How to fix “Access Denied” Error on Windows 11 – Guide
Are you getting an “Access Denied” message when trying to access files, directories or folders on your Windows 11 PC? Don’t worry - this can be a common issue, but it can be frustrating if you’re the only user and unable to access your personal information.
Users may encounter an “Access Denied” error when attempting to access, move, copy or delete files and directories. This article will explore potential solutions and explain why this error keeps occurring.
Why are you getting an “Access Denied” error message?
The Access Denied error on Windows systems indicates that the current user account does not have permission to view the file or folder. This is because the system has denied access to this account, preventing it from accessing paths, folders and files.
Users may experience difficulty accessing a program due to file ownership, encryption issues, or a third-party antivirus program mistakenly flagging the setup wizard as a threat.
How do I fix the access denied error in Windows 11?
Use computer management
Users can access Computer Management by right-clicking the Start button.
Navigate to Local Users and Groups to access the Users folder.
To gain access to administrative privileges, users can right-click the Administrator icon and select Properties.
To re-enable an account, uncheck the box next to “Account disabled” and click the “Apply and OK” buttons at the bottom.
To access the Administrator Properties, click the Groups folder on the left-hand side of your screen, then right-click on Administrator and select Properties.
Enter the word “test” in the opened window, click “Check Names,” then press “Apply” and “OK” in both windows.
Set your account as an administrator
Press Windows key + R, then type control userpasswords2 and click OK to access user accounts.
Users must now enter a username and password to access their computer, which can be done by checking the box next to “Users must enter a username and password to use this computer” in the User Accounts window, then selecting their account and clicking the Properties button.
Go to the Group Members tab, select Administrator and confirm the changes.
Restart your computer to see if the problem is fixed after following the steps above.
Disable your antivirus software
Users encountered an “access denied” error when attempting to install certain applications, which was attributed to third-party antivirus programs. Despite the importance of antivirus protection, it can sometimes be the source of this issue.
If you’re having trouble installing an application on Windows 11, disabling your security program may be the solution. If that works, it’s likely that your antivirus is the culprit and you should consider switching to a different one.
check your permissions
To fix a problem, right-click on the affected directory and select Properties from the menu.
Go to the Security tab, then click Edit.
Choose a username from the list, then tick the box next to ‘Full Control’ in the Permissions section and click OK.
If your username isn’t on the list, you’ll need to manually add it and adjust your permissions.
Enable hidden administrator account
Press Windows key + S, then type “cmd” and right-click the most relevant result to launch it as an administrator.
Run the command ’net user admin / active: yes’ at the command prompt to unlock the admin account.
Log out of your current account and switch to the newly enabled admin one to access your files without any issues.
To disable the administrator account, users should open the command prompt as an administrator and enter the command “net user administrator / active: no.”
If the issue persists, you may need to use an administrator account to make changes and resolve it.
Take ownership of the file
To fix a problem, right-click on the affected folder and select Properties from the menu.
Go to the Security tab, then hit Advanced for further options.
Click the “Change” button in the “Owner” section at the top of the page.
The Select User or Group window will now appear, prompting users to type their username or “Administrators” into the Enter the object name to select field. After doing so, they should click the Check Names button and tap OK to save their changes.
Select the box to replace all child object permission entries with those inherited from this object, then click Apply and OK to save.
Final note
If you’re having trouble accessing files on Windows 11, this guide can help. Got a question? Ask us. And don’t forget to share the love by passing it along to your friends.
