How to Take Ownership and Delete a Locked Folder in Windows | trustedinstaller

If you're trying to delete a folder in Windows but keep getting an Access Denied error, it might be due to insufficient permissions or system protections. This can be particularly frustrating when working with system folders like E:\Windows\apppatch, where certain files are restricted. Fortunately, there are ways to take control and delete these stubborn folders.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to take ownership of the folder, grant full permissions, and successfully delete it. We’ll also show you how to use Safe Mode and a third-party tool if needed.

1. Take Ownership of the Folder and Subfolders

Sometimes, permissions on system folders prevent you from deleting them. Taking ownership of the folder can help resolve this issue.

Steps to Take Ownership:

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator:

   • Right-click the Start button and select Command Prompt (Admin) or search for cmd and run it as an administrator.

2. Run the following command to take ownership:

   takeown /f "E:\Windows\apppatch" /r /d y
   

   • /f specifies the folder you want to take ownership of (in this case, apppatch).

   • /r ensures the command works recursively on all subfolders and files inside the folder.

   • /d y automatically answers "yes" to any prompts, taking ownership without needing additional confirmation.

2. Grant Full Permissions

After you take ownership, you may need to grant yourself full control over the folder and its contents to delete it successfully.

Steps to Grant Full Permissions:

1. Run the following command to grant full control to the administrators group:

   icacls "E:\Windows\apppatch" /grant administrators:F /t
   

   • /grant administrators:F gives full control to the administrators group.

   • /t applies the permission to all subdirectories and files within the folder.

3. Try Deleting the Folder Again

Once you’ve taken ownership and granted the necessary permissions, try deleting the folder again. Use one of the following commands:

Using rd:

rd /s /q "E:\Windows\apppatch"

Or Using rmdir:

rmdir /s /q "E:\Windows\apppatch"

• /s deletes the folder and all its contents (subfolders and files).

• /q suppresses confirmation prompts.

4. Using Safe Mode (if Permissions Still Block)

If the folder is still not deletable, it could be due to running processes that lock the folder. You can try deleting it in Safe Mode, which loads Windows with only essential processes running.

Steps to Boot into Safe Mode:

1. Restart your computer.

2. Boot into Safe Mode by pressing F8 (or using Advanced Startup Options in Windows 10/11).

3. Once you're in Safe Mode, open Command Prompt as Administrator and try running the delete commands again.

5. Use Unlocker Tool (if Necessary)

If all else fails and the folder is still locked, you can use a third-party tool like Unlocker to forcefully unlock and delete the folder.

• Unlocker is a free utility that allows you to unlock files or folders that are in use by other processes.

• You can download it from the official website and use it to unlock and delete the apppatch folder.

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Conclusion

By following these steps, you should be able to take ownership, grant full permissions, and delete a locked folder in Windows. If the folder remains locked, booting into Safe Mode or using a third-party tool like Unlocker can help.