When Windows displays the error “You don't have permission to save in this location”, this will prevent you from saving files to desired folders. There can be a number of reasons for this, from lack of permissions to a folder to conflicting third-party programs.
If you can't find the cause of the error, follow these troubleshooting tips to eliminate the error.
1. Modify folder permissions
Since the error mainly appears due to lack of necessary permissions, the first thing you should do is modify the folder permissions to give yourself full control over the folder.
Here's what you need to do:
- Right click on the folder where you want to save the file and select Properties.
- In the window Propertiesswitch to tab Security.
- Select your username from the list and click Edit to modify folder permissions.
- Check the box Allow next to Full control.
- Press the button Applythen press OK.
2. Change the folder owner
If changing folder permissions doesn't help, you can make yourself the folder's owner. This will allow you to freely access, modify and save files in that folder. It should be noted that you can only do this if you are logged in with an admin account.
Follow these steps to change folder ownership on Windows:
- Right click on the folder for which you want to change ownership and select Properties.
- In tab Securityselect Advanced.
- Click Change next to Owner.
- In school Enter the object name to selectenter your username and click the button Check Names. Then press OK.
- Check the checkbox that says Replace owner on subcontainers and objects.
- Press Apply and then press OK.
Once you have ownership of the folder, permission errors will no longer bother you. If the above method doesn't work for some reason, you can use a third-party tool to take ownership of the folder on Windows. The biggest advantage is that these tools allow you to take ownership of multiple files at the same time.
3. Run the application with admin rights
Such an error can occur if the application or program you are using lacks the necessary permissions to access files on your PC. You can fix the problem by simply running the program with admin rights.
Right-click on the program that doesn't save your files and select Run as administrator. Select Yes when the User Account Control (UAC) prompt appears.
Try saving your file to the desired folder. If the error persists, move on to the next solution. However, if this method works, you can configure Windows to always run your application with admin rights in a few steps.
4. Run the Program Compatibility troubleshooter
If running the app with admin rights doesn't help, you can turn to the Windows Program Compatibility troubleshooter for help. It will automatically detect and fix any compatibility issues with the program and help you fix errors. Here's how to run the tool.
- Right click on the program and select Troubleshoot compatibility.
- In the window Program Compatibility Troubleshooterselect Troubleshoot program.
- Mark the checkbox that says The program requires additional permissions and press Next.
- Click the button Test the program and try saving your file again.
5. Check your anti-virus program
Sometimes, PC antivirus software can become overly cautious and prevent applications from accessing specific folders. When that happens, Windows may display the error message “You don't have permission to save in this location”.
To fix this, you can go through your antivirus program's settings and whitelist your app or program from there. Alternatively, you can also temporarily disable the antivirus program and then save your file. Make sure you turn your antivirus program back on after the file is saved.
6. Disable User Account Control
User Account Control (UAC) is a security feature on Windows that prevents applications and users from making system-level changes without permission. Although this feature protects your PC from unwanted system changes, it can sometimes interfere with Windows processes and cause problems, such as the one described here.
You can temporarily disable User Account Control on Windows to see if that fixes the error. Here's how you can do it.
- Press Win + S to open the Search menu.
- Enter change user account control settings and select the first result that appears.
- In the window User Account Control Settingsdrag the slider to the bottom and tap OK.
- Select Yes when the User Account Control prompt displays.
After disabling User Account Control, check if you can save files to the desired folder.
7. Save the file in another location, then move it
One way to bypass the “You don't have permission to save in this location” error is to save the file in another location, then move the file to the desired folder. Here is another workaround you can use if the above methods don't work.
8. Troubleshoot in Safe Mode
Safe Mode is a useful tool that can help you fix various problems with your PC. If none of the above methods work, you can try starting Windows in Safe Mode.
When you boot into Safe Mode, Windows runs with only the necessary drivers and programs. This will help you determine if the “You don't have permission to save in this location” error is caused by a third-party app or service running in the background.
There are several ways to boot Windows into Safe Mode. Use your preferred method to start your PC in Safe Mode, then check to see if you can save the file successfully. If this method works, it's possible that a program or service running in the background is causing the problem. Apps and programs you installed recently are more likely to have caused the problem.
In most cases, you can fix the “You don't have permission to save in this location” error by modifying folder permissions or running the program with admin rights. If not, you may have to resort to the other methods listed above to fix this annoying error message.
