Windows cannot access the specified device path or file что делать

Symptoms

When you try to install, update or start a program or a file, you receive the following error message:

Error: Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permission to access the item

Resolution

To resolve this issue, follow the steps in the methods below starting with method 1, if that method does not resolve the issue continue to the next method.

Method 1: Check the permission of the file or folder

Note Make sure you are an Administrator or you are part of the Domain Admins group if you are in a domain.

Permissions are rules associated with files that determine if you can access the file and what you can do with it. To check the permission of the file or folder, follow these steps:

1. Right-click the file or folder, and then select Properties.

2. Select the Security tab.

3. Under Group or User names, click your name to see the permissions you have. (The screen shot for this step is listed below).
   

4. Select Edit, and then select to check the check boxes for the permissions that you need, and then select OK. (The screen shot for this step is listed below).
   

For more information on permissions, see What are permissions?

Method 2: Check the file location

You might get this error if the shortcut or installation is attempting to access a location that is not currently available such as a networked or a removable drive. Check the path of the file that Windows cannot access and make sure that the location is accessible. (The screen shot for this step is listed below).

Method 3: Make sure that the file has not been moved or deleted

You can also receive this error if the file has been moved or deleted. Browse to the location of the file and make sure the file is in that location.

Method 4: Recreate the shortcut to check for corruption

You can also receive this error if the shortcut or other file type has become corrupt. You can check for corruption in shortcuts by recreating the shortcut. To do this, see Create or delete a shortcut.

If an application or other type of file is corrupt it may be necessary to repair the application to resolve the issue.

Method 5: Unblock the file

In some cases the file may be blocked by Windows. Check the properties of the file, there may be a note saying This file came from another computer and might be blocked to help protect this computer To check for and unblock the file, follow these steps:

1. Right-click the blocked file and then select Properties.

2. In the General tab, select Unblock if the option is available.

Method 6: Check to see if your antivirus software is blocking the file

You can check to see if your antivirus software is blocking a file by temporarily disabling it, and then trying to open the file. If you have to temporarily disable your antivirus software, you should re-enable it as soon as you are done. If you’re connected to the Internet while your antivirus software is disabled, your PC is vulnerable to attacks.

Important: Disabling your antivirus software or changing the settings may make your PC vulnerable to viral, fraudulent, or malicious attacks. Microsoft does not recommend that you disable your antivirus software or change the settings.  If you have to temporarily disable your antivirus software, you should re-enable it as soon as you are done. Use this workaround at your own risk. To temporarily disable your antivirus software, see Disable antivirus software

Cause

This issue can occur if any of the following scenarios exist on your PC.

• You do not have permissions to the file or the file location.

• The file is on a location that is not currently accessible like a network location or an external drive that is not currently connected to the PC.

• The file has been moved or deleted.

• The file or shortcut is corrupt.

• The file may be blocked by Windows.

• Your antivirus software may be blocking the file.

More Information

For more information about errors accessing files or folders in Windows, see «Access Denied» or other errors when accessing or working with files and folders in Windows

Проблема

При попытке установить, обновить или запустить программу или файл появляется следующее сообщение об ошибке:

Ошибка: «Windows не удается получить доступ к указанному устройству, пути или файлу. Возможно, у вас нет нужных разрешений для доступа к этому объекту.»

Решение

Для решения этой проблемы выполните действия, описанные ниже, начиная со способа 1. Если этот способ не поможет, переходите к следующему способу.

Способ 1. Проверьте разрешения на доступ к файлу и папке

Примечание. Необходимо обладать правами администратора или быть членом группы «Администраторы домена», если компьютер входит в домен.

Разрешения — это правила, связанные с файлами, которые определяют, может ли пользователь получать доступ к файлу и какие действия с ним он может выполнять. Чтобы проверить разрешение на файл или папку, выполните указанные ниже действия.

1. Щелкните файл или папку правой кнопкой мыши и выберите пункт Свойства.

2. Перейдите на вкладку Безопасность.

3. В разделе Группы или пользователи выберите свое имя, чтобы просмотреть имеющиеся разрешения. (Снимок экрана для этого этапа приведен ниже.)
   

4. Нажмите кнопку Изменить, установите флажки для нужных разрешений и нажмите кнопку ОК. (Снимок экрана для этого этапа приведен ниже.)
   

