[FIXED] ‘You don’t have permission to modify files in this network location’

Some Windows 10 users have recently reported running into the following message on their PCs: “You don’t have permission to modify files in this network location”. The message pops up when users try to save or make changes to certain files on their computers. If you are also bothered by this error and are wondering what to do if Windows 10 says you don’t have permission to save in this location, you are in the right place. In this post, we will cover several possible solutions for how you can solve the “You don’t have permission to modify files in this network location” error.

How to Get Rid Of “You Don’t Have Permission to Save in This Location” in Windows 10?

If you want to regain permission to save in a certain location on your Windows 10 PC, there are several things you can try. As there can be quite a few reasons behind the error, there also different options on how you may be able to solve it. You can try doing the following:

• Log out and log back into your account
• Grant Full Control of the error casing folder to Administrators
• Disable User Account Control
• Run the program as Administrator
• Turn off Protected Mode
• Stop sharing the folder
• Change the owner of the directory
• Run the Compatibility Troubleshooter
• Check Your Anti-malware Software
• An create a new directory and move all the problematic files there

As there are many solutions to try out, we suggest you start at the top and slowly make your way down the list. We’ve placed the simplest and quickest fixes at the top of the list. If these don’t work, move on to the more complicated options.

Fix One: Log out and Log Back into Your Account

The first and easiest thing to try first is to check if you are logged into the wrong account on your PC. This is a frequent mistake if you have several accounts on your computer. Here’s what to do:

• Go to the Start Menu and click your user profile icon.
• Select Sign out from the menu.
• Next, select the right user account and log back in.

Fix Two: Grant Full Control of the Error Casing Folder to Administrators

If you are running into the “you don’t have permission to save in this location error message” when trying to save files to a certain location, you may be able to get rid of the error by granting Full control to the Administrators group on your computer.

Here’s one important thing to note: changing security permissions on your PC can cause other system issues. This is why it’s important to be very careful and try not to modify security permissions of system directories and files. Here are the steps to take:

• Right-click the error-causing directory and select Properties from the context menu.
• Select the Security tab and click Edit.
• Choose Administrators from the menu and check the Full control option in the Allow column.
• (If the Full Control option is already checked, uncheck it first and then check it again).
• When done, click Apply and OK to save the changes you’ve made.
• Next, repeat all of  these steps for the Users group in the Security section if it is available.

After you’ve given Full control to the Administrators group, you should no longer be running into the error message and should be able to save files to this directory without any issues.

Fix Three: Disable User Account Control

User Account Control is a security feature on Windows 10 that will let you know when you are trying to perform an action that needs administrative privileges. While it’s a really useful security tool, it can often get in the way and, among other things, lead to the “you don’t have permission to save in this location error”. This is why disabling User Account Control can help. Here’s what to do:

• On your keyboard, use the Win + S key combo and enter your user account.
• Go to Change User Account Control settings.
• Move the slider all the way down till you reach the Never notify option and click OK to save the changes.

Once this is done, the User Account Control feature will be disabled. While this may be a

slight security risk, you should be able to get rid of the error message.

Fix Four: Run the program as an Administrator

You may also be running into the error if you are running an application without administrative privileges. In order to fix this, simply run the app as an administrator. Here’s how to do it:

• Locate the problematic application and right-click it.
• Choose Run as an administrator from the menu

Once you rub the program as an administrator, you should have no issues saving files to your chosen locations.

However, keep in mind that this is not a permanent fix. To make it permanent, you can set the program to always open with administrative privileges. Here’s how:

• Right-click the application that is causing you problems.
• From the context menu, choose Properties.
• Go to the Compatibility tab and choose to Run this program as an administrator.
• Click OK and Apply to save the changes.

Fix Five: Turn off Protected Mode

If you are running into the error message when using your web browser, the problem may be fixed if you disable Protected Mode. Here’s what to do:

• On your keyboard, press the Win + R keys at the same time — this will open Run.
• Enter “inetcpl.cpl” and press OK.
• Navigate to the Security tab and uncheck the Enable Protected Mode option.
• Select Apply and OK to save the changes.
• Next, restart your browser.

Once all of these changes have been made, check if the error has been resolved.

Fix Six: Stop Sharing the Folder

Sometimes the reason why you can’t save files to a specific directory is that you’ve shared it with other users. If you stop sharing the directory, the problem may get automatically resolved. Here’s how to proceed:

• Locate the error-causing directory.
• Right-click the directory and go to Share with > Stop sharing.

After you’ve stopped sharing the directory, you should no longer be getting the error message.

Fix Seven: Change the Owner of the Directory

Changing the owner of the directory may help you get rid of the error. It’s quite simple to do:

• Locate the directory you are having issues with and select Properties from the context menu.
• Go to the Security tab and click Advanced.
• Here, you will see the owner of the directory.
• Click Change.
• You will then see the Select User or Group window.
• Go to Administrators and click Check Names.
• Find the Replace owner on subcontainers and objects option and check it.
• Find the Replace all child object permission entries option and check it too.
• Save the changes you’ve made.

Fix Eight: Run the Compatibility Troubleshooter

Certain applications on your PC may not be compatible with Windows 10. You may be able to fix this problem by running the Compatibility Troubleshooter. To do that, follow these simple steps:

• Find the error-causing application, right-click it and select Troubleshoot compatibility.
• Choose the Troubleshoot program option.
• In the new window, check The program requires additional permissions option.
• Click Next.
• The on-screen prompts will guide you through the troubleshooting process.
• Once it’s complete, you should be able to save files to the location you want without issues.

Fix Nine: Check Your Anti-malware Software

In some cases, your anti malware software may be causing the error. Try disabling your antivirus program and see if the error message goes away. If it does, this means that you may need to switch to a different antivirus software. Try Auslogics Anti-Malware. The program is fully compatible with Windows 10 and should not come into conflict with any components of the operating system. Once installed, the program will run automatic scans of your entire system and locate even the rarest malicious items. You will have the choice of running a Quick Scan (for a scan of key folders on your PC), Deep Scan (for scanning your entire system) and Custom Scan (for a scan of specific folders and files that you find suspicious). If any malicious items are detected, they will then be safely removed from your PC without causing any damage to your system.

Fix Ten: Create a New Directory And Move All the Problematic Files

If none of the above solutions have worked, you may try this workaround: create a new directory and move all the problematic files there. Here’s ho to do it:

• Find the folder that’s causing and navigate to its parent directory.
• Now, create a new folder in the parent directory.
• Go back to the original folder, select all the files it contains and copy them
• Paste the newly copied files into the new folder.
• Now, try saving a new file to the new folder.
• If this works, you can go on and delete the original folder from your PC.

And there you have it — we hope that you’ve been able to get rid of the “you don’t have permission to modify files in this network location” error using one of the solutions above. Which one has worked the best for you? Please share in the comments below.