open the folder, it gives me an error message saying that 'You don't currently have permission to access this folder'. Is there any way to fix the issue? I need to view the files in that folder."

You don't currently have permission to access this folder error

Quickly access the best solution to remove the folder access error:

What Causes 'You Don't Currently Have Permission to Access This Folder' Windows 11/10

While attempting to save a file in a folder or access a folder on a Windows 11/10 PC, you might get the "You don't currently have permission to access this folder, click Continue to permanently get access to this folder" error. Several factors will lead to this error as listed below. 

  • Remove a user or group from "Group or user names" on the folder's "Security" tab.
  • Application of an explicit "Deny" to the user or group.
  • The conflict between the share permissions and the New Technology File System (NTFS) permissions.
  • File system corruption, like a corrupted disk or improper shutdown.
  • External factors like unstable storage connections or driver issues.

If you want to access files in the folder or have already lost some important files by accident, try the EaseUS data recovery tool and regain your data.

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How to Fix 'You Don't Currently Have Permission to Access This Folder' | 3 Fixes

After figuring out the causes of the error, we will show you step-by-step guidelines on how to deal with the 'You don't currently have permission to access this folder' problem in Windows 11, 10, 8, or 7 in three easy ways. 

Solution 1. Change the Ownership of the Folder to Fix You Don't Have Permission to Access

You can also try to change the ownership of the file or folder to troubleshoot the folder access denied issue on Windows 10/8/7.

Step 1. Right-click on the folder to navigate to "Properties".

Step 2. Go to the "group or username" section on the "Security" tab.

Step 3. Click on "Advanced", and then "Change".

Step 4. Type your account name. Click on "Check names" > "OK".

Step 5. Check "Replace owner on subcontainers and objects" > "OK".

change the ownership

You can share this simple method on social media to help more users regain the permission.

Solution 2. Gain Access to the Folder by Allowing Everyone

Cannot open folder in Windows? You can change the "Users or Groups" settings and allow everyone to access this folder; this may help you fix the folder is not accessible issue quickly.

Step 1. Right-click on the folder that you're unable to access and select "Properties".

Step 2. Click on "Security" tab and under Group or user names click on "Edit".

Step 3. Click on "Add" and type everyone. Click on "Check names" and then click "OK".

You Don't Currently Have Permission to Access This Folder fixes

Step 4. Select "Everyone". Under "Allow", select "Full control" and click on "Apply" and click "Ok".

You Don't Currently Have Permission to Access This Folder fixes

Solution 3. Recover Files in an Inaccessible Folder with Data Recovery Tool 

If the solutions above are not helpful, the reasons behind it may be related to system corruption, virus infection, etc. You can try the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard to recover data from a specific folder in Windows 11/10/8/7 and read the inaccessible folder urgently.

 Download for Win Security Verified
 Download for Mac Trustpilot Rating 4.9

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is capable of recovering deleted folders and files on HDD/SSD, USB flash drives, memory cards, external hard drives, and other storage devices with a very high recovery rate.

  • Recover lost, deleted, or inaccessible files, videos, documents, photos, audio, music, emails effectively
  • Recover deleted files, formatting, emptying recycle bin, virus attack, system crash, and more.
  • Support over 1000 types of files like JPG/JPEG, DOC/DOCX, XLS/XLSX, PPT/PPTX, MP3, WAV, WMA, AVI, MOV, MP4, and more.

Download EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard and follow the steps below to recover data from the inaccessible folder easily. 

Step 1. Select the storage location to scan

Launch EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard and locate the partition or drive where your photos and videos were lost. Hover over the location and click "Search for Lost Data" to start scanning for recoverable files.

select a location where you deleted files

Step 2. Locate and select your lost files

When the scan is complete, browse the results and select the files you want to restore. Use the file type filter to narrow down the results, or search by file name if you remember it.

Choose recoverable files

Step 3. Preview and recover photos and files

Preview the recoverable photos and files before restoring them. Select the files you want and click "Recover". Save them to another drive or an external storage device instead of the original location. You can also choose cloud storage, such as OneDrive or Google Drive, and click "Save".

Recover deleted files

(Note: The free version includes a 2GB recovery allowance. For recovering everyday photos and other files, you may not need to purchase anything. Simply select a safe destination to export your recovered ones.)

Feel free to share this method on social media to help more users!

Which Method Is Most Effective? Check The Comparable Table

Comparison Change Ownership (Recommend) Gain Access (Low Chance) EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard
Scenarios Check Ownership of your folder.  Don't allow everyone to access the folder.  Data loss, system crash, virus infection, computer glitch...
Cost  None None Supported 2GB file recovery in the free version.
Operational Risk None None None
Easy-to-use Require more steps. Yes  Yes

After comparing the three methods we outlined, for the average computer user, we will recommend you apply change ownership of your folder. It requires more steps but is workable. And the gain access solution is suitable for rare cases. In case of both two methods being invalid, you can try a file recovery tool to access data immediately.

You Don't Have Permission to Access This Folder FAQs

Here are some common questions users often have when facing folder permission errors:

1. How do I fix 'You don't currently have permission to access this folder' no security tab?

If you cannot find the Security tab in File Explorer, try restarting File Explorer or booting your computer into Safe Mode. You can also use icacls or takeown commands via Command Prompt to manually reset permissions and access the folder without the security interface.

2. Why don't I have permission to access this folder?

This folder permission error usually happens due to ownership conflicts, NTFS permission issues, or User Account Control restrictions. It commonly appears after Windows updates, external drive changes, or account modifications that reset or block your access rights to folders.

  • Updated by

    Jaden is one of the editors of EaseUS, who focuses on topics concerning PCs and Mac data recovery. Jaden is committed to enhancing professional IT knowledge and writing abilities. She is always keen on new and intelligent products.…
  • Written by

    Tracy became a member of the EaseUS content team in 2013. Being a technical writer for over 10 years, she is enthusiastic about sharing tips to assist readers in resolving complex issues in disk management, file transfer, PC & Mac performance optimization, etc., like an expert.…
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