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

 

[fanfan98]

Hi Mr Brink, I'm running Windows 7 Pro 64 bits sp1 in French, where I can get the correct version of your shortcut
take ownership,
thanks in advance

 

[Brink]

Hello fanfan98, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Here's a French version below for you.

:ar: View attachment French-Add_Take_Ownership_with_Pause_to_context_menu.reg

 

[fanfan98]

Thank you

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome.

 

[fanfan98]

I just have a last question for you...
If in the future I want to remove the Take Ownership menu, can I do it with the reg file supplied on the first page of this thread or do I need a French version ?

 

[Brink]

Correct. You can use the same .reg file in the tutorial to remove the context menu.

 

[fanfan98]

Thanks a lot.
And thank you also for your tutorial about Win 7 repair installation. It saved my life this weekend and my computer is now working like a charm

 

[shurzota]

Hello Brink,
I added “Take Ownership” with Pause to context menu. Setting ownership and permission was successful for any uncorrupted file on my PC and I always got “SUCCESS: The file…” cmd window - similar to the picture from the step #3 of you instruction. But setting ownership and permission was NOT successful for corrupted .asf file. I got empty, black cmd window. I cannot delete this .asf file, located in Computer\(D\Name\My Videos. I moved My Documents, My Music, My Pictures, My Videos folders from C: drive to D: drive.

 

[Brink]

Hello shurzota,

You might see if the free program Unlocker or FileASSASSIN may be able to delete the file for you.

 

[shurzota]

Thank you very much for you amazing work. I created entire library from your posts. Your explanations are so good, that many IT professors could envy the clarity of presentation.

 

[Brink]

Thank you for the kind words shurzota. I'm glad they could help.

 

[Mic Geo]

Take ownership in French

FR:
Bonjour,
Est il possible d'avoir une version francaise de "Take Ownership Shortcut" ?
Win7 Ultimate x64
Merci d'avance
Cordialement.


ENtranslate auto)

Hello,
It is possible to have a French version of "Take Ownership Shortcut" ?
Win7 Ultimate x64
Thank you in advance
Cordially


Mic Geo

 

[Mic Geo]

I dowloaded the link Page 39


Afflicted !


Thank you


Mic Geo

 

[Brink]

Welcome to Seven Forums Mic Geo.

 

[faticata]

Welcome to Seven Forums Mic Geo.

I've just registered to send a big thanks from Portugal for you kind help and coding!

Obrigado,
David

 

[Brink]

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

 

[MotherDawg]

WoW Shawn!

It's "unbalivable" how many people have hi-jacked your thread for their own issues. More than once I would