Windows: File write protection cannot be removed – what to do?

Windows: This is why the file write protection cannot be removed

If the write protection cannot be removed in Windows, then there are a number of steps you can take. First, you should try the following.

• Right click on a folder and select the properties. Here you can deactivate the Read-only option.
• If you close the window with the OK button and then open it again, the option is activated again. This is not an error, but intentional.
• This is a special behaviour of Windows. If you remove the write protection for the folder, the write protection for the files contained in it is removed. The folder remains write-protected from the outside, but can still be edited and deleted.
• Tip: If you cannot delete write-protected files, the free tool Unlocker will help you.

Windows 10 Pro: Remove file write protection

If the above tips are not successful, the following instructions may still help. However, this only works on Windows 10 Pro, not on Windows 10 Home.

• Open the Security tab in the Properties again and click on the Advanced button at the bottom.
• Now click on the Change link at the top next to the Owner item.
• You will see several access rights via the Advanced and Search Now button.
• Search for your user name in the list and double-click it.
• Confirm with OK and activate the option Replace all permission entries for child objects with inheritable permission entries from this object.
• Close all windows now with OK and always confirm warnings with Yes.