Дополнительные сведения о разрешениях см. в статье Что такое разрешения?.

Способ 2. Проверьте расположение файла

Данная ошибка может возникать, если ярлык или установленная программа пытаются получить доступ к расположению, недоступному в настоящее время (например, к сетевой папке или съемному диску). Проверьте путь к файлу, к которому Windows не может получить доступ, и убедитесь, что расположение доступно. (Снимок экрана для этого этапа приведен ниже.)

Способ 3. Убедитесь, что файл не был перемещен или удален

Данная ошибка может возникнуть также в случае, если файл был перемещен или удален. Перейдите в папку, содержащую необходимый файл, и убедитесь, что он находится там.

Способ 4. Создайте ярлык повторно, чтобы проверить наличие повреждений

Данная ошибка может возникать также в случае, если ярлык или файл другого типа был поврежден. Проверить ярлыки на наличие повреждений можно посредством повторного создания ярлыка. Для этого перейдите к разделу Создание или удаление ярлыка.

Если повреждено приложение или файл другого типа, для решения проблемы может потребоваться восстановить приложение.

Способ 5. Разблокируйте файл

В некоторых случаях Windows может блокировать файл. Просмотрите свойства файла — они могут содержать следующее примечание: Этот файл получен с другого компьютера и, возможно, был заблокирован с целью защиты компьютера. Чтобы проверить это и при необходимости разблокировать файл, сделайте следующее.

1. Щелкните заблокированный файл правой кнопкой мыши и выберите пункт Свойства.

2. На вкладке Общие нажмите кнопку Разблокировать, если она доступна.

Способ 6. Проверьте, не блокирует ли файл антивирусное программное обеспечение

Чтобы проверить, не блокирует ли файл ваша антивирусная программа, временно отключите ее и попытайтесь открыть файл. Если потребовалось временно отключить антивирусное программное обеспечение, включите его сразу же после выполнения необходимого действия. Если во время данного отключения компьютер подключен к Интернету, он уязвим для атак.

Важно! Отключение антивирусного программного обеспечения или изменение его настроек может сделать ваш компьютер уязвимым для вирусов, мошенничества и других вредоносных действий. Корпорация Майкрософт не рекомендует отключать антивирусное программное обеспечение или изменять его настройки.  Если потребовалось временно отключить антивирусное программное обеспечение, включите его сразу же после выполнения необходимого действия. Применяя этот метод обхода проблемы, вы действуете на собственный риск. Сведения о временном отключении антивирусного программного обеспечения см. в статье Отключение антивирусного программного обеспечения.

Причина

Подобная проблема может возникать при выполнении на компьютере любого из следующих условий.

• Нет разрешения на доступ к файлу или его расположению.

• Файл находится в недоступном в настоящее время расположении, например в сетевой папке или на внешнем диске, не подключенном к компьютеру в настоящий момент.

• Файл был перемещен или удален.

• Файл или ярлык поврежден.

• Windows может блокировать файл.

• Антивирусное программное обеспечение может блокировать файл.

Дополнительная информация

Дополнительные сведения об ошибках при доступе к файлами или папкам в Windows см. в статье «Отказано в доступе» и другие ошибки при попытке доступа к файлам и папкам Windows или при работе с ними.

When you are trying to open a file or start a program, you might receive an error message that says Windows cannot access the specified device path or file. This post will show you 5 solutions to solve this problem. In addition, this post will introduce an effective and reliable way to keep data safe, which is using MiniTool ShadowMaker to create a backup image.

Windows Cannot Access the Specified Device Path or File

You may receive an error message ‘Windows cannot access the specified device, path or file. You may not have the appropriate permission to access the item.’ when you are trying to start a program or open a file. And the error message is shown as the follow:

You won’t be able to access the file or the program when you receive the error message. Do you know the reason behind and how to fix this?

In general, there are various reasons that cause the issue Windows cannot access the specified device. For example:

• The antivirus software may block the files.
• Windows has blocked the files.
• The file is corrupted, hidden or deleted by antivirus.
• The shortcut of the program is corrupted.
• Or you don’t have the permission to access the item since you are not the administrator.

