An error occurred while applying security information

January 6, 2017 by Dan B. Lee
An error occurred while applying security information – Access is denied

Every once in a while you’ll run across issues with NTFS security that just can’t be explained. You’ll want to move folders, files into folders, or take ownership of a file but Windows Explorer just won’t let you. Run these two commands and you’ll get your ownership back.

takeown /f S:\path/r /d y
icacls S:\path /grant administrators: f /t

If you are logged in as yourself, the first command will make you the owner. The second command will clear up any issues with administrators having trouble accessing files and folders due to old syntax reasons.

Here’s a link to /takeown commands and switches: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc753024(v=ws.11).aspx

And here’s a link to an explanation of /icacls: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc753525(v=ws.11).aspx