[Fixed] Access is denied to the target folder for performing this operation on Windows 10/8/7

Let's look at quick navigation to fix the Access is denied to the destination folder error and regain access permissions.

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Error: Access to the target folder is denied in Windows 10

"For some reason, I can't access files on my WD Elements external hard drive. Also, the drive is no longer showing up on my network. I'm getting an error message that says: Access to the destination folder is denied. You need permission to perform this action. I clicked 'Retry' but it didn't work. How can I regain access to my files?"

"The folder you are trying to access is denied. You need permission to perform this action" usually occurs when you attempt to copy or move a file or folder to another location. Typically, this issue arises due to a lack of "ownership." The file or folder ownership belongs to another user account. Although the files and folders are accessible in your account, modifications are not allowed. In such cases, changing the ownership to the current user account can resolve this problem.

But soon, you might find that even as an administrator, you cannot delete system files. This is because Trusted Installer service owns Windows system files by default, and Windows File Protection prevents them from being overwritten. Hence, you receive the error message Access denied to the target folder. Read this guide to learn how to effectively resolve the issue.

Please first watch the video tutorial:

Data Recovery from an Inaccessible Hard Drive: First Steps

Before proceeding with the resolution to fix the 'Access is denied' issue on the target folder, it's advisable to export important data to prevent any data loss.

 tools Data Recovery Wizard allows you to recover deleted files or formatted data with just a few simple clicks. It also can repair corrupted files on Windows 10/8/7 during the recovery process. It automatically fixes corrupted photos, videos, Word, Excel, and more.

You can download and use this software for free to recover data from an inaccessible hard drive, USB, or other device in three simple steps.

Step 1. Run Partition Wizard, right click on the target partition and choose "Change Drive Letter".

Step 2: In the new window, click the down arrow in the drop-down menu and select a drive letter for the partition, then click OK.

Step 3. Click the “Perform 1 Task” button in the top-left corner to commit the change, and then click “Apply” to change the drive letter of the selected partition.

Top 5 Ways to Fix "Access to the Path Denied" in Windows 10/8/7

After you've recovered your data, try these five methods to resolve the issue where you can't access the target folder even with full control.

Fix 1: Grant Full Control Permissions to the Folder by Changing its Ownership

To resolve the "Access to the path 'folder name' is denied" issue, you should take ownership of the folder:

For Windows 10 users

Step 1. Right-click the folder of which you want to take ownership, and select “Properties” from the context menu.

Step 2: Click Security > Advanced, and then click the Owners tab.

Step 3: Click on “Change.” In the “Enter the object names to select” field of the pop-up window, type “Administrator,” or your username. Then click “Check Names.” If everything goes well, the text will change. Click “OK” to save your changes.

Step 4. The Owner part will now change. Check the box for Replace owner on subcontainers and objects, and then click Apply and OK to save the changes. You can also check Replace all child object permission entries if you like.

**Grant Permissions to Users on Windows 7**

Step 1 Right-click the file and select "Properties" from the context menu.

2. In the Properties window, click Edit to confirm.

Step 3: In the Permissions window, click on “Users/Groups,” or press the “+” button to add other users or groups.

Step 4: Under the Permissions section, check the box next to "Full Control" under "Allow" to assign full access.

Step 5: Click “OK” to apply the changes, and again to exit the Properties window.

Once you own the file or folder, check if your issue has been resolved.

Read also: You don't currently have permission to access this folder

Solution 2: Perform a Clean Boot on Windows 10 to Fix "Access to the Folder is Denied"

Another way to fix the “Access is denied to folder” error is by performing a clean boot. Follow these steps to access your folder:

Step 1: Search for msconfig from the Start menu.

Step 2: Select System Configuration from the search results. On the Services tab of the System Configuration dialog box, check the Hide all Microsoft services box, and then click or tap Disable all.

Step 3: On the System Configuration dialog box, click or tap on the Startup tab, and then click or tap on Open Task Manager.

Step 4. In the Task Manager's “Startup” tab, disable each item by selecting it and clicking Disable. Close the Task Manager.