Of course, some other reasons may also give rise to the issue that Windows cannot access the specified device path or file. Meanwhile, the most important part is how to solve this problem. Thus, please keep on reading.

5 Solutions to Windows Cannot Access the Specified Device Path or File

In this section, we will list 5 solutions to solve the problem when Windows cannot access the specified path. You can try them one by one to fix this problem when you may not have appropriate permissions to access the item. You can also watch the following video to fix the problem Windows cannot access the specified file. 

Solution 1. Disable the Antivirus Software Temporarily

The issue Windows cannot access the specified file may be caused by the antivirus program. Therefore, in order to solve the problem, you can temporarily disable it. You can follow the steps below to disable your antivirus program.

Step 1: Press Windows key and R key together to open Run dialog and type msconfig in the box, then click OK or hit Enter to continue.

Step 2: In the System Configuration window, go to the Start up tab and click Open Task Manager to continue.

Step 3: In the popup window, find the antivirus program and choose it. Then click Disable button at the right bottom to continue.

Now, you can open the program or the file again to check whether the issue Windows cannot access the specified path Windows 10 is solved.

Solution 2. Check Permissions of the File or Folder

Now, this section will introduce the second method to solve the issue when you may not have appropriate permissions to access the item. To fix this problem, you can try checking the permissions of the file or folder.

You can refer to the following detailed instructions.

Step 1: Select the file you want to open and right-click it. Then choose Properties from the context menu.

Step 2: Go to the Security tab and choose your name under Group or user name and click Edit to continue.

Step 3: Then under Permissions for SYSTEM in the popup window, you can check the permissions you want to have in Allow column. After that, please check whether the issue Windows cannot access the specified path is solved.

Solution 3. Unblock the File

Windows cannot access the specified device path or file may occur if the file is blocked by Windows. To fix this problem, you can try to unblock the file. You can look at the specific steps of operations below.

Step 1: Right-click the file which has the problem Windows cannot access the specified path and choose Properties to continue.

Step 2: In the popup window, go to the General tab. Then you will see a message The file came from another computer and might be blocked to help to protect the computer if the file is blocked by Windows. Thus, you can check Unblock and click OK to continue.

Now, you can check whether the issue Windows cannot access the specified path Windows 10 is solved.

Solution 4. Check the Location of File

If you are trying to access a file via a shortcut which is on an external hard drive or a network location that it is no longer connected to your computer, Windows might not be able to access the specified device path or file. Thus, you can check the location of the target file and see if the file is in an inaccessible location based on following instructions.

Step 1: Right-click the shortcut of the file on your computer and choose Properties from the context menu.

Step 2: Under the Shortcut tab in the popup window, check the path in Target is available or not.

Solution 5. Recover the Removed or Deleted File

Windows will not be able to access the specified device path or file if the files are removed, deleted, or hidden by an antivirus. In a situation like this, you can recover the data to solve this problem.

In order to recover the lost data, you can take advantage of the best data recovery software – MiniTool Power Data Recovery. It is a user-friendly program for Windows users, which can be used to recover lost data due to various reasons, such as mistaken deletion, virus attack, mistaken formatting and so on.

As a read-only software, it will not bring any damage to the original data. So if you have lost data, you can download the Trail edition to scan the lost files.

MiniTool Power Data Recovery TrialClick to Download100%Clean & Safe

Here are the specific instructions to recover the lost data from the inaccessible folder or partition.

Step 1: Download and install the best data recovery software and launch it to enter its main interface.

Step 2: Next, you will see four options and choose This PC module to continue. Then choose the partition which you have lost the file and click Scan to continue.

Step 3: When the scan is finished, you can see all files are listed here in order and you can open each path to find out the file you need.

Step 4: When you have checked the lost files, you can choose a destination to save the files by clicking Save button. Here, you will receive a warning message that tells you a license key is required to activate the program since you are using the Trial edition. Thus, you can click here to get here to buy a license. Then activate the program and complete the recovery.

When you have recovered lost files, you can check whether the issue Windows cannot access the specified device path or file is solved.

I have successfully solved the issue Windows cannot access the specified path or file by using the method in this post. I’d like to share it with more friends.Click to Tweet

Useful Suggestion

When you have solved the issue when Windows cannot access the specified path Windows 10 or successfully recovered the lost files, it is recommended to back up the data so as to provide better protection.

