When you get the “Access Denied” error in Windows 11, you may feel like you're being locked out of your computer. Although having problems accessing files and folders is frustrating, don't panic – with a few simple tweaks, you can regain access to your system.
Why do you get the “Access Denied” error?
Access Denied error is a common problem on Windows systems that indicates you do not have permission to view a file or folder. This is because your system has not granted access to that folder to the user account you are currently using. Simply put, you are using an unauthorized account to access paths, folders and files on your computer or external hard drives from other computers.
In some cases, file ownership and encryption issues can also lead to this error. It's also possible that third-party anti-virus software has been banned from accessing it. Some programs may mistake the genuine setup wizard as a threat and issue an incorrect warning.
Below are some common ways to fix Access Denied errors on Windows 11.
5 ways to fix “Access Denied” error on Windows 11
1. Check file system permissions
Here's a simple solution you can try to ensure your account has appropriate access permissions to the file or folder you're opening:
1. Locate the file, folder or directory you are trying to access. Right click on it and select Properties from the menu.
2. Go to tab Security and click the button Edit.

3. Select your username from the list and check the box next to it Full control in column Allow belongs to section Permissions for Users. Then click OK.

Note: If your username is not in the list, you must add it manually and then change its permissions.
You can also try restoring default permissions using the icacls command in Command Prompt. Resetting permissions using icacls can help resolve access issues caused by changes to default permissions.
2. Set your account to admin
In most cases, the Access Denied error can be fixed by setting your user account as admin on the computer. Here's how you can set your account to admin:
1. Press Win + R to open Run. Type control userpasswords2 and press OK.
2. On the window User Accountscheck the box next to it Users must enter a username and password to use this computer. If this option does not appear, skip this step.

3. Select your account and click the button Properties below that account.
4. Next, go to tab Group Membership. Select Administrator from the menu, then click Apply > OK.

Now, restart your computer and see if it resolves the problem. If not, move on to the next step.
3. Run the SFC and DISM tools
Corrupted files can also trigger the “Access Denied” error. Luckily, Windows has built-in tools – System File Checker (SFC) and Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) – that can scan and repair these files.
Follow these steps to run the SFC tool:
- Press Win + Senter CMD and you will see Command Prompt displayed as the best match to your search.
- To the right of the search bar, click Run as administrator.
- Then, enter the following command and press Enter:
sfc /scannow
After scanning, restart your computer. If you still see the “Access Denied” error, try the DISM tool:
- Launch Command Prompt with admin rights, as in the steps to run the SFC tool.
- There are two commands you can enter to check the file for errors, then press Enter: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth for simpler scanning or DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth for more advanced scanning
- If DISM detects a problem, enter the following command and press Enter:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Once the DISM process is complete, reboot the system and check if the error is resolved.
If you want to know more, you can check out Quantrimang.com's guide on how to use SFC in Windows or a guide on how to use the DISM command to repair your damaged files.
4. Enable hidden admin account
Your Windows 11 system has a hidden admin account with more privileges than a regular account. You can enable this feature to access files, folders and paths that are restricted to regular users – this is especially useful if you can't switch your user account from a standard account. standard to admin account.
1. Open Windows search by pressing Win + S.
2. Next, type CMDright-click Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
3. On Command Prompt, run the following command: net user administrator /active: yes. This will unlock the admin account.

4. Log out of the current account and switch to the newly activated admin account. Using this account, you will not encounter access problems because it has more privileges than a regular admin account.
5. Once you are done with the admin account, log out and log back in to your main account. Repeat steps 1 and 2, then run this command: net user administrator /active: no. This will disable the admin account.
Note: Switching back to your main account will cause the error to appear again. If you need persistent access to files, use a hidden admin account to make necessary changes to your system and troubleshoot ownership or access issues. You may also consider copying these items to another location that your regular account can access.
5. Get ownership of the file
As mentioned earlier, the “Access Denied” error sometimes comes from ownership issues. If this is the cause of the error, taking ownership of the file can immediately give you the access you need:
1. Locate the folder or file you want to access and right-click on it. Click Properties from the menu.
2. Go to tab Security and click the button Advanced.

3. Next, find the section Owner at the top of the window and click Change. This will open a new dialog box.

4. In the window Select User or Groupenter your username or Administrators enter school Enter the object name.

5. Then, click the button Check Names and OK to save your changes.

takeown /f "path_to_folder"/r /d y
icacls "path_to_folder"/grant administrators:F /t
You need to replace the part “path_to_folder” with a path to an inaccessible file or folder. Here's how you can get the path:
- Navigate to the file or folder in question.
- Right click on it and select Copy as path.
- Replace “path_to_folder” with the copied path. For example: “C:\Users\HP\Downloads\Literature review sources“

Restart your computer after completing the above steps to check if the problem is resolved. But usually, after running these commands, you will be able to regain access to files and folders.
6. Create a new user account

If none of the other fixes work, the problem may lie with your user account. Creating a new user account can help resolve access issues.
- Press Win + I to launch the Windows Settings application.
- Then navigate to Accounts > Account settings > Other Users > Add account.
- If you don't want to create a Microsoft account, click I don't have this person's sign-in information > Add a user without a Microsoft account.
- Follow the onscreen instructions to create a local account or a Microsoft account, depending on your preference.
After creating your account, log out of the current profile and log in to the new profile. Try accessing the files or folders that are causing the problem. If the issue is resolved, consider moving your data to a new account and using that as your primary account.
7. Disable third-party anti-virus software
If the problem is not resolved, consider disabling third-party antivirus software.
Antivirus software is necessary to protect your system from threats and malicious agents. However, it can cause errors, such as access denied issues and incorrect warning results. For example, many users have reported that they receive “Access Denied” errors when trying to install certain applications, and the main reason is due to their security program.
To check if this is the case for you, temporarily disable your third-party antivirus program and try accessing the file or installing the program. If the error does not appear then your antivirus software is most likely to blame and you should consider another program to protect your computer. If not, use the security program built into Windows 11: Microsoft Defender.
Resolving the “Access Denied” error is very simple and does not require many technical steps. You can regain control of your files and systems by using a few key strategies. Just make sure your user account has the necessary permissions and if necessary, elevate your privileges to admin level.
Wish you success!
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