Home Computer Tips Expert Guide on How to Access Restricted Folders in Windows PC

Expert Guide on How to Access Restricted Folders in Windows PC

The essence of the post is basically to serve as an assistant to those who has been restricted from accessing some folders in their windows operating system and this can be so frustrating but do not bother because we go on with this tutorial, we will show how to access restricted folders in windows.

Ignorantly there could be some certain reason while the denial access was prompted but as for the sake of this post we will show error that leads to folders access denial with some possible solutions to them.

Note: For the tutorial to be effective you must have the administrator rights of the PC but if do not have administrator rights but have standard account then you need to relate it to the PC administrator as standard account has limited access when compared with administrator access rights.


Read Also: How To Lock Computer (PC) Folder Without Using Software

Method 1: Take ownership of your PC
Most system ownership arises when there is a problem between the ownership of the folder and these could be as a result of upgrading from one version OS to another and therefore altering the control options of the windows but nevertheless as the system administrator you can still retain your system ownership back by simply following the steps below.

>>1. Simply right-click on the restricted folder and select Properties. Proceed to the Security tab and click on the Advanced button.



>>2. Next, click on Change link next to the Owner.

>>3. Continue by entering your username in the Enter the object name to select section and then click on Check Names.



>>4. If right username was entered, then it should be applied automatically.



>>5. Click on OK and the checkbox next to Replace owner on sub containers and objects option right below the Owner option. These permissions applied to all the folders and subfolders in the windows.


This will definitely solve your access denied problem and grant you access the required folder and its content.

Method 2: Use a third-party tool known as Take Ownership
If you don’t want to go through the above process or somehow it didn’t work for you, then a third-party tool can do this for you as well. If going through all the procedure stated in method and at some instance it didn’t work that effectively then your alternative is to use a third-party tool known as Take Ownership.


This Take Ownership third-party tool will add tool that will add a context menu entry to easily take ownership. After successful installation of the tool, right-click on the folder and select Take Ownership from the context menu to become the owner.





Method 3: Check for encryption
At times there is the possibility that some folder will be encrypted and that could be the reason for Access denial error you are receiving on your windows. Below is how to if it is encrypted or not.


>>1. Simply right-click on the folder and select Properties from the context menu. Under the General tab, click on the Advanced button.





>>2. Peradventure the Encrypt contents to secure data option is checked it simply means the data is encrypted and it has to be decrypt it using the right certificates.


The user who encrypted this folder should be contacted and have them decrypt it from their account.


Method 4: Use the Unlocker tool
Another third-party tool that you can as well use to solve access denial on your windows, is Unlocker and it can do just that with single click. To use this tool, proceed by downloading it following the link above and install then your system and after installation it will add an entry in the context menu. Right-click on the restricted folder and select Unlocker.

This tool is so powerful that it can scan the folder and show the problem behind the denied access folder. All You just need to do is to click on Unlock All here and Unlocker will automatically fix all the issues.

Method 5: Access it from the Safe Mode
There is the possibility that a third-party application or virus may be preventing you from accessing the folder windows. To resolve this issues, start the PC in Safe mode and then try accessing the folder. Mostly in Windows 8 and 10, you may decide to access the Safe mode from the boot options, and in Windows 7 you can also press the F8 key multiple times while the PC is starting to open Safe mode menu your system.

The most important aspect of the safe mode is that it starts the PC with limited drivers and no third-party apps running, in these essence there will be no app or virus to stop you from accessing the folder. If accessibility in the Safe mode persist, then try deleting recently installed apps and scan your PC for viruses with a good antivirus software, such as Avast.

Fresh Update: How to Wirelessly Transfer Files From Mobile Xender App to PC Storage Memory


Method 6: Try another user account
There is a chance your user profile may get corrupted and Windows may not be able to open files/folders in it. Try accessing the data from another user account to confirm this. You may also try accessing the data from another user account to confirm the accessibility problem because there may be a case where your user profile may get corrupted and Windows may not be able to open files/folders there by prompting to your denial to the contents.


Instantly if peradventure you have no other user account, proceed by creating one. You can also refer to these guides by Microsoft support to create new user account in Windows 7, 8 and Windows 10.
Credit:hongkiat.com