How to Fix Folder Keeps Reverting to Read Only on Windows 10

If your folder keeps reverting to read-only it could be due to a recent Windows 10 upgrade. Many users have reported that when upgraded their system to Windows 10, they encountered this error. Read-only is a file/folder attribute which lets only a specific group of users read or edit the files or folder. This can get really infuriating, however, the fix is quite simple and easy but may differ depending on the scenario that caused it.

Generally, when you encounter such an issue, you can easily overcome it by unchecking the read-only attribute box found in the properties of the file/folder. However, this case is not that simple. You won’t be able to change the read-only attribute of the file/folder which gets annoying. Nevertheless, this article will teach you how to access your files/folders again — just follow through the instructions.

What causes the folder to revert to read-only on Windows 10?

This might be happening to you due to various reasons, nonetheless, the most generic ones are —

• Windows upgrade. If you’ve recently upgraded your system to Windows 10, this might be occurring due to that as your account permissions may have been altered.
• Account permissions. Sometimes, the error could be simply because of your account permissions which is the most common cause without you realizing it.

The possible and effective solutions for this problem are: –

Solution 1: Disabling Controlled Access

Before we try other technical solutions, we will first try to disable the Controlled Folder Access in your settings. This is a hotfix and you may proceed with other solutions if this doesn’t work for you.

1. Press and hold the “Windows Key + I” button to launch Windows Settings.
2. Once the Settings are opened, navigate to Update & Security and then click on Windows Security.
3. Now, under the Virus & threat protection settings, click on Manage settings. Virus & threat protection settings
4. Under Controlled folder access, select Manage Controlled folder access and switch the access to Off. Manage Controlled folder access to Off
5. Restart your computer completely and then check if the issue is resolved.

Solution 2: Login as an Administrator

To start off with the common mistake, if you have created multiple accounts on your system, make sure you are signed in as an administrator while accessing the file. The reason you are not able to read or edit the file/folder could be that the file/folder was created using an administrator account and you are trying to access it using a guest account or any other. Hence, before you move into the solutions mentioned below, make sure you are using the administrative account.

Solution 3: Changing the Attribute of the Folder

If you are logged in as an administrator and still unable to access the files, then in such a case, you’ll have to change the attribute of the file using the command prompt. To do this, follow the given instructions:

1. Press Winkey + X and select Command Prompt (Admin) from the list.
2. In order to remove the read-only attribute and set a new attribute, use the following command: Enter the command to remove Read-only Attribute

1. The above command will remove the read-only attribute of the file and change it to a system attribute. However, some files/folders do not operate properly in the system attribute so use the following command if you want to remove the system attribute:

Solution 4: Changing Permissions of the Drive

If you are facing this issue after upgrading your system to Windows 10, then changing the permissions of the drive could fix your problem. There have been several reports according to which the issue has been solved via this method. Here’s how to do it:

1. Right-click on the drive where your files/folders are located.
2. Select Properties.
3. Navigate to the Security tab. Local Disk Properties (Security)
4. Click Advanced and then select Change permissions. Select change permissions
5. Highlight your user and then click Edit. Highlight your user and click Edit
6. Select This folder, subfolders and files from the drop-down list.
7. Check the Full Control box under Basic Permissions. Check the Full Control Box
8. Click OK.

If you have more than one account on the system, then you’ll have to enable inheritance first. Here’s how to do it:

1. Go to your System drive (where your Windows is installed).
2. Go to the Users folder.
3. Right-click on your username and click Properties.
4. In the Security tab, click Advanced.
5. Hit Enable Inheritance. Highlight your user and click Enable Inheritance

Solution 5: Disabling your Third-party antivirus

If the error persists whenever your system restarts, it could be due to your third-party antivirus software. Your antivirus might be detecting the files as a threat and consequently, stopping you from accessing them. In such a case, you’ll have to disable your antivirus software, change the attributes of the files/folders as mentioned above and restart your system to see if the files/folders still revert to read-only. If they don’t, this means your antivirus is causing the issue and you should probably uninstall it.

Reverting from Windows 10 Restore Point is gone

Replies (5) 

I deliberately created a new restore point in Windows 8.1 before starting the Window 10 upgrade. I did not like what I saw in Windows 10 and immediately tried to revert to 8.1. The restore point I was counting on is gone, apparently, and none of the earlier ones are available either. It looks like the Windows 10 upgrade screwed up my 8.1 by destroying all restore points.

You don’t rollback using Restore Points, that’s why there are none.

You can’t have restore points in 10 for the now non-existent 8.1 after the upgrade.

Restore Points are for a particular operating system.

If you do not like Windows 10, there is inbuilt provision in Windows 10 for you to rollback to the previous Operating System within the first 30 days.

«You have a month to downgrade to Windows 8.1 or 7, depending what you upgraded from, if Windows 10 isn’t right for you»

«Going back to Windows 7 or Windows 8.1»

If you fail to do so within the first 30 days of upgrading, that option will be removed and you will either have to reinstall the original Operating System from the original Media, or from a System Image that you made of the original Operating System before doing the Upgrade to Windows 10.

Or you may have to follow these Methods to reinstall windows 8.1.