Here, MiniTool ShadowMaker, the best backup software is another product of MiniTool^® Software Ltd.

MiniTool ShadowMaker is a user-friendly program which can provide protection for your data and computer. With its powerful features, it can back up a file, folder, disk, partition, and the operating system.

Besides the backup feature, it can also provide recovery solutions when there is a need so as to help you to restore the computer or data.

Thus, you can download MiniTool ShadowMaker Trial to create a backup image for the data so as to provide better protection for them when you have recovered the lost data or solved the issue Windows cannot access the specified file.

MiniTool ShadowMaker TrialClick to Download100%Clean & Safe

Here, we will show you how to back up the files with MiniTool ShadowMaker. ou can continue according to the following instructions.

For backup the operating system, you can refer to this article: Easily & Free Create a Windows 10 Image Backup Now – MiniTool

Step 1: Install the program and launch it, click Keep Trail.

Step 2: In the main interface, go to the Backup tab and click SOURCE module to continue.

Step 3: In the popup window, choose Folder and Files to choose what you want to back up.

Step 4: When returning to the main interface, you need to click DESTINATION module to choose where you want to save the backup image. It is advised to choose an external hard drive as the destination.

In order to provide better protection for data, there are three important things you need to pay attention to.

• MiniTool ShadowMaker enables you to create an automatic file backup. Thus, you just need to click Schedule Settings in Options button to set the backup task on a regular basis.
• There are three different backup schemes offered, including Full Backup, Incremental backup, and Differential backup. You can change the backup scheme by clicking Backup Scheme.
• You can also set some advanced backup parameters by clicking Backup Options.

Step 5: When you have selected the backup source and destination, you can click Back Up Now to perform this backup task immediately or click Back Up Later to delay the backup task.

After having successfully created a backup image to the data, you can keep data safe and even can restore them to a previous state when there is a need.

MiniTool ShadowMaker is a user-friendly program that can help me to create a backup image with ease so as to keep data safe.Click to Tweet

Bottom Line

After reading this post, we learned that Windows cannot access the specified device path or file because of many reasons such as antivirus software, corrupted shortcut, file deleted by antivirus and so on.

However, this post has listed 5 solutions to solve the problem when Windows cannot access the specified file and you can try them out.

After successfully solving the problem or recovering the lost files, you should use MiniTool ShadowMaker to back up all important files so as to provide better protection for data.

By the way, if you have any better solution to the problem you may not have appropriate permissions to access the item, you can share it one the comment zone.

Or if you have any problem about MiniTool products, please don’t hesitate to contact us via the email [email protected].

Windows Cannot Access the Specified Device Path or File FAQ

Check the solutions to fix «Windows Cannot Access the Specified Device Path or File»:

Error — Windows Cannot Access the Specified Device Path or File

«Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permission to access the item.»

You may receive the exact error while you are trying to start a program or open a file on your Windows computer. And simply gaining the required permission may not be helpful. That’s why so many people are posting the same question and asking further help from Microsoft support and some prevailing forums.

What are the possible reasons that make Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file? Why you don’t have permission to access the folder? Through this tutorial, you can understand the causes and learn all the effective solutions to solve Windows that cannot access the specified device issue. Let’s start now.

Causes — Why Windows Cannot Access the Specified Device Path

As long as you see the message «Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item», you might think of the following four feasible reasons:

• You don’t have permission to the file or file location.
• File location/path isn’t accessible or even doesn’t exist.
• The file has been moved or deleted.
• The files may be blocked by Windows.
• Antivirus software prevents files from opening.

Now that you’ve known the reasons for Windows cannot access the specified device path or file error, you can take effective solutions for specific reasons to solve the problem. 

Method 1. Recover the Deleted or Lost Files

If the Windows cannot access the specified device error was caused by accidental deletion, free download EaseUS data recovery software to bring lost data back. 

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard can recover deleted files in Windows 10/8/7 from HDD, SSD, USB flash drive, SD card, external hard drive, etc. It supports restoring deleted photos, videos, audio, emails, Word, Excel, and other hundreds of file types. 

