Take Ownership Shortcut

Add "Take Ownership" to Context Menu of Files, Folders, and Drives in Windows​

   Information

This tutorial will show you how to add Take Ownership to the context menu of all files, folders, and drives for all users in Windows.

This will allow you to be able to instantly take ownership of a file, folder (and all contents), or drive (and all contents) by changing the owner to the current user and grant the Owner_Rights SID (current owner) full access permission.

You must be an administrator to be able to add, remove, and use the "Take Ownership" context menu.

   Note

Application files (ex: EXE, CMD, MSI) will continue to have Run as administrator instead of Take Ownership in their context menu.

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When you right click or press and hold on a file, folder, or drive, and click/tap on Take Ownership, you may be prompted by UAC for permission to do so first.

If a user is logged in as an administrator, then the user would just click/tap on Yes to approve and take ownership. The owner of the file, folder, or drive would be changed to the current administrator user account. Permissions would be set to allow the Owner_Rights SID (current owner) full control of the file, folder, or drive.

If a user is logged in as a standard user, then the user would need to enter a selected administrator's password to approve and take ownership. The owner of the file, folder, or drive would be changed to the selected administrator account, and not the standard user. Permissions would be set to allow the Owner_Rights SID (current owner) full control of the file, folder, or drive.

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The Take Ownership context menu will not be available when you right click on the C: drive, C:\Program Files folder, C:\Program Files (x86) folder, C:\ProgramData folder, C:\Users folder, and C:\Windows folder. This was done because taking ownership of these system folders can make Windows unstable since it would also take ownership of all the folder's content at the same time.

You will still be able to use the Take Ownership context menu of files inside the folder locations above.

If you would like to have a custom location(s) of your own to not have the context menu, then please feel free to post a request in this tutorial thread. I'll be happy to post back with a custom .reg file for it.

   Warning

This context menu will only work with English Windows installations.

If you have a different language, then please post a reply with what language you have instead. I'll be happy to post back a translated version for you.

EXAMPLE: Take Ownership in Context Menu






Here's How:

1. Do step 2, 3, or 4 below for what you would like to do.


2. To Add "Take Ownership" to Context Menu

   Note

Application files (ex: EXE, CMD, MSI) will still have Run as administrator instead of Take Ownership in the context menu when you use this step.

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.

Add_Take_Ownership_to_context_menu


Download


3. To Add "Take Ownership" with Pause to Context Menu

   Note

This option pauses the command when you use the "Take Ownership" context menu to be able to see the command results. This can be handy to verify setting ownership and permissions was successful or not.

Application files (ex: EXE, CMD, MSI) will still have Run as administrator instead of Take Ownership in the context menu when you use this step.

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.

Add_Take_Ownership_with_Pause_to_context_menu.reg


Download


4. To Remove "Take Ownership" from Context Menu

   Note

This is the default setting, and will also restore the default Run as administrator for .exe files.

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.

Remove_Take_Ownership_from_context_menu.reg


Download


5. Save the .reg file to your Desktop.

6. Double click on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

7. If prompted, click on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

8. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.



That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Add or Remove the Security Tab from Properties in Windows 7
• How to Restore TrustedInstaller as Owner of a File in Vista and Windows 7
• How to Allow or Deny Permissions to Users and Groups
• How to Add or Remove Users and Groups from "User Rights Assignment"
• How to Allow or Prevent Users and Groups to Take Ownership
• How to Add Reset Permissions to Context Menu in Windows
• Enable or Disable Inherited Permissions for Files and Folders in Windows

Related Windows 10 Tutorials

---

• How to Add View Owner to Context Menu in Windows
• Change Permissions of File, Folder, Drive, or Registry Key for Users and Groups in Windows 10
• How to Change Owner of File, Folder, Drive, or Registry Key in Windows 10
• How to Add Advanced security to context menu in Windows 8 and Windows 10
• How to Add a File Attributes context menu in Windows 10
• How to Remove Security tab from Drives, Files, and Folders Properties in Windows 10
• How to Add Reset Permissions to Context Menu in Windows
• Enable or Disable Inherited Permissions for Files and Folders in Windows
• How to Add Inherited Permissions Context Menu in Windows
• How to Add List Permissions Context Menu in Windows
• How to Backup and Restore Permissions of Files, Folders, or Drives in Windows 10
• How to Add Change Owner to Context Menu in Windows 10

 

[Brink]

Yep, it's scary that it doesn't take long to do it. Hopefully, you'll be ok and will not have any issues from doing so.

i restored an w7 image
but i have not an image about xp


is there a way /tool /test to know that everything is ok ?

by the way i'm right Take Ownership change all the permissions to normal user? right?

thanks
you are always very kind


EDIT:
do you know i'm thinking about Ultimate Windows Tweaker

it can show [URL="http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1911-take-ownership-shortcut-post1664679.html#post1664679"]Take Ownership only for files or folder
[/URL]
a new script reg key , for files only or/and folder would be less dangerous

thanks
cheers

Sorry, but there's nothing that I'm aware of to test if everything is OK when dealign with ownership and permissions other than you getting a "access denied" message when trying to open or run something, or it just no longer works due to Windows not being able to access it anymore.

