Destination Folder Access Denied – You need permission to perform this action in Vista

May 19th, 2008 b0ddu Posted in How to, Vista | 44 Comments »

Windows Vista users who are trying to delete old files existing from windows xp mostly encounter this weird error message ‘Destination Folder Access Denied – You need permission to perform this action’. This happens even when you login as Administrator too. Don’t panic, if there is any super user.

'Destination Folder Access Denied - You need permission to perform this action WHY: In Windows Vista, user should have complete ownership of the file. For this reason you’ll have to take ownership of the files that are lacking ownership and prompt this error message.

SOLUTION:

Taking complete ownership can be done with help of two simple commands, yet so powerful. These are takeown (which takes ownership of a file or directory) and icacls (which sets new ACLs on that directory).

Instead of entering these commands manually for all folders, we can automate it. Download below Take_Ownership.reg and run it  to load into registry. If your UAC is still active, you’ll have hit continue every time.

Now, when you hold shift and right-click on a file or folder ( the one with issue ) you will have the option of changing the ownership by Take Ownershipclicking ‘Take Ownership’.

You can confirm, if this worked by looking at file Properties > Details and in owner section be changed to Computername\Username.

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44 Responses to “Destination Folder Access Denied – You need permission to perform this action in Vista”

  1. Anon Says:
    July 28th, 2008 at 5:13 pm

    I don’t understand… how do I download it??

  2. Anon Says:
    July 28th, 2008 at 5:25 pm

    Nevermind, I got it…! :) I didn’t have the “save target as…” option, so I had to get it another way.

    Not sure if it is my comp or what, so for anyone else who may need some help:

    Click on the link and go to File > Save Page As… and add “.reg” to the end of the file name (“Take_Ownership.reg”). Then, change file type to “All files” and save to your desktop.

    Double-click on the file. When prompted, click “Run” to install. You can then erase the file from the desktop. ‘Tis all.

    Thanks for this! It worked perfectly :)

  3. Ray Roberts Says:
    August 4th, 2008 at 11:42 pm

    Am getting a slightly differnt version of this problem. I want to copy a file (txt, pdf, apparently anything) from my Vista desktop (or a net-drive that Vista accesses just fine) to a USB flash drive. I cannot do this. What is also strange is that a month ago I sucessfully copied a file to one of the same USB drives that I cannot do this to now — but I can copy that and any other files on any of my USB drives to my Vista desktop w/o problems. Oh, have tried the take ownership trick but no joy eitehr.

  4. lisa Says:
    August 5th, 2008 at 7:56 pm

    just unistal the antivirus,indeed AVG ANTIVIRUS and check to remove all the options and done

  5. Michelle Says:
    September 2nd, 2008 at 1:36 am

    OMG…I looked everywhere and tried everything till I found this post…Yippee. I finally could delete that damn file and folder. I usually never reply to these posts, just read them for advice. However, this was so helpful for a non computer brat like me that I just had to say, “Thanks”.

  6. John Says:
    September 14th, 2008 at 12:17 pm

    The take-control registry modification installed, and works on generic folders. But it does NOT work on the windows\fonts folder, which is the one folder I need to take control of! (Vista 64pro)

  7. Reapersarms Says:
    September 29th, 2008 at 6:35 pm

    Hello everyone, i’m trying to move a file called dbgeng.dll to my system32 file….I’ve tried the tool above but i still get that stupid prompt.. I dont know any way around it at all, hopefully some of you can help me out. Thanks reaper.

    p.s i’ve already taken full admin rights too.

  8. Jomammy Says:
    October 9th, 2008 at 1:57 am

    Works great just had to restart after installing.

  9. Littletechgirl Says:
    November 12th, 2008 at 3:56 pm

    Argh. I have been all over the web trying to find a fix for this problem. I came to this page and finally thought this was my answer, but it does not work for me. I have a few files on my desktop that I cannot move or do anything to because of the “Destination Folder Access Denied” message. It is driving me crazy!!

  10. JB Says:
    December 4th, 2008 at 8:04 am

    I tried this with no luck. I am copying my files from my old XP over file This same issue is posted all over the net. Has anyone found a solution?