If your inaccessible files or folders are on a removable hard drive or flash disk, connect it to a Windows PC where EaseUS hard drive recovery software is installed, and follow the steps below to recover files that Windows cannot access normally.

Step 1. Run EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard. Choose the drive where you lost files and start scanning. This software allows you to recover lost data from all devices, including HDD, SSD, USB drive, SD card, pen drive, camera, etc.

Step 2. Browse the full scan results. You can choose the file type you need by clicking on the file type filter. EaseUS data recovery software supports 1000+ file types like photos, videos, documents, emails, audio files, and many more. 

Step 3. Select the files you want to preview. Click «Recover» and set a storage location to save the recovered data. 

Method 2. Gain the Permission of the File or Folder

Just like the error suggests that «you may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item», you should first check if you have the permission of the file or folder. If not, do as follows to gain permission to access a file or a location.

Step 1. Right-click the file or folder and select «Properties».

Step 2. Under «Group or User names», click your name to see the permissions you have.

Step 3. Select «Edit», where you can have permissions like full control, modify, read & execute, read, write, or special permissions. Choose the permissions you need and click «OK».

Method 3. Check the File Location

You may also get Windows cannot access the specified device path or file error if the shortcut or installation is attempting to access a location that is not currently available. Check the path of the file and make sure that the location is accessible.

Step 1. Right-click on the problematic file or folder and select «Properties».

Step 2. Under the General tab, check the location, make sure that the file path is correct and accessible.

You can follow the path to find the file. If you can’t find the desired file in this location, the file is very likely deleted or moved. Take the solutions below to get back deleted files. 

All the provided fixes and file recovery solution aims to resolve ‘Windows cannot access the specified device, path, and file error, which might occur on desktop contents, explorer.exe, and other locations when opening a file, trying to install, update or start a program.

Method 4. Unlock the File/Folder

You will receive the access issue if Windows blocked the file. Windows may mistake your files as harmful and prevent you from accessing them. Check the properties of the file, there may be a note saying ‘This file came from another computer and might be blocked to help protect this computer. To  unblock the file, follow these steps:

Step 1. Right-click the blocked file and then select «Properties».

Step 2. In the General tab, select «Unblock» if the option is available.

Method 5. Check the Antivirus Software

As mentioned above, the Windows antivirus software may block the file even it isn’t malicious. You can temporarily disable the antivirus software and check if your file is accessible or not. After that, you should turn on the antivirus software in time as disabling your antivirus software or changing the settings may make your PC vulnerable to viral, fraudulent, or malicious attacks. 

Conclusion

You can effectively fix Windows that cannot access the specified device path or file by using the solutions in this article. You don’t have to try every method, just find the specific reason and implement a corresponding way to troubleshoot.   

If the error appears because of file deletion, you can use the EaseUS file recovery tool to get back lost files to solve the issue. It can recover inaccessible files and folders with ease.

Windows Cannot Access the Specified Device FAQs

‘Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or files. You may not have the appropriate permission to access the item». This might appear when you try to start a program or open a file on your Windows computer. The following are some highly relevant questions about the topic. Check the answers if you need them. 

1. How do I get permissions in Windows 10?

• Open File Explorer. Browse and find the file or folder you want full access to.
• Right-click it, and select «Properties».
• Click the «Security» tab to access the NTFS permissions.
• Click the «Advanced» button. On the Select User or Group page, click «Find Now».
• Then select your user account and click «OK». On the Select User or Group page, click «OK».
• Click «Apply», then click «OK».

2. How do I get permission to access a network computer?

• Open Windows Explorer and go to the folder whose permissions you want to get.
• Right-click the folder and then choose «Properties» from the contextual menu.
• Click the «Sharing» tab, then click «Advanced Sharing». Click «Permissions». The dialog box shown appears. This dialog box lists all the users and groups who have permission for the folder. 
• When you select a user or group from the list, the checkboxes at the bottom of the list change to indicate which specific permissions you’ve assigned to each user or group.
• Click the «Add» button. Choose or enter the name of your computer.
• Select the appropriate Allow and Deny checkboxes to specify which permissions to allow for the user or group.
• Click «OK» to finish the process.

3. How do you fix ‘you must have read permissions to view the properties of this object’?

• Take ownership of the file or folder.
• Get proper permissions.
• Recover lost data.