Fixes / Windows · Checked September 30, 2026

Windows "Location is not available. Access is denied": fixes

Short answer

Windows shows this when your account can't open a folder or drive. Usually the folder is protected, owned by another account, or blocked by a policy. If the path is C:\Documents and Settings or another old-style folder, this is normal, so open C:\Users instead. For a drive or folder from another PC, take ownership in Properties > Security > Advanced.

What this message means

Windows found the folder or drive, but the security rules on it (its permissions) don't let your user account open it. Windows adds the path to the message, for example "D:\ is not accessible". There are four common reasons. The folder may be a hidden compatibility shortcut that Windows locks on purpose. The drive may have been set up on another computer or under an earlier Windows install, so its owner is an account that no longer exists. A work or school policy may be blocking USB drives. Or the disk may have file system errors that stop Windows from reading its permissions. Your files are usually still there.

Common causes

Cause	How to tell
You opened a legacy compatibility folder (junction) such as C:\Documents and Settings, or My Documents, Application Data or Local Settings inside your user folder. Windows locks these with an Everyone: Deny rule so older programs are redirected and nobody can browse or delete them by accident.	The error names one of those paths. The folder only shows up when hidden or protected system files are visible, and its icon has a small shortcut arrow or lock.
The drive or folder came from another computer or from a previous Windows installation (an external drive, a second internal disk, or Windows.old), so it is owned by an account your PC doesn't recognise.	Right-click it, choose Properties, then open the Security tab. You see entries like "Account Unknown (S-1-5-21-...)", or a note saying you can't view the permissions. Other drives work normally.
A Group Policy or device management policy ("All Removable Storage classes: Deny all access") blocks USB and other removable drives. This is common on work and school PCs.	Every USB stick or external drive gives the same error on this PC, but the same drives open fine on another computer.
File system errors, a failing disk or a loose connection stop Windows from reading the drive's security information.	In Disk Management the drive shows as RAW, has no size, or keeps disappearing. The disk may click or disconnect, or the error started after the drive was unplugged without being ejected.
Security software with a device-control or folder-protection feature is blocking the location.	Your antivirus or endpoint protection shows a notification or a log entry at the moment you open the drive. The error goes away while that feature is paused.

How to fix it

1. If the path is an old-style system folder, go to the real location

Look at the path in the error. If it is C:\Documents and Settings, or My Documents, Application Data or Local Settings inside C:\Users\<your name>, the block is intentional.
Open C:\Users\<your name> instead. Your Desktop, Documents, Downloads and AppData folders are all there.
Don't change permissions on these legacy folders. Microsoft warns that doing so can break programs and installers.
To stop seeing them, open File Explorer > View > Show and turn off Hidden items (Windows 11), or tick Hide protected operating system files (Recommended) in Folder Options > View (Windows 10 and 11).

2. Reconnect the drive and restart File Explorer

Eject the external drive (Safely Remove Hardware), unplug it, and plug it into a different USB port directly on the PC, not through a hub.
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
On the Processes tab, right-click Windows Explorer and choose Restart.
Try opening the drive again. If that fails, restart the PC and try once more.

3. Take ownership and give your account Full control (File Explorer)

Windows 10 and Windows 11, NTFS drives and folders. Needs an administrator account. Don't use it on C:\, Windows, Program Files or ProgramData.

Right-click the drive or folder and choose Properties, then open the Security tab. No Security tab means the drive is FAT32 or exFAT, which has no permissions, so skip to the disk check fix.
Click Advanced. Next to Owner, click Change, type your account name (or your Microsoft account email), click Check Names, then OK.
Tick Replace owner on subcontainers and objects, then click Apply and OK. Close and reopen Properties.
On the Security tab click Edit, then Add, type your account name, click Check Names and OK.
Select your account, tick Allow next to Full control, then click Apply and OK. Wait for the changes to finish on large drives.

4. Take ownership from an administrator Command Prompt

Windows 10 and Windows 11. Use this when the Security tab errors out or takes too long. The commands below are for Command Prompt, not PowerShell.

Click Start, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
Take ownership (replace the path with your own): takeown /f "D:\Folder" /r /d y
Give your account full access to the folder and everything in it: icacls "D:\Folder" /grant "%USERNAME%":(OI)(CI)F /t /c
For a whole external drive, use the drive root, for example "E:\". Never run these commands on C:\ or on system folders.
Close the window and open the location again in File Explorer.

5. Check the drive for file system errors

Back up anything you can still reach on the drive first.
Open Command Prompt as administrator (Start, type cmd, right-click, Run as administrator).
Run chkdsk E: /f, replacing E: with the drive letter from the error. Type Y if asked to schedule it at the next restart (this happens for the system drive).
Or use File Explorer: right-click the drive > Properties > Tools > Check (under Error checking) > Scan drive.
If Disk Management (Win + X > Disk Management) shows the drive as RAW or with no size, stop writing to it and recover the data before you repair or format it.

6. Check for a removable storage block (work or school PCs)

Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc) exists only in Windows 10 and 11 Pro, Enterprise and Education. On a managed PC, your IT department sets this policy.

Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc and press Enter.
Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Removable Storage Access.
Open All Removable Storage classes: Deny all access. If it is Enabled, set it to Not Configured and click OK.
Check the same setting under User Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Removable Storage Access.
Restart the PC. If the setting switches back or is greyed out, it comes from your organisation, so ask IT to allow the drive.

Next time, skip the search

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Still not fixed?

If none of this worked, test the drive on another computer. If it opens there, the problem is this PC's accounts, policies or security software. Try signing in with a different administrator account, and check Windows Security > Protection history, or your antivirus log, for a block at the moment the error appeared. If the drive fails everywhere, shows as RAW, or makes clicking noises, stop using it and copy your files off with data recovery software or a recovery service before you format anything. On a work or school computer, contact your IT department, because the block is almost always a deliberate policy.

Questions people ask

Why does C:\Documents and Settings say Access is denied?

It isn't a real folder. It's a compatibility junction that sends older programs to C:\Users, and Windows sets it to deny everyone on purpose. Open C:\Users instead and leave its permissions alone.

Will taking ownership delete my files?

No. Taking ownership and granting Full control only change who is allowed to open the files. The data isn't touched. Don't do it on system folders, though, because changed permissions there can stop Windows or apps from working.

Why does my external hard drive say Location is not available after I used it on another PC?

An NTFS drive keeps its permissions for the accounts on the computer that set it up, and your current PC doesn't recognise those accounts. Taking ownership and giving your account Full control usually fixes it.

Will formatting the drive fix it?

Formatting removes the error but erases everything on the drive. Try taking ownership and running chkdsk first, and only format after your files are recovered or backed up.

Why do all my USB drives say Access is denied on my work laptop?

Your organisation has probably blocked removable storage with a policy. You can't safely override that yourself, so ask IT to approve the device.

Sources

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