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FIX: Destination folder access denied in Windows 10/11

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Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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After you upgraded to Windows 10, Windows 8 or Windows 8.1, you might get the messageDestination folder access deniedwhen you are trying tocopy a file or folder either from a USB stick, from an external hard drive or just from a simple CD or DVD to your C: partition in your Windows.

The message Destination folder access denied usually appears when you don’t have the necessaryadministrator rightsto copy a file or folder to the C: partition or to the partition your Windows 10, operating system is installed in.

In some cases however it will let you copy and paste any file or folder but only in specific paths in your C: drive.

How do I fix the Destination folder access denied error?

How do I fix the Destination folder access denied error?

If you get this error message in your Windows 10 operating system it is usually followed by the messageYou’ll need to provide administrator permission to copy to this folderbut if you click(left click) on the Continue box it will paste your data to that specific place.

Seeing that it is quite annoying to click on Continue every time you copy/paste your data to the C: partition we will see below how to do a permanent fix on this.

1. Check your administrator rights

2. Check your program permissions

3. Use Command Prompt to take ownership of the drive

You can also use a quick CMD command to take ownership of the problematic files, folder or even drive.

For example, here’s how you can take ownership of computer drives so that you can freely copy, move and change any files located on the respective drive:

So there you have it, these three methods will help you fix theDestination folder access deniedissue on Windows 10, 8 or 8.1. Now you can use your device freely without any limitations.

More about the topics:windows 10

Ivan Jenic

Windows Hardware Expert

Passionate about all elements related to Windows and combined with his innate curiosity, Ivan has delved deep into understanding this operating system, with a specialization in drivers and driver troubleshooting.

When he’s not tackling diverse driver-related problems, Ivan enjoys watching good movies and spending time hiking with his family and friends.

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Ivan Jenic

Windows Hardware Expert

Ivan has delved deep into understanding the Windows OS, with a specialization in drivers and driver troubleshooting.