Can't create a new folder, Copy or delete files in Desktop without admin rights

tharinnduru1 · Jul 23, 2021

I am the only user on my computer and logged in as the administrator, but when I need to create or delete some folders/files it says I need administrator permission. this problem only appears in desktop

xrobwx71 · Jul 23, 2021

So, it does not happen in any other place but on the Desktop? For instance, in the documents folder, you can create, delete files fine?

If you go into Safe Mode, does it still present the same issue?

Digerati · Jul 23, 2021

This might simply be normal. I see this often too and my account is an admin account. It is just a verification and extra security feature.

The question really is, what happens if you click "Continue"? If you still cannot gain access, then there might be a problem.

x BlueRobot · Jul 23, 2021

Have you changed your UAC settings at all?

britechguy · Jul 23, 2021

Unless UAC settings were "bumped up" in some way, that behavior is definitely not typical, even for a standard account if one is operating on one's own desktop.

My standard first advice, and using a Command Prompt or Power Shell session with admin privilege: Using SFC (System File Checker) and DISM (Deployment Imaging Servicing and Management) to Repair Windows 8 & 10

FreeBooter · Jul 23, 2021

It looks like you have changed the Desktop folder permission, check your user account and administrators have full permission for the Desktop folder.

tharinnduru1 · Jul 24, 2021

xrobwx71 said:
So, it does not happen in any other place but on the Desktop? For instance, in the documents folder, you can create, delete files fine?

If you go into Safe Mode, does it still present the same issue?

yep i can create folders and copy or delete folders/files in documents with out this issue. this only in desktop folder

tharinnduru1 · Jul 24, 2021

x BlueRobot said:
Have you changed your UAC settings at all?

No

tharinnduru1 · Jul 24, 2021

FreeBooter said:
It looks like you have changed the Desktop folder permission, check your user account and administrators have full permission for the Desktop folder.

I have full permission

tharinnduru1 · Jul 24, 2021

I create a new user account on my computer to see if the same issue will occur while on a different profile, and this issue not appears on that account

tharinnduru1 · Jul 24, 2021

britechguy said:
Unless UAC settings were "bumped up" in some way, that behavior is definitely not typical, even for a standard account if one is operating on one's own desktop.

My standard first advice, and using a Command Prompt or Power Shell session with admin privilege: Using SFC (System File Checker) and DISM (Deployment Imaging Servicing and Management) to Repair Windows 8 & 10

i try both but nothing happened

xrobwx71 · Jul 24, 2021

Under the old user account:
First, create a restore point by hitting Start and typing, create a restore point, click the create a restore point option that pops up. When it opens, look at the bottom of the window and click the create button, name it whatever you wish, and let it finish.

Open an elevated command prompt by clicking Start, type cmd, CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER. An elevated command prompt should open, in this command prompt copy and paste this:
icacls "C:\Users\yourusername\Desktop" /reset /t /c /l Replace yourusername with your computers user name. Hit enter.

Let us know how it goes.

tharinnduru1 · Jul 24, 2021

xrobwx71 said:
Under the old user account:
First, create a restore point by hitting Start and typing, create a restore point, click the create a restore point option that pops up. When it opens, look at the bottom of the window and click the create button, name it whatever you wish, and let it finish.

Open an elevated command prompt by clicking Start, type cmd, CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER. An elevated command prompt should open, in this command prompt copy and paste this:
icacls "C:\Users\yourusername\Desktop" /reset /t /c /l Replace yourusername with your computers user name. Hit enter.

Let us know how it goes.

this method solved my problem

. can you explain to me what cause this problem

britechguy · Jul 24, 2021

The icacls command is used in many different ways, depending on the switches, but it always works on the Access Control Lists (ACLs) [think of it as access permissions] on files and folders.

The command that @xrobwx71 offered says: For the folder specified (your desktop folder, in the example) reset the ACL to what it would have been as the default when windows initially created it. And if it's your user desktop folder you would have had carte blanche for files and folders on the desktop.

/T - Do this for any folders beneath the specified folder, so if you have folders on your desktop with items or more folders in them, all of those will have their ACLs reset

/C - Continue this action even if you hit a file or folder where an error occurs. This essentially means skip the error file and keep going with the rest.

/L - If you encounter symbolic links (better known under windows as Shortcuts) apply the change to the shortcut itself rather than the file it's the shortcut to.

I doubt that anyone can give a definitive answer as to the root cause and I'm not even going to hazard a guess.

xrobwx71 · Jul 24, 2021

Thanks @britechguy

@tharinnduru1 Without sitting in front of your PC with almost unlimited time to run tests, I wouldn't be able to tell you the "what".

I can stab at some guesses.

This is not meant to be accusatory as you could have done it without knowing it.

1. You or some other user fiddled with the permissions of that folder. 2. Some program you've installed has fiddled with the permissions of that folder behind the scenes, possibly needing access to certain permissions of that folder and had a flag to revert but it reverted to a higher standard than is the default.

tharinnduru1 · Jul 26, 2021

thanks to all of you for help

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