You can contact the Laptop/Computer manufacturer and order Recovery Media from them for a small cost.

Or create your own Recovery Media to do a clean install of Windows 8.1.

«Create installation media for Windows 8.1»

A similar Tutorial which may also assist you

«Create Installation Media for Windows 8.1»

In the first screen of this very simple wizard, you need to choose the following:

Language. English – en-us if you’re in the United States.

Edition. Windows 8.1 (Core), Windows 8.1 N, Windows 8.1 Pro, Windows 8.1 Pro N, or Windows 8.1 Single Language.

Architecture. 64-bit (x64 ) or 32-bit (x86).

» How to Create a Bootable USB or DVD with a Windows 8 or 8.1 ISO»

Warning

This will not work to install Windows 8 or 8.1 for UEFI. For that, see this tutorial below instead.

How to clean install:

» How to Do a Clean Install of Windows 8 or Windows 8.1″

Bill Smithers — Microsoft MVP July 2013 — Dec 2020

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It appears that I should have been more specific. This was the sequence of events: 8.1 is working fine with a program that I cannot re-install. I made a precautionary restore point in 8.1. I installed Windows 10, saw immediately that my program required a re-install, so I immediately reverted to 8.1. As soon as I re-opened 8.1, I found that my program was demanding a re-install. So I tried to use the restore point that I made before the upgrade (and it had been confirmed as successful when I made it), but 8.1 tells me I have no restore points. I have to conclude that the upgrade software destroyed the 8.1 restore point that I created as a precaution for this very scenario.

Thanks for your reply, except that it does not address my problem, at least not in a way that is apparent yet.

Was this reply helpful?

Sorry this didn’t help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback.

It appears that I should have been more specific. This was the sequence of events: 8.1 is working fine with a program that I cannot re-install. I made a precautionary restore point in 8.1. I installed Windows 10, saw immediately that my program required a re-install, so I immediately reverted to 8.1. As soon as I re-opened 8.1, I found that my program was demanding a re-install. So I tried to use the restore point that I made before the upgrade (and it had been confirmed as successful when I made it), but 8.1 tells me I have no restore points. I have to conclude that the upgrade software destroyed the 8.1 restore point that I created as a precaution for this very scenario.

Thanks for your reply, except that it does not address my problem, at least not in a way that is apparent yet.

I addressed your question:

You don’t rollback using Restore Points, that’s why there are none.

You can’t have restore points in 10 for the now non-existent 8.1 after the upgrade.

Restore Points are for a particular operating system.

So they are not going to be there when you rollback, are they?

They are gone with the upgrade.

That is why there is so many problens with rollback.

Users should make a system image before upgrading.

Bill Smithers — Microsoft MVP July 2013 — Dec 2020

reverting to windows 8.1 from windows 10

It wasn’t up to Microsoft to send an 8.1 DVD when you bought your HP; it was HP’s responsibility.

And they fulfilled their obligations to supply recovery media by putting a Recovery partition on your HD to reinstall 8.1 from.

You were supposed to make the 8.1 recovery media from that.

Upgrading to 10 would no doubt have corrupted that process.

You would have followed these HP steps to do a Recovery to Factory Settings (new condition).

Scroll down towards the lower part of the link for information on reset outside of Windows.

What you can do now is:

You can contact HP and order Recovery Media from them for a small cost.

Or download the Windows 8.1 ISO and make your own installation Media.

This should assist you.

«Create installation media for Windows 8.1»

A similar Tutorial which may also assist you

«Create Installation Media for Windows 8.1»

In the first screen of this very simple wizard, you need to choose the following:

Language. English – en-us if you’re in the United States.

Edition. Windows 8.1 (Core), Windows 8.1 N, Windows 8.1 Pro, Windows 8.1 Pro N, or Windows 8.1 Single Language.

Architecture. 64-bit (x64 ) or 32-bit (x86).

» How to Create a Bootable USB or DVD with a Windows 8 or 8.1 ISO»

Warning

This will not work to install Windows 8 or 8.1 for UEFI. For that, see this tutorial below instead.

How to clean install:

» How to Do a Clean Install of Windows 8 or Windows 8.1″

With Windows 8/8.1 The Product Key on preinstalled Operating Systems (HP, Acer, etc) is embedded in the BIOS in the Motherboard, so that the lost and/or worn C.O.A. Sticker problem is no more.

When you reinstall it will pick up the Product Key and activate the system automatically.

If it does not, follow these steps:

» How to Activate Windows 8 and 8.1 by Phone»

«Get help with activation errors»

«How to activate a Microsoft product by using Microsoft Product Activation Center»

This information may interest you if you do wish to keep a record of it:

«Windows 10 Embedded Product Key Tool»

«We’re proud to introduce the immediate release of our newest utility for Windows users: the NeoSmart Technologies Embedded Product Key Tool. Designed for users of Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10, our embedded product key tool will retrieve and display the Windows setup product key embedded in the BIOS or EFI, allowing you to store it for safe-keeping or use it to reinstall Windows with an official Windows setup image.»

Bill Smithers — Microsoft MVP July 2013 — Dec 2020