Are you struggling with the “Access Denied” error on Windows 11? Here are six solutions that are sure to help.

Why am I receiving the Access Denied error?

In most cases, the error crops up when Windows blocks you or an application from accessing a file or folder or a particular application.

Why does Windows do that? You may wonder.

Not having the required permissions is the most common reason. Other reasons include:

• User profile corruption
• Folder or file ownership conflicts
• System bugs or errors during Windows update
• The file or folder is encrypted
• Malware interference or misinterpretation of legitimate software or program by your security software

How to troubleshoot the Access Denied error on Windows 11?

Solution #1 – Check and modify permissions

Think of a file or folder on a computer as a private property with restricted access. Without prior permission, you cannot enter either. If you can’t open a file, chances are you don’t have the appropriate permissions. Here’s how you can check file or folder permissions on Windows 11 and change them, if necessary.

• Right-click the file (or folder) you want to access and select Properties

• Click the Security tab and then the Edit button

• Select your user account in the Group or user names section and then tick the checkbox next to Full Control

• When you’re done, click Apply and then OK
• Close the Properties dialog box

Solution #2 – Modify file or folder ownership

Taking ownership of the file or folder in the event that the initial owner is no longer around may do the trick.

Here’s what to do:

• Right-click the file or folder and choose Properties
• Click the Security tab
• Now click the Advanced button

• Click the Change option next to the Owner field
• In the Enter the object name to select box, type in your name
• Click Check Names and then OK

• Click Apply and then OK

Solution #3 – Turn on the hidden administrator account

Windows comes with a built-in hidden elevated account — aptly called the hidden administrator account — that gives a user full, unrestricted access to the system. However, this account is disabled by default. Enabling it can help fix thorny system issues like the Access Denied error.

Here’s how you can enable this account:

• Press Windows + X keys and then select Terminal (Admin)
• In the User Account Control box, click Yes
• In the Elevated Command Prompt, type the following command and hit Enter

You’ve now activated the hidden administrator account. Log out of your account and log in as the admin user. Now, you should be able to access the file or folder.

To disable the account, log in with your regular user account and perform the first two steps to access Elevated Command Prompt. Now type this command and hit Enter.

Solution #4 – Decrypt the file or folder

If you’re getting the Access Denied error because the file or folder is encrypted, then decrypting it can help.

Here’s what to do:

• Right-click the file or folder and select Properties
• Click the General tab and then the Advanced button
• Untick all the tabs, except “allow files in this folder to have content indexed”

• Click OK twice
• When Windows prompt you to confirm your action, select “Apply changes to this folder, subfolders, and files” and then click OK

Solution #5 – Temporarily disable your security software

Antivirus software can sometimes misinterpret a genuine file, folder, program, or software as a threat and block your access. Temporarily turning the antivirus tool off can allow you access to the file or folder. But don’t forget to enable the security software after you’re done. Turning off the antivirus protection will leave your computer vulnerable to viruses, malware, hackers, and more.

For third-party tools, the exact steps for disabling vary from one tool to another. That said, in most cases, all you have to do is open the app’s user interface, look for Real-Time Protection or Protection Settings, and then disable it.

If you’re using Microsoft Windows Defender — a built-in antivirus and antimalware tool in Windows operating systems — perform these steps to disable it:

• Click the Windows icon, type windows security in the search bar, and select the Windows Security app
• Click Virus & threat protection and then scroll down just a little bit and click Manage settings
• You’ll notice four main options enabled (Real-time protection, Cloud-delivered protection, Automatic sample submission, and Tamper Protection). But before touching those, scroll down to Controlled folder access and click Manage Controlled folder access and then toggle it off
• Click Yes on the User Access Control prompt
• Hit the back arrow in the Windows Security window and turn off all the four options
• If prompted, click Yes in the User Account Control window

Once you’re done, repeat the above-mentioned steps to enable Windows defender. 

Solution #6 – Perform a system restore

In case the problem is recent, System Restore can help fix it by reverting your computer’s state to a previous point in time, undoing changes that may be causing the issue.

Here’s what to do:

• Click Start, type control panel in the search field, and click Control Panel in the search results
• If View by is set to Category, change it to Small icons or Large icons and then click Recovery

• In the next window, Click Open System Restore

• Select a restore point by following the on-screen prompts to revert your system to an earlier time when the Access Denied error was not present
• Once the process finishes, check if the issue is fixed

That’s it! Which solution worked for you?

Leave us a comment below and share the post so others facing the Access Denied error can benefit.

We leave you with a pro tip to keep you computer in top shape: Update your device drivers on a regular basis. This helps prevent many computer errors from occurring and enhances system’s performance and security. The easiest (and the fastest) way to update device drivers is by using a reputable third-party tool, such as Driver Updater.

Automatic driver update tools offer many benefits, the most important ones being:

• You can update device drivers automatically
• The software scans and updates all outdated or missing drivers at one go
• The tool picks the right drivers for your device and operating system, so you won’t have to worry about installing an incorrect driver by mistake
• Automatic driver updates are 100% safe

Driver Updater is one of the best driver update tools out there. Outbyte Driver Updater will give you access to a database of over 1 million drivers. It will regularly scan your PC, suggesting new driver versions to install. Driver Updater contains drivers for a variety of Windows devices. With just one click, you can update drivers in your system.

Step 1
Click here to Install and launch the app

Step 2
Scan all devices

Step 3
Install or update drivers automatically

 

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