Windows 7 - How to remove lock icon from folders?

Thanks very much, I will do that!

*sigh* Honestly, should just leave things alone...I seriously doubt having locks are the folders is that big of a deal...changing permissions on a file/folder just because you don't like the locks is a ridiculous reason.

I really don't care about a lock on the folder. It just seems there is something not right if you share a folder then stop sharing and this changes the UI of "look" of the folder. What is so odd about wanting things to look right and work right?

There are other reasons too but I can't see how people would think this is "just how it is"

Let's find out what's wrong and fix it.

Something needs to be wrong first. And there is nothing wrong here. Believing we are smarter then the computer or the people that build these things is what is wrong.

"to each his own"

If they don't bother you when you see them, fine. Leave them there. This forum is here to share information. I don't like them there.

Find someone else to put down, it's not working for you here. But I hope we can be friends in the future. You may want to go help someone solve a "real" problem. Have a good one.

Hi everyone. Im completely new here and i have the same problem with the padlock icons. They dont seem to affect anything, but i just dont like seeing them in most of mi picture files.
I have tried the methods described here and none of them has worked. If anyone has any other options or ideas to get rid of those annoying icons, i would appreciate it.
Thanks!

Padlocks have a meaning, understand the meaning and you understand why they show up.
Padlock Overlay? It means something!

Hi, I found this solution from another forum, it works for me and perhaps you guys might find it useful

Solved: Folder Lock Icon - Tech Support Guy Forums

here may be other reasons for the lock overlay on a folder icon, but what I've found is the lock overlay means the file/folder permissions have been changed and is restricted in some way from what would be inherited, usually that not every one has access to read the folder and it's contents.
For example, if you remove the HomeUser group from having Read & Execute permission to a folder under My Documents, the lock overlay will appear. (I do have my Documents shared in a HomeGroup)
Removing the Users and Authenticated user groups from a folder created in the root of a drive will also add the lock overlay to the folder icon.
You can remove the lock overlay in this case by resetting the permissions to be inherited, and removing all permissions that are not inherited.
Right click the folder, click Properties
Click the Security tab
Click Advanced
Click Change Permissions
Check Both boxes to Include inheritable permissions, and to Replace all child object permissions
Click Apply then click Yes
Wait for the list to refresh
Remove all permissions that say <not inherited>

That should remove the Lock overlay.
You may need to Uncheck Use Sharing Wizard in Control Panel | Folder Options | View tab to see the Security tab, and may have to boot to Safe Mode as well if running Home Basic or Premium.

If you are not sure about what the permissions do, may be best to leave them alone. Definitely, do not add a Deny permission of any kind unless you are certain of how it will work. You can lock yourself out of the system by adding a Deny permission in the wrong place, especially if you deny a group rather than a user.

I use Photoshop CS4 regularly and have used it appropriately on a HP 64 bit Windows 7 for the last several weeks. Recently, however, every image I try to open via Bridge into CS4 generates a message saying, can't open, file is locked. I need to unlock hundreds of folders containing thousands of photos. I've been looking on web and trying a few things, but nothing has worked. This thread is at least close.

What you are talking about is completely different then what this silly (IMHO) thread is about. Try using Unlocker to unlock the files you need. Unlocker - Free software downloads and software reviews - CNET Download.com