Folder Keeps Reverting to Read Only on Windows 10 due to improper permissions or a recent Windows 10 upgrade.

As part of our Server Management Sevices, we assist our clients to fix this error.

Today, let’s see how we tackle this.

Causes of ‘Folder Keeps Reverting to Read Only on Windows 10’

Generally, some folders/files will be read-only in order to protect file integrity. In this case, the problematic folder keeps returning the read-only status automatically, making them uneditable.

Major causes are:

• Windows upgrade

If we have recently upgraded our system to Windows 10, our account permissions may have been altered. Hence resulting in the error.

• Account permissions

Sometimes, the error could simply be our account permissions. It is a most common cause, without us realizing it.

[Still facing the error? Don’t worry. Follow these easy solutions provided by our Support Engineers.]

Solutions for ‘Folder Keeps Reverting to Read Only on Windows 10’

Usually, to fix this error, we have to log in to the system with an administrative account. Try to modify the folder/file from there. Once done, disable the antivirus and try it again.

• Disable the Controlled access

Control access protects our files from getting modified by any third-party application. Hence, to disable this access we follow these steps:

1. At first, press Windows key+S and type ‘Windows Security‘.
2. Then, click on the “Windows Security“.
3. After that, click on the ‘home icon’ and then click on the “Virus & threat protection“.
4. Scroll down in the Windows Security window to locate Virus & threat protection settings.
5. Then, click on the “Manage settings“.
6. After that, scroll down to find the ‘Controlled folder access’.
7. Then, click on the “Manage Controlled folder access“.
8. Switch the ‘Controlled folder access’ to “Off“.

Close the Windows Security window and reboot the computer.

• Modify the attribute of the problematic folder

We can modify the attribute of the problematic folder.

1. At first, press the Windows key+S keys together. Then, type “cmd” in the search box.
2. Then, right-click on the “Command Prompt” and click on the “Run as administrator“.
3. Once the terminal appears, paste this code, modify it according to our requirements, and hit Enter.

attrib -r +s drive:\<path>\<foldername>

Note- Replace ‘drive:\<path>\<foldername>‘ with the troublesome file/folder location on the system.

For instance, we have a file named ‘Test’ in the ‘C:\Users\Bob\Pictures\New folder’ location. So, the command will look like:

attrib -r +s C:\Users\Bob\Pictures\New folder\Test.txt

This will remove the read-only attribute from the file and attach a new default system attribute to the particular file.

Sometimes, changing the file attribute can create problems with some folders/files. Hence, to undo the changes to the file/folder attributes, follow this step:

Type and modify this command in the CMD terminal and press Enter.

attrib -r -s drive:\<path>\<foldername

This should discard the system attribute assigned with the previous command.

• Modify the Permissions of the drive

Another solution is to adjust the permission for the drive and test it out.

1. We, locate the drive where the file/folder is on our computer.
2. Then, right-click on the drive and click on “Properties“.
3. Click on the “Security” tab.
4. Next, click on “Advanced“.
5. Once the Advanced Security settings appear, click on the “Change Permission“.
6. Then, select the account from the list in ‘Permission Entries:’.
7. After that, click on “Edit“.
8. After this, click on the drop-down and choose “This folder, subfolders, and files“.
9. In the ‘Basic permissions:’ tick the box of “Full control“.
10. Click on “Apply” and “OK” to save this change.

Now, if we have multiple user accounts on our system, we have some additional steps to cover:

1. Press the Windows key+R.
2. Type “C:\Users” and click on “OK“.
3. In the Users folder, right-click on the other account (the account we are not using now) and click on “Properties“.
4. In the Properties window, click on the “Security” tab.
5. Then, click on “Advanced“.
6. In the Advanced Security settings click on “Enable inheritance“.
7. We have to save this change. Click on “Apply” and “OK“.

Check out the folder/file again.

• Run SFC and DISM scan checks

We can utilize the system file checker to repair the corrupt files on our system.

1. Press the Windows key+R.
2. Then, type this code and hit Enter.
   cmd
3. To run an SFC scan type this command and hit Enter to run a simple SFC scan.

   sfc /scannow

4. Running a DISM scan is a very easy process. To do so, copy-paste these commands one-by-one and then hit Enter.

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Scanhealth
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
DISM.exe /online /cleanup-image /startcomponentcleanup

Once all these checks are complete, close the terminal and restart the device.

• Log in as an Administrator

If we have created multiple accounts on our system, we need to make sure we are signed in as an administrator while accessing the file.

The reason we are not able to read or edit the file/folder could be that the file/folder was created using an administrator account and we are trying to access it using a guest account or any other.

• Disabling third-party antivirus

If the error persists whenever the system restarts, it could be due to any third-party antivirus software. The antivirus might be detecting the files as a threat and consequently, stopping us from accessing them.

In such a case, we’ll have to disable the antivirus software, change the attributes of the files/folders as mentioned above and restart the system to see if the files/folders still revert to read-only.

If they don’t, it means the antivirus is causing the issue and we should probably uninstall it.

[Does the issue continue to prevail? We are here for you!]

Conclusion

In short, if our folder keeps reverting to read-only it could be due to a recent Windows 10 upgrade or inadequacy in proper permissions.

Today, we saw some solutions that our Support Engineers follow to resolve this error.