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

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• 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

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• 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

 

[Pimen]

Needing Take ownership in Hungarian

I had to install a Hungarian language Windows 7 and my Take ownership (earlier working perfectly under English Windows 10) stopped working. I saw in this forum that you may happen to help me to find a Hungarian variant for Take ownership.
Please help!

 

[johncorosz]

Take Ownership Shortcut

Can you literally take ownership of everything and still have Windows work correctly?

 

[Brink]

Can you literally take ownership of everything and still have Windows work correctly?

No. If you take ownership of the Windows C: drive, it will cause Windows to become unstable. You'll most likely end up having to reinstall Windows if you do.

 

[Pimen]

I have never thought of taking ownership of the whole C: drive, only some folders under Documents and Settings. So earlier my small interventions did not cause any trouble.

 

[johncorosz]

My wants would be to have permissions changed in REGEDIT so that I can easily tweak features. BUT.... now that I am getting quite good at buzzing around the registry for some things I guess it less of a hassle these days.

 

[Brink]

I have never thought of taking ownership of the whole C: drive, only some folders under Documents and Settings. So earlier my small interventions did not cause any trouble.

Hello Pimen, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Here's a Hungarian version below of the .reg file to add Take Ownership for that PC. The one in the tutorial will only work in an English Windows.

View attachment Hungarian_Add_Take_Ownership_with_Pause_to_context_menu.reg

 

[Pimen]

Hello Brink and other Seven Forums.
You are very helpful. Sorry, but this solution cannot not work. The error messge says (in my translation from Hungarian):Invalid syntax. The ’l’ value is not permitted with switch ’/d’. My PC-knowledge is not enough to understand what it means, but it may helpfully contribute to your knowledge. Perhaps I ought to have detached "Take ownership" from the right click menu prior trying to apply the Hungarian version. But don't bother yourself, my problem is really not of great importance.
Thanks for paying attention.

 

[Brink]

No worries. Merging the Hungarian .reg file will replace the old one without having to remove it first.

I have updated the Hungarian .reg file above. Please try the new version. It should work for you now.

 

[Pimen]

Hungarian Take Ownership - a success

No worries. Merging the Hungarian .reg file will replace the old one without having to remove it first.

I have updated the Hungarian .reg file above. Please try the new version. It should work for you now.

And really, now it works!!
Thank you very much!

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome.

 

[Challenge]

Hi there, I'm running Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bits sp1 in spanish, where I can get the correct version of this hot shortcut
take ownership,
sorry, thanks in advance

 

[Brink]

Hello Challenge, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Here's a Spanish version for you.

View attachment Add_Spanish_Take_Ownership_with_Pause_to_context_menu.reg

 

[Challenge]

Good morning Mr. Brink, thanks a lot for your great help.
will let you know as sonn as I use it, will get familiar first
to not get burn with this "HOT" shortcut.

 

[Challenge]

so far is working pretty good
thanks

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome.

 

[Challenge]

Thanks, Mr. Brink

 

[cybermaven]

WORKED!!!

This worked for me! Thank you!! I thought I lost my photos on that drive. Worked like a charm.

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome cybermaven, and welcome to Seven Forums.

If you like, here's a Windows 10 version below.

Add Take Ownership to Context Menu in Windows 10 User Accounts Tutorials

 

[AussieGent]

Well I'll Be

Thankyou Brink for this piece of magic. I've worked on finding a solution offline for a few sleepless nights without success until finding your solution. Absolutely Fabulous!!

 

[Brink]

I'm glad it was able to help AussieGent, and welcome to Seven Forums.