5. On the System Configuration dialog box's General tab, click or tap OK, and then restart your computer.

Fix 3: Get Permissions to Access the Device

If you're still unable to fix the Windows 10 Access Denied error, you can try gaining access by taking ownership of the folder.

Step 1. Right-click the inaccessible hard drive, USB, or folder and select “Properties.”

Step 2. Go to the "Security" tab, click "Advanced," and then go to the "Owner" tab.

Step 3: Click "Edit," and then click on your username under "Groups" or "User Name."

Click “OK” to save the changes and get permission.

Fix 4: Repair the corrupted file system to resolve the issue of 'Access to the destination folder is denied'

If the hard drive file system is damaged, you cannot access the folder either. You can use the free hard drive repair tool – tools Partition Master to check and fix the hard drive with a click. This free partition software helps create, clone, format, merge, and resize/move partitions. Follow the steps below to check and repair the file system.

Step 1. Run Partition Wizard, right click on the target partition and choose “Change Drive Letter”.

Step 2: In the new window, click on the drop-down arrow and select the drive letter for the partition from the drop-down menu, then click OK.

Step 3. Click the “Perform 1 Task” button in the top left corner to preview the change, and then click “Apply” to proceed with changing the drive letter of the selected partition.

Alternatively, you can run the CHKDSK command to fix a corrupted file system on an inaccessible hard drive.

1. Open the Command Prompt and type: `chkdsk /f C:` (replace `C:` with the letter of the inaccessible hard drive). 2. Press Enter to let the scanning process run. 3. After the scan is complete, type `exit` and press Enter to finish the process.

Solution 5: Format the drive to fix the "Access Denied" error

If the quick fixes above don't work for you, formatting the device can resolve the Access is denied error in Windows. Since formatting deletes files, back up your data beforehand. There are several ways to format a hard drive, and you can format it in File Explorer following these steps:

Step 1: Right-click on the inaccessible device – an internal/external hard drive, USB or SD card, and so on – and choose “Format.”

Step 2: Set up file systems, labels, and so on for devices that are not accessible.

Conclusions

Many computer users report receiving the “Access is denied to the destination folder” error when attempting to copy, move, or delete a file or folder either locally or from a shared resource. If you've tried the solutions above, you should be able to effectively resolve the “Access is denied to the destination folder” error.

Not only does Tools provide solutions for denied access errors, but it also offers a professional way to recover files or folders with the help of its Tools Data Recovery software. Should you encounter any issues, feel free to seek assistance from Tools.

Frequently Asked Questions - Access Denied to Target Folder in Windows 10

The "Access is denied to the destination folder" error typically occurs when you don't have the necessary administrator privileges to copy a file or folder. If you have other related issues, browse through the frequently asked questions below for more assistance.

Why am I getting Access Denied when trying to access a folder?

The “Access is denied” error can occur for the following reasons:

• You might not have granted ownership to access the files and folders.
• You might be denied access because the folder is encrypted.
• There might be a problem with your file system.

What are administrator privileges?

Administrator privileges are a set of protocols that designate certain users as the owners of a system.

How to resolve the "Access to the destination folder is denied" issue?

If you encounter an "Access is denied" error on Windows, follow these troubleshooting steps:

• Solution 1: Change Ownership
• Solution 2: Perform a Clean Boot
• Solution 3: Get Permissions
• Solution 4: Run CHKDSK to Fix the File System
• Solution 5: Format the Device

How do I access the Found.000 folder?

The FOUND.000 folder is created when the CHKDSK command is run by a user. Not always visible, to show the folder, you need to:

Step 1: Open the Control Panel in Windows, and navigate to File Explorer Options in Windows 10, 8.1, or 8.

Step 2: In the File Explorer Options window, go to the View tab and under the Hidden files and folders section, check the box next to Show hidden files, folders, and drives.

Step 3: Reopen your local disk or device and check again for the FOUND.000 folder on your PC.

What happens if the target folder is deleted?

Since all the data and its associated files get deleted or become inaccessible if the target folder is deleted, it's good to know how to recover them.