When you are using Windows 7/9/10 or any version of Windows, you may need to delete files and folders. A new security feature prevents folder deletions from being made while logged in as a regular user and shows, “You’ll need to provide administrator permission to delete this folder.” To copy, remove, rename, or change settings, users need to be granted administrative access.
And also there are various options for resolving this problem are discussed here, some of which are detailed in this article. Permission prevents Unauthorized users, including guest users and external sources, from accessing system data. A few ways to fix this are:
- On your search bar, type the command prompt and select “run as administrator.“
- Change user account controls to fix UAC
- Activate inbuilt administrator
- Take ownership of the folder and use safe mode for recovery
On the command prompt window, type net user administrator /active: yes and press Enter. Perform a reboot, log in to the “administrator” account, and try to delete the file. If that didn’t work, temporarily disable your antivirus and try again. A question may arise, “How to delete as administrator.” We can jump into solutions for this problem.
Fix: It Looks Like You Don’t Have Permission To Save Changes To This File
Possible Causes for the Issue Administrator Permission
Here are the Possible causes for Windows 10 needing administrator permission to delete files and other Operating System versions.
- Strong Security.
- Administrative Access.
- Malware issues or attacks.
- Admin Password Security.
Also See: Fix: Your IT Administrator Has Limited Access
Methods for the issue “You’ll Need To Provide Administrator Permission To Delete this Folder.”
Here are a few methods for the above problem:
Change User Account Control Settings
Due to the UAC problem, you may receive “you’ll need to provide administrator permission to delete this folder,” sometimes, you may even need administrator permission to delete files from Windows 7/8/10.
It is pretty easy to fix UAC settings because you only have to disable the User Account Control settings option on your computer.
- Firstly, to open the Run Dialog Box, press Win+R on your PC. Once the Dialog box opens, type UserAccountControlSettings.
- After typing, you will see the UAC options. Click ok after adjusting the slide, never to notify. Once your User account control is turned off, try deleting the folder. This setting will give you complete control over your system and allow you to delete the desired folder.
Activate the Built-In Administrator Account (Command Prompt)
Using an elevated Command Prompt gives you access to the built-in administrator account in Windows. An elevated Command Prompt is just a version of the Windows command-line program with administrator privileges.
Follow the below steps to eradicate the issue “need permission to delete folder.”
- Firstly, Ctrl+Shift+Enter will open CMD Prompt in elevated mode, or You can also use the start and look for the command prompt and run it as Administrator.
- Secondly, After opening Command Prompt, type the following command line, “net user administrator /active”. And then, “net user administrator [SetPasswordHere]” is the following command line to enter.
- Once done, replace the old password with the new one when you open your system.
- Sometimes corrupted files can not let you delete the folders; indeed, in that way, this method can help.
Note: Try this method after all the other techniques mentioned in this article.
Take Ownership of the Folder.
Also, many may think about getting permission to delete a file for which you need administrator permission, and for most people, folder access may be denied. By the below steps, you can take ownership of the desired file.
- Select the folder you want to delete, then right-click and select properties.
- Now select the Security tab and click Advanced Settings.
- Select the Change at the front of the Owner file and the Advanced button.
- Enter your username in the field. Enter the object name to select. Select Check Names and then click on OK.
- Check the box, Replace the owner on sub containers and objects, and click on Apply and OK.
- Click on the Advanced button again.
- Navigate to the Auditing tab and then click on Add.
- Click on Select a Principal to add your account. Enter your desired username in the Enter the object to select field and click OK. Check Full control and save changes.
This method seems quite complicated, but do follow the steps with the utmost attention. But it certainly solves the issue, for you’ll need to provide administrator permission to delete this folder.
Use Safe Mode
To delete a folder without admin privileges, restart your computer safely. Safe Mode is designed for troubleshooting problems with your operating system. As a result, you have enhanced permissions without running non-essential processes. You can delete folders from the computer by removing data material from it.
- Firstly, press the Windows key + S and type recovery. Select Recovery options.
- Secondly, In the Advanced options section, select the Restart Now button.
- Once you go to the panel, click on Troubleshoot.
- Head to the Advanced options.
- Select Startup Settings, and once you select it, click on Restart.
- Press F5 or number 5 to select Enable Safe Mode with Networking.
- While in Safe Mode, navigate to the file you want to delete and try executing the operation.
- Restart your computer to exit Safe Mode.
Also, See: Fix: Mac Won’t Start In Safe Mode? [Complete Guide]
Use SFC Scan
System File Checker (SFC) is a Windows command-line utility program that checks your system for damaged files and repairs them. You can use this method to restore missing or corrupted system files.
- Firstly, to open the Run Dialog Box, press Win+R on your PC. To run the Command Prompt with administrator properties, type cmd and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter.
- To run a full system scan, type the following command and press Enter: sfc /scannow.
And also, Leaving the command prompt window open is a recommended option. The scan could take 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the performance of your system. Restart your system once the scan is finished.
Can’t Delete the Folder even though you are the Administrator?
The fix is to take ownership of the folder, as explained in the above methods. If you cannot do that, it might be a problem with the group policy and the restrictions.
The solution is to change the local policy of your account and allow you to edit the details of the necessary files.
See Also: {Solved} Fix We Can’t Sign Into Your Account In Windows 10
FAQ’s
How Can I Ask The Administrator For Permission To Delete A File On Windows 10?
Under Accounts and Family & Other People, select a Change account type. Confirm the change by clicking OK. If you have administrator rights, you can delete the file.
How Do You Fix Administrator Permissions?
Right-click on the folder and choose Properties. Next, click the Security tab, then click the Advanced button. Lastly, click the Change Permissions button at the bottom left.
Can programs be stopped from asking for administrator permission?
Expand the Security category in the System settings. In the Security & Maintenance section of the settings, click the Change settings button. Please scroll down to the Windows SmartScreen section until you see it. To make these changes, you’ll need administrator privileges.
Is There A Way To Handle File And Folder Permissions In Windows?
If you want to change the permissions of a user, select that user and then click the Edit button. You can access these permissions by right-clicking a file or folder, selecting Properties, choosing the Security tab, and clicking the Edit button.
Windows has how many types of user accounts?
Windows has two categories of accounts: One is the administrator, and the other is standard user accounts.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are several methods identified in the above document that you can use to solve the problem. And the possible causes of the error are listed as well, which you can cross-check and better understand why your PC is experiencing issues.
Mauro Huculak: Technical writer specializing in Windows 10 and related technologies. Microsoft MVP with extensive IT background and certifications.