  11. Fred O. Says:
    December 22nd, 2008 at 12:35 am

    THANKS! THANKS!
    This little program would have saved me a weeks worth of troUble & lost sleep. IT WORKS GREAT!!!
    YOU ARE THE MAN!!!
    I Looked at so many posts, pages & solutions i cant count. But this works like a magic wand. Must do what Vista wont.
    Thanks Again!

  12. Royd Says:
    December 31st, 2008 at 5:26 pm

    The Take_Ownership.reg did not work for me. I downloaded, installed, shift + right clicked on a file and selected take owrnership. Then I verified to see if it worked by selecting properties/Details on the file and it still has a blank for owner. What Am I doing wrong? Do I need to restart?

  13. gorber Says:
    January 5th, 2009 at 4:12 pm

    would appretiate a tip on how to be able to apply this or any other trick to the font folder in Vista because it doesn’t work on that.

  14. Karen Says:
    January 18th, 2009 at 10:42 am

    This didn’t work for me probably because of the type of file I’m trying to delete. Yeah, OK, I did it, I downloaded a “program” from a torrent and it’s malware. I cannot delete the folder that contains the .exe files. I tried to “take ownership” but it still denies me the ability to put this thing in my trash. Sometimes this “security” thing goes a bit too far.

  15. Karen Says:
    January 18th, 2009 at 10:44 am

    This thing also disabled my Windows security alerts, although I do have McAfee, which quarantined the file, but still… I swear the companies who develop the software create these malware programs to punish people from downloading their software for free.

  16. Xam Says:
    January 25th, 2009 at 3:48 am

    Hay Keren!
    Did you try deleting it in safe mode?
    You probably know to hit f8 on start-up to get there.
    Always do several scans of anything you download before installing.
    Best of luck.
    Xam Landar

  17. Xam Says:
    January 25th, 2009 at 4:08 am

    Oops! nearly forgot.
    I can be as thick as two short planks some times. (:
    That reg hack wrocks!
    Thanks.

  18. Jamie Says:
    February 4th, 2009 at 4:55 pm

    Is this secure?

  19. admin Says:
    February 4th, 2009 at 8:32 pm

    Yes Jamie.. This is secure and worked well for me.

  20. A HARVEY Says:
    February 26th, 2009 at 10:19 am

    Why is this “feature” even in Windows??

    What planet do the MS programmers live on ??

    A small Home network administrator should be able to do EVERYTHING !

    Just another reason to buy a MAC next time, I guess

  21. A HARVEY Says:
    February 26th, 2009 at 10:24 am

    This procedure worked perfectly for me !

    I right clicked on the link, Saved Link AS to my Desktop

    Deleted the appended .txt

    Left click, MS warning about lack of digital signature appears
    click on RUN,

    DONE. Then shift and right click to Take Ownership

    Thanks very much for this workaround

  22. Karen Says:
    February 27th, 2009 at 6:32 pm

    Hey Xam – I wanted to say thanks. I meant to write before. I did what you recommended, safe mode with networking, deleted the file then ran some programs to clean it out, and the problem was resolved. Thank you!

  23. Jamie Says:
    April 17th, 2009 at 1:44 am

    I just want to say that this 100% works and if your having problems downloading the reg file use Internet Explorer (i was having trouble with firefox)

    thanks for this! an issue that has annoyed me for months!

  24. mohamed Says:
    May 5th, 2009 at 6:58 am

    thank u veryyyy much

    it works well

    i love this website

  25. Ryan Says:
    May 5th, 2009 at 8:16 pm

    do i need to restart after i put in the registry code?? i dont see an option “take ownership” when i right-click the file

  26. Another Ryan Says:
    May 19th, 2009 at 11:41 pm

    After at least two hours of searching, I found this and it works excellent. Just follow the directions and yes, you have to restart then press shift while you right click and the option to take ownership will appear

  27. xnet Says:
    May 29th, 2009 at 7:14 pm

    saveddd me !!!!

  28. ray ray Says:
    July 16th, 2009 at 12:21 am

    Like others, I have spent hours trying to solve this problem and scouring the net for solutions since Microsoft doesn’t even address it. I downloaded and installed the reg file and at first was dismayed that it didnt work for me like it had for others here. I then tried it under safe mode and it worked!! I want to thank you for this fix!

  29. Danny Says:
    July 16th, 2009 at 5:31 pm

    Awesome.. Very nice!