Take Ownership changes the ownership and permissions to the current user.

I don't much care for those type of all in one tweaker programs. They usually cause more harm than good.

Being able to "Take Ownership" of drives is included in this tutorial's option since many people would like to be able to right click on a HDD to make taking ownership of all of it's contents easier to do. For example, of an external HDD that they lost access permission of somehow.

 

[drugo]

Sorry, but there's nothing that I'm aware of to test if everything is OK when dealign with ownership and permissions other than you getting a "access denied" message when trying to open or run something, or it just no longer works due to Windows not being able to access it anymore.

Take Ownership changes the ownership and permissions to the current user.

I don't much care for those type of all in one tweaker programs. They usually cause more harm than good.

Being able to "Take Ownership" of drives is included in this tutorial's option since many people would like to be able to right click on a HDD to make taking ownership of all of it's contents easier to do. For example, of an external HDD that they lost access permission of somehow.

thanks
but could possibile to have a regkey to add "Take Ownership" only for files or folders?

cheers

 

[Brink]

Drugo,

Yes, here you go mate.

 

[Draexo]

Take Ownership does not seem to always work. One folder has hunderds of sub directories and I am having to use Take Ownership on each directory separately.

Why in this case is Take Ownership not also giving me ownership of the sub directories?

 

[Brink]

Hello Draexo,

What's the path of the folder?

 

[drugo]

Drugo,

Yes, here you go mate.

thanks Dude

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome.

 

[bobtucson]

Works like a charm

Mark, thanks for your help. I've been going round and round until now trying to open a directory. Solution is simple and works. Very happy.............)
bob

 

[mmarcu]

Thanks v. Much

Thanks v. Much!!!!!!!

 

[hongjh]

Wonderful tools. Thank you.

 

[50shadow]

c drive

can i take ownership of the main user folder in the user folder in the c drive because i want to change the name of it because it was the model on display so i want to change the name from the stores name to my name

 

[xxxdannyxxx]

can i take ownership of the main user folder in the user folder in the c drive because i want to change the name of it because it was the model on display so i want to change the name from the stores name to my name

You could just use this tutorial to change the user folder name - http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/147545-user-profile-folder-change-user-account-folder-name.html

I wouldn't advise taking ownership of the full user folder.

Danny

 

[50shadow]

c drive

i dont want to change the folder "users" i want to change one of the folders inside it so it no longer says the name of the store. what i want to know is because it is in the c drive will i screw anything up if i take ownership of the folder inside the users folder to change the name

 

[xxxdannyxxx]

i dont want to change the folder "users" i want to change one of the folders inside it so it no longer says the name of the store. what i want to know is because it is in the c drive will i screw anything up if i take ownership of the folder inside the users folder to change the name

It would depend mostly on what uses that folder and whether it would still be recognised after the name change.My advice would be to back up first.

Danny

 

[50shadow]

c drive

well it is the administrator user folder

 

[ttcanada]

c drive, take ownership

hi,

I downloaded take ownership to open files in my external HD.

when i opened it it said that the c drive was taken ownership over.

i tried to do system restore, cant open it.

HELP what should i do now?

Thanks

 

[Brink]

Hello TT, and welcome to Seven Forums.

See if you may be able to do a system restore at boot instead using a restore point dated before you did this by mistake.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[ttcanada]

thanks Shawn

I don't think i got a cd with my laptop.

And i cant open up the system restore, nothing happens.

fyi i have 64 bit thinkpad

 

[Brink]

TT,

Are you able to use OPTION ONE in the tutorial below to keep tapping F8 during boot to enter the Advanced Boot Options screen, go into the System Recovery Options screen, and select to do a system restore at boot with?

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/666-advanced-boot-options.html

 

[bobtucson]

Clarification Please

I know this is an old thread, but could you tell me what exactly happens re: tutorial, the warning about having to re-install windows. I have used the "take ownership" and now am having trouble with losing my admin privilege. I have been fighting this for awhile now and would like to know if this is the problem.

Hope to hear from you, thanks