What should I do? My folder keeps reverting to read-only in Windows. Are you juggling with the same issue? If yes, you have landed at the right place where you can get the tips to solve this problem. Many people have encountered the same problem, and highly likely the reason could be the windows upgrade. Before moving ahead with the simplest solutions for this problem, it is crucial to understand the read-only feature and the reason behind why these folders keep reverting to read-only. So, keep reading!
Tell Me About the Read-only Characteristic in OS
It is a characteristic of the Operating System that allows you or a bunch of users to view and read the file. This attribute restrains you from doing any changes, edits, and renaming. You are not allowed to make changes without explicit permission.
As per the issue reported by users, some documents automatically return to read-only status, and the users find the document in an uneditable format.
What is the Reason Behind My Folders Reverting to Read-only?
Well, the reason behind it might be the protection of the file’s integrity. Moreover, when you repeatedly get the folder in an uneditable format, it is due to the following causes.
1. Account Permissions
This may be due to the change in account permissions without your acknowledgment. This type of thing usually happens.
2. Windows Upgrade
Sometimes, while upgrading to a newer version, your account settings change automatically. In such cases, you need to alter the changes that cause such issues with your folders.
So, now you are well versed with how these reverting happens then solve the issue by changing the account permissions. If you are looking for easy solutions, keep reading till the end.
How to Fix the Issues of Folders that Show Read-only Error
Let’s start with Method 1
1. Disable the folder’s control access
To protect files from edits and changes by third-party, we enable control access. However, in this case, it is required to disable this controlled access feature.
- In the first step, you need to press Windows key + S type “Windows Security”. On the next tap to “Windows Security”.
- On the left side, choose Virus and threat Protection option.
- Now choose “manage settings”, in the Virus and threat protection window. A new window will open, having a lot of options.
- Move further by choosing “managed controlled folder access”.
- From here, turn off the access.
- Restart your device
Now you can recheck by opening the folder again that was opening with this error. The highly-likely chances are that it will be in editable format, otherwise, there are many other ways too. Continue reading for more!
Jumping to 2nd Method
2. Run as Administrator /Modification of the Folder
Change or modify the characteristics that are creating such a fuss. Log in as a guest or admin. Sometimes, you have multiple accounts on your laptop. In such cases, you need to come in as admin. You can follow the below steps to try this method.
- First, run the command prompt on your PC. Type command prompts on the window search bar, and you will get the result. select “Run as administrator”
- As you open the command prompt, type the below-mentioned command: net user administrator/ active: ye
- You will soon be logged in as an administrator when this command executes. (It won’t take time).
After all, this, try to open the folder and review if the issue has been resolved. Keep checking, and if it is not helping you fix the reverting issue then try the other method.
3. Change the Folder Attribute
In the previous step, you learned how to come in an admin. Now when you log in as admin, you get restrained from some activities like accessing a bunch of files. At that time, the problematic folder or the existing attributes get blamed. You can follow the below-mentioned steps in those cases.
- Once you get the command prompt window, type the code/command there. You can do changes in the code according to your folder’s name. For example, if your file name is “sample”, you can incorporate the changes in the code by changing the folder name to attrib -r +s \<path>\sampl
- With this command in execution, the read-only attribute will change to a system attribute.
- Now, with this, you can again check the file to see if you freed yourself from this issue.
In other cases, when that attribute does not function appropriately, you are free to withdraw the system attribute. change it with the code in the image below
Method 4: Modifying Drive Permissions
Well, you can face the same issues even after launching the new Windows Operating System. This issue has a solution, you can change the drive permissions and modify them. First, test it out.
- Choose where your folder is and right-click on it. Click on Properties. After clicking on properties, tap above on the security tab, and from there, select your username.
- Click the Edit button below.
- You will see a new window popping up. It will showcase permissions for that folder. Click the checkbox beside the “Full Control”. It permits you to view, edit, and modify the folder which has issues.
- Now, save these changes by clicking “ok”.
Note: Look at the steps for enabling inheritance.
When you need to do the changes in a folder, you need to inherit it. For enabling permission, go to the “C” drive. After installation of windows, it remains in C drive by default.
- Open the Users folder.
- As you open the user folder, click on the username and tap to select its properties.
- Above, you will see the security tab, select it, and tap on advanced.
- You will find “Enable Inheritance”
Change the settings by enabling it!
5. Immobilize Antivirus Software
You need to disable the third-party software launched on your PC. Third-party software has no guarantee and can be a threat to your PC. It can be a reason for getting this issue again.
1 Go to settings just after you choose the antivirus icon and from there disable it.
2. Now after this, restart your PC and again check your files and folders.
You guys would be relieved, if any one of the above did not work, then this will do your task definitely. Anyways, look at it.
6. Run DSIM and SFC Scans
If your problem did not solve with any of the above-share methods, running these scans is another way of solving the issue. To do that, follow the below steps:
- Run your command prompt as an administrator.
- Type SFC/scannow in your command prompt and hit enter. This command will run, and now you need to run a DISM scan.
- For running the DISM command, you need to copy the below-written commands in your command prompt.
DISM.exe/Online / Cleanup-image /Scanhealth
DISM.exe/Online / Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
DISM.exe/Online / Cleanup-image /startcomponentcleanup
Conclusion
The intention was to make you aware of the solutions, and we feel that guide was simple and helped you to fix the folder’s issue of reverting to read-only on Windows. However, it is next to impossible that the issue won’t get resolved, but still, if it does not, you can try a third-party tool. It is just a suggestion, but the steps mentioned will for sure fix the problems. At last, if you find any other method or a simpler way, or we left something, you can always share that with us.
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