  30. Jake Says:
    August 31st, 2009 at 2:09 pm

    Hey im still having problems.
    im trying to exract a zipped file and only one of the files in it wont let me exract. this take ownership didnt work i think because its a zipped file. ive tryed everything. i need help

    thanks a million

  31. Another Karen Says:
    September 9th, 2009 at 12:35 pm

    Just had to say thanks! Works as advertised.:) Just remember to restart.

  32. Manuel Baez Says:
    October 8th, 2009 at 11:43 pm

    WOoooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!
    Man Thaaaaaaaaanks!!!!
    You’re Awesooooooome!!!!
    i was crazy about this, i couldn’t open any song, neigther move it!!
    that helped me a looooooooooooooooot!!!!
    Thank You maaaaaaan!!!
    You’re The Beeest!!!!!
    Wooooooo!
    My song are Baaack!!!! :D :D :D :) :) :) :)
    (^.^) (^_^) Thanks! :D

  33. Kaidox Says:
    October 23rd, 2009 at 9:27 pm

    WOW Work fine for me under windows 7 64 bits , i was not able to copy files on certain directory in my external drive, the antivirus was off, the ACL was off in control panel under user and the drive was share for all users, SO i download your files Download Take_Ownership.reg and i right click merge on your file Take_Ownership.reg it install by itself into my registry it also change the right click option , in my computer where i can see all my drive i did right click and Take_Ownership on my external drive letter E: . et voila i can copy anything now. tks you very much !

  34. Kaidox Says:
    October 23rd, 2009 at 9:35 pm

    Correcrtion *** WOW Work fine for me under windows 7 64 bits , i was not able to copy files in certain directory in my external drive, the antivirus and firewall was off, the ACL was off in control panel under user and the drive was share for all users, SO i download your files Download Take_Ownership.reg, after the download i right click merge on the file and it install by itself into my registry it also change the right click option.i hold Shift and the right click of my mouse and i choosed the option Take_Ownership, i perform this action on my directory MOVIES in my external drive letter E: . et voila i can copy anything now. tks you very much !

  35. Vikesh shetty Says:
    November 15th, 2009 at 1:31 am

    thank u, u solved my problem…………u r excellent

  36. Satheesh Chakravarthi Says:
    December 28th, 2009 at 3:51 am

    Thank you very much…it worked.

    With kind regards,
    Satheesh C.

  37. Dado Says:
    January 13th, 2010 at 1:13 pm

    Yup! WORKS!!! Looked everywhere, and this works!!

    Right click the file, go to save file as, save it on your PC. Change extension to .reg (open windows explorer, go to tools/folder options/view/unselect hide extensions for known file types, this way you can see extension on your file, change it from .TXT to .REG) , click on the file, go on RUN, and then don’t forget to press SHIFT while right clicking the file you want to take ownership of. So Shift+right click the file you wannt to delete/move/ect..go to TAKE OWNERSHIP and you’re done!

    Cheers, and thank you for this great script!!!
    MAN YOU ROCK! :)

  38. Jeremy Says:
    May 1st, 2010 at 6:58 pm

    This is the most helpful page I have encountered. Great job!!!

  39. Mapua-Makati Says:
    May 8th, 2010 at 9:42 am

    Thanks man!! it really works

  40. Sana Says:
    June 14th, 2010 at 5:02 am

    thanks man i’m realy surprised :-)

  41. anonymus111 Says:
    August 13th, 2010 at 3:22 pm

    thanks worked perfectly on win 7 64-bit !! the only working solution i found :)

  42. Phil McCool Says:
    September 10th, 2010 at 11:13 am

    Thank you.

    Yes this works – right click link – ‘save as’ to desktop – make sure you set save to all files rather than txt. If file saves with .txt at end – just delete the .txt part – the .reg is what you want. Open on desktop and it will self install.

    Allow if UAC asks

    In Windows explorer make sure you shift-right click in main window – not just in left hand panel – and you will see the Take Ownership option.

    Works a treat – thanks again.

  43. Jonathan Says:
    October 13th, 2010 at 1:12 am

    Thank you so much for posting this, I have been searching for this answer for the better part of an hour!

  44. Jon Says:
    March 19th, 2011 at 1:17 pm

    Thanks worked a treat. (to download it simply right click on the blue coloured “Download Take_Ownership.reg” or just click on it and right it to the reg.

    Note run an antivirus scan on ur PC afterwards as you should allways when installing things on it.

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