Error: "You need permission to perform this action" on Windows 10

Hi Maxi,

Thank you for posting in Microsoft Community and being part of Windows 10.

I understand the inconvenience you are facing in accessing files/ folders in Windows 10. We will help you to resolve this issue.

I suggest you to follow the below steps to provide permission to the folder and check if that helps.

Use the following procedure to fix this as long as you don't reboot your machine:

1. Sign-in as an administrator on your computer.

2. Navigate to the folder where you're having the problem. Right-click and select Properties from the pop-up menu.

3. Under Properties | Security tab, click the Advanced button, then click "Change" owner on the Advanced Security Settings dialog (if you are already the owner, do this step anyway!), and in the resulting dialog enter whatever you want the owner to be

4. Now a new check-box appears labeled "Replace owner on sub-containers and objects"; check it.

5. Also check the box at the bottom "Replace all child object permission entries with inheritable permission entries from this object."

6. Make sure under the Permission entries grid that your current account has Full control (if not Edit or Add your account to be listed with foll control). Finally hit Apply. This may take a while.

For reference go through the below article: 

"Access Denied" or other errors when you access or work with files and folders in Windows

(Applies to Windows 10 as well)

Hope it helps. Reply to the post with an updated status of the issue to assist you further.

I tried doing this, still the same problem.

Hi,

Thank you for responding.

1. Do let us know if you have logged-in as an administrator to your computer?
2. How many user account is there on your computer?
3. From when are you facing this issue?
4. Does this issue specific to any particular file/ folder?

I suggest you to try the remaining troubleshooting steps from the reference article and check if it helps.

Reply to the post with the required information, we will be happy to help you further.

I was logged in as adminisrator, I have 4 user accounts on my pc. I have has this problem since I have tried to delete a file that I do not own by default but changed the ownership of it and its contents. No, it happens with a file that I do not own by default but changed the ownership of it and its contents.

Hi,

Thank you for responding with the required information.

This issue might have occurred when there are more than one administrator accounts and you are trying to access the contents of other administrator.

Step 1: I suggest you to check if the files/ folders in the question are under different administrator account.

1. Press Windows + R key together on your desktop screen.
2. Type netplwiz and hit Enter.
3. You will find the user accounts on your computer with their account types.

Step 2: If you have any other account with administrative privileges you can change their account type.

Follow the below steps to change the user account type:

1. Press Windows + R keys from the Keyboard.
2. Type netplwiz and click on Ok.
3. Click on the Users tab.
4. Under Users of this computer: select the account you want to change.
5. Click on Properties button.
6. Select Group Membership tab and select the type of the user account.
7. Click on Apply and Ok.

Hope it helps. Kindly update the status of this issue for further assistance.

There is only one administrator account on my PC

Hi,

Thank you for responding.

Log-in with the administrator account and try the below:

1. Press Windows key, type user account .
2. Click on Change User Accounts control settings.
3. Move the bar to Never notify, click on Ok.
4. Follow Onscreen instructions.

Hope it helps. Try the above and update us the status of this issue for further assistance.