Lock Icon on Files and Folders - Remove in Windows 7

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    Lock Icon on Files and Folders - Remove in Windows 7

    Lock Icon on Files and Folders - Remove in Windows 7

    How to Remove the Lock Icon from Files and Folders in Windows 7
    Published by
    Designer Media Ltd


    How to Remove the Lock Icon from Files and Folders in Windows 7


       Information
    In Windows 7, the padlock overlay icon on a file or folder indicates that the item is shared with nobody, which is to say, the item can only be accessed by a single user (with exceptions). Consequently, if you can access a folder that has a golden lock, you are likely the only user who may access that item on your PC. A more technical definition follows.

    Criteria determining whether an item features a golden lock icon overlay:
    1. The item must have zero or only a single allow Access Control Entry (ACE) specifying any user. Exceptions: allow ACEs that apply to “This folder only” or “Files only”.
    2. The item must not have any group allow ACEs. Exceptions: the ‘Administrators’ group, and allow ACEs that apply to “This folder only” or “Files only”.
    3. The immediate parent folder must have at least one group allow ACE. Exceptions: the ‘Administrators’ group, and allow ACEs that apply to “This folder only” or “Files only”.
    4. Finally, your user account must be the user that satisfies condition 1, OR
    5. you must be the owner of the item, OR
    6. the item must include an ‘Administrators’ ACE with the ‘Read permission’ access right, and Explorer must be running elevated.

    In short, the golden padlock denotes a private item that resides in a public folder.

    Note that ‘NT Authority\SYSTEM’ and ‘NT Service\TustedInstaller’ should not be confused as users or groups. The former is a special Windows identity while the latter is a service.

    This tutorial will show you how to remove or restore the lock icon overlay on files and folders for all users without altering any sharing settings or neutralising any of the conditions above in Windows 7.

    You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.


    EXAMPLE: Lock icon on folder
    Lock Icon on Files and Folders - Remove in Windows 7-lock_icon_on_folder.png




    Here's How:

    1. Do step 2, 3, or 4 below for what you would like to do, and if you have a 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 7.


    2. To Remove Lock Icon on Files and Folders in 32-bit and 64-bit Windows 7
    A) Click on the Download button below to download the .bat file below, and go to step 5 below.

    Remove_Lock_Icon_from_Files_Folders.bat


    Download

    3. To Restore Lock Icon on Files and Folders in 32-bit Windows 7
    NOTE: This is the default setting in 32-bit Windows 7.
    A) Click on the Download button below to download the .bat file below, and go to step 5 below.

    32-bit_Restore_Lock_Icon_on_Files_Folders.bat


    Download

    4. To Restore Lock Icon on Files and Folders in 64-bit Windows 7
    NOTE: This is the default setting in 64-bit Windows 7.
    A) Click on the Download button below to download the .bat file below, and go to step 5 below.

    64-bit_Restore_Lock_Icon_on_Files_Folders.bat


    Download

    5. Save the .bat file to your desktop.

    6. Right click on the downloaded .bat file, and click on Run as administrator.

    7. If prompted, click on Run and Yes to approve.
    NOTE: If you like, you can stop getting the Run prompt by unblocking the downloaded .bat file.

    8. You will now notice a command prompt quickly flash open and close and your screen flicker as the registry changes are applied and explorer is restarted.


    That's it,
    Shawn








  1. Posts : 1
    Windows 7 64-bit
       #1

    Removing lock feature


    I have been researching a solution for months and I just found your post. This was an immediate fix to my ongoing issues of sharing. THANK YOU THANK YOU.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit
       #2

    i have a lot of files and folder like that Lock Icon
    after CHKDSK C: /f my drive
    how can i fix this many files????
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 71,959
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Hello Healess, and welcome to Seven Forums.

    There's really nothing to fix. The lock icon is just an indicator that the file/folder is shared with nobody. That's all.

    If you wanted to share the file/folder with the network, then you could set it's share settings to share with who you like. This would then remove the lock icon since it's shared now.

    If you didn't want to share the files/folders, then you could use the tutorial to hide the locks to not see them without affecting the share settings.

    Hope this helps, :)
    Shawn
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 7
    win 7 64bit
       #4

    Allow me to say that this padlock, is not just indicator, and i say that because i noticed that, any file is marked with this padlock, it becomes hidden from any search results.

    I have this padlock on many mp4 or flv files for example, but not on all of them, and i searched through windows search for the corresponding types only... as a result i found only those videos that were NOT marked with padlock, while all the others remained undiscovered!

    When i share this folder, the padlock gets away from the folder but marks every file in it and in subfolders files also, when i stop sharing, the opposite happens and then i can't find any file in this folder but only manually looking!!!

    Idk why it works that way, but it's a bit of annoying, u agree?

    Any idea to .....restore the order?

    ** Solution found in this topic
    --> How to remove lock icon over my folder
    Last edited by Spyros78; 24 Mar 2015 at 13:42. Reason: Update and redirect to solution
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 279
    Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
       #5

    Brink said:
    Hello Healess, and welcome to Seven Forums.

    There's really nothing to fix. The lock icon is just an indicator that the file/folder is shared with nobody. That's all.

    If you wanted to share the file/folder with the network, then you could set it's share settings to share with who you like. This would then remove the lock icon since it's shared now.

    If you didn't want to share the files/folders, then you could use the tutorial to hide the locks to not see them without affecting the share settings.

    Hope this helps, :)
    Shawn
    Hi Shawn,

    If I remove this lock on my 'User' folder, will it have any affect on me installing any programs at all?
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 71,959
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Hello RedLad,

    No worries. It will not affect anything since it's just a cosmetic setting to remove the lock overlay on the icon. :)
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 279
    Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
       #7

    Brink said:
    Hello RedLad,

    No worries. It will not affect anything since it's just a cosmetic setting to remove the lock overlay on the icon. :)
    Thanks for the swift reply Shawn

    Also, would you have any idea why the folder doesn't display my name? Why would it be called User?

    Here is a screen grab, post #67:

    Windows Startup Repair query
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 71,959
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #8

    You're welcome.

    The other question would best be answered in that post instead since it's not on topic with this tutorial.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 279
    Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
       #9

    Brink said:
    You're welcome.

    The other question would best be answered in that post instead since it's not on topic with this tutorial.
    Sorry, my bad.
      My Computer


 
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