How to Restore Default Permissions in Windows 10

Learn how to restore the default permissions in Windows 10 if you accidentally changed them and caused some problems with your system.

Windows 10 is a powerful operating system that allows users to customize many aspects of its functionality. However, sometimes users may change some settings that they are not supposed to, such as the permissions of system files and folders. This can cause various problems, such as errors, crashes, or security issues. In this article, we will explain how to restore the default permissions in Windows 10 using different methods.

What are permissions and why are they important?

Permissions are rules that determine who can access, modify, or execute files and folders on a computer. Permissions are assigned to users, groups, or special accounts, such as the system or the administrator. Permissions are important for maintaining the security and integrity of the system, as well as the privacy and ownership of the data. For example, permissions can prevent unauthorized users from accessing sensitive information, deleting important files, or installing malicious software.

How to change permissions in Windows 10?

There are several ways to change permissions in Windows 10, depending on the level of control and complexity that you need. Some of the most common methods are:

Method 1: Using the Properties dialog box

You can right-click on a file or folder, select Properties, and then go to the Security tab. There you can see the current permissions for different users and groups, and edit them by clicking on the Edit button. You can also add or remove users or groups, and change the inheritance settings.

Method 2: Using the Command Prompt

You can use the command-line tool icacls to change permissions for files and folders. You can run this tool as an administrator by typing cmd in the Start menu, right-clicking on the Command Prompt, and selecting Run as administrator. The syntax of the icacls command is:

icacls <file or folder> /grant[:r] <user or group>:(<permission>)

For example, to grant full control to the user John for the file C:\test.txt, you can type:

icacls C:\test.txt /grant John:(F)

You can also use the * wildcard to apply the command to all files and subfolders in a folder. For example, to grant read-only permission to the group Users for the folder C:\test and its contents, you can type:

icacls C:\test\* /grant Users:(R)

You can use the following letters to specify the permissions:

• F: Full control
• M: Modify
• RX: Read and execute
• R: Read
• W: Write
• D: Delete

You can also use the following modifiers to change the behavior of the command:

• /grant:r: Replace the existing permissions with the new ones
• /inheritance:r: Remove the inherited permissions from the parent folder
• /inheritance:e: Enable the inheritance of permissions from the parent folder
• /t: Apply the command to all subfolders and files

Method 3: Using the PowerShell

You can use the PowerShell scripting language to change permissions for files and folders. You can run PowerShell as an administrator by typing powershell in the Start menu, right-clicking on the Windows PowerShell, and selecting Run as administrator. The syntax of the PowerShell commands to change permissions is:

$acl = Get-Acl <file or folder>
$accessRule = New-Object System.Security.AccessControl.FileSystemAccessRule(<user or group>,<permission>,<inheritance>,<propagation>,<type>)
$acl.SetAccessRule($accessRule)
Set-Acl <file or folder> $acl

For example, to grant full control to the user John for the file C:\test.txt, you can type:

$acl = Get-Acl C:\test.txt
$accessRule = New-Object System.Security.AccessControl.FileSystemAccessRule("John","FullControl","None","None","Allow")
$acl.SetAccessRule($accessRule)
Set-Acl C:\test.txt $acl

You can use the following values to specify the permissions:

• FullControl
• Modify
• ReadAndExecute
• Read
• Write

You can use the following values to specify the inheritance:

• None: No inheritance
• ContainerInherit: Inherit to subfolders
• ObjectInherit: Inherit to files
• ContainerInherit, ObjectInherit: Inherit to subfolders and files

You can use the following values to specify the propagation:

• None: No propagation
• InheritOnly: Propagate only to the inherited objects
• NoPropagateInherit: Propagate only to the direct children
• InheritOnly, NoPropagateInherit: Propagate only to the inherited direct children

You can use the following values to specify the type:

• Allow: Grant the permission
• Deny: Deny the permission

How to restore default permissions in Windows 10?

If you accidentally changed the permissions of some system files or folders, and caused some problems with your Windows 10, you may want to restore the default permissions. There are different methods to do this, depending on the scope and severity of the issue. Some of the most common methods are:

Method 1: Using the System File Checker

You can use the System File Checker tool to scan and repair the corrupted or modified system files. You can run this tool as an administrator by typing cmd in the Start menu, right-clicking on the Command Prompt, and selecting Run as administrator. The syntax of the System File Checker command is:

sfc /scannow

This command will scan all the system files and replace the corrupted or modified ones with the original versions from the Windows image. This may take some time, and you may need to restart your computer after the process is completed.

Method 2: Using the Reset Permissions tool

You can use the Reset Permissions tool to restore the default permissions for the system files and folders. This tool is a portable executable file that does not require installation. You can run this tool as an administrator by right-clicking on the file and selecting Run as administrator. The tool will display a list of system files and folders that have the default permissions stored in the Windows image. You can select the ones that you want to restore, and click on the Reset button. The tool will apply the default permissions to the selected files and folders. You may need to restart your computer after the process is completed.

Method 3: Using the System Restore

You can use the System Restore feature to restore your system to a previous state, before you changed the permissions. You can access the System Restore feature by typing recovery in the Start menu, and selecting Recovery options. Then, you can click on the Open System Restore button, and follow the instructions to choose a restore point. The System Restore feature will undo the changes that you made to the system files and settings, including the permissions. You may need to restart your computer after the process is completed.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Question: What are the default permissions for the C:\ drive in Windows 10?

Answer: The default permissions for the C:\ drive in Windows 10 are:

• SYSTEM: Full control
• Administrators: Full control
• Users: Read and execute, List folder contents, Read
• Authenticated Users: Create folders, Append data
• CREATOR OWNER: Full control

Question: How can I backup and restore the permissions of a file or folder in Windows 10?

Answer: You can backup and restore the permissions of a file or folder in Windows 10 using the icacls command. To backup the permissions, you can use the following syntax:

icacls <file or folder> /save <backup file>

For example, to backup the permissions of the folder C:\test to the file C:\test.acl, you can type:

icacls C:\test /save C:\test.acl

To restore the permissions, you can use the following syntax:

icacls <file or folder> /restore <backup file>

For example, to restore the permissions of the folder C:\test from the file C:\test.acl, you can type:

icacls C:\test /restore C:\test.acl

Summary

In this article, we have explained how to restore the default permissions in Windows 10 using different methods. We have also explained what are permissions and why are they important, how to change permissions in Windows 10, and some FAQs related to the topic. We hope that this article has helped you to solve your problem with the permissions in Windows 10.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. The methods described in this article may not work for all situations and may have some risks or side effects. You should always backup your data and create a system restore point before making any changes to your system. You should also consult a qualified IT professional if you are not sure about the steps or the consequences of the methods. We are not responsible for any damage or loss that may result from following the instructions in this article.