Windows 10: Cannot change READ ONLY file attributes using Administrator Account

Why is it not possible to remove read only from folder from an Administrator account?

:)

 

Change file attribute to 'unhide'

Hello Walt,

Thank you for posting your concern in Microsoft Community and welcome to the Windows 10 Family.

I suggest you to follow the below steps to change the attribute of any file/folder to unhide.

Step A: Show Hidden files

1. Open Windows Explorer(win logo key+E) or My computer.

2. Now click on View on top of the window.
3. Untick ‘Hidden items’ in the options.

Step B: Change file attribute

1. Once the hidden file is located, right click on the file/folder you want to change the attribute for.

2. Go to ‘properties’, untick the box facing hidden.

3. Now, Click on ‘apply’ and then ‘ok’.

Hope it helps.

Thank You.

 

Can't change file Attributes as Administrator, Windows 10

I have a brand new DELL Win10 laptop. I have the only user account and I am administrator.

I am trying to change the file properties on a folder under C:\Program Files (x86), specifically, removing the Read-only Attribute. I un-click the Read-only box and hit 'Apply'. A dialog box opens: "Apply to folder, subfolder and files" is selected, and
I hit 'OK'. Another dialog box opens: "Access Denied. You need to provide administrator permission to change these attributes. Click Continue to complete this operation." I click Continue (it has a little shield next to it) and the dialog box disappears. I
'OK' the Properties dialog box, but checking file properties again, the Read-only Attribute remains.

Under Properties/Security, 'Administrators' have Full control on this file, but 'Users' do not have Modify or Write permission.

I realize that numerous persons have presented this same issue, but I haven't found a solution that works for me. I've also tried using the command prompt:

> attrib -r +s <file path>

but I get "Access denied". It seems that I'm not being recognized as administrator. I have no problems modifying file properties of files that I've created or downloaded myself (.doc, .xls, .jpg, etc). I am at a loss because the app I'm running which created
these files/folders needs to modify them.

ScottS

 

Read Only Attribute in Win 10

Hi Alexandru,

Thank you for posting on Microsoft Communities.

I will be glad to help you with the issue you have with the computer. I understand the frustration when things don't work the way it should.

You may experience any of the following symptoms:

• You cannot view or change the Read-only or System attributes of a folder by using the
  Properties dialog box for the folder. For example, you may experience the following symptoms:
  • When you view the General tab of a folder's Properties dialog box, the
    Read-only check box is not available, and there is no check box to change the System attribute.
    
  • You click to clear or click to select the Read-only check box on the
    General tab of a folder's Properties dialog box. When you click
    OK or Apply, you receive the following message:
    Confirm Attribute Changes
    
    You have chosen to make the following attribute changes:
    
    unset read-only
    
    Do you want to apply this change to this folder only, or do you want to apply it to all subfolders and files as well?
    If you click Apply changes to this folder only, the Read-only attribute is changed for all the files in the folder. However, the Read-only attribute is not changed for the folder, its subfolders, or any files in its subfolders. If you click
    Apply changes to this folder, subfolders, and files, the Read-only attribute is changed for all files in the folder and all files in the subfolders. However, the Read-only attribute is not changed for the folder or its subfolders.
• Some programs may display error messages when you try to save files to a folder that uses the Read-only or System attribute. As a result, these programs may not be able to save files to the folder.

To work around this problem, use the Attrib command at a command prompt (Cmd.exe) to view or to remove the Read-only or the System attributes of folders. To view or to remove the Read-only or the System attributes of folders
Warning If you remove the Read-only or System attribute from a folder, it may appear as a ordinary folder and some customizations may be lost. For example, Windows customizes the Fonts folder and provides a special folder view that permits you
to hide variations, such as bold and italic. It also permits you to change the folder's view settings in ways that are specific to fonts. If you remove the Read-only and System attributes of the Fonts folder, these customized view settings are not available.
For folders that you have customized by using the Customize tab of the folder's
Properties dialog box, the folder icon and other other customizations may be lost when you remove the Read-only attribute.

If a program cannot save files to a folder with the Read-only attribute, such as My Documents, change the Read-only attribute to System by using the Attrib command at a command prompt.

Note If the Run command is not listed on the
Start menu, do the following: Click Start, click
All Programs, click Accessories, and then click
Run.

To remove the Read-only attribute and to set the System attribute, use the following command:

attrib -r +s drive:\<path>\<foldername>
For example, to remove the Read-only attribute and to set the System attribute for the C:\Test folder, use the following command:
attrib -r +s c:\test
Be aware that some programs may not operate correctly with folders for which the System attribute and the Read-only attribute are set. Therefore, use the following command to remove these attributes:
attrib -r -s c:\test

Hope this information is helpful. Please post in case you have any further issues, we will be glad to help you further.

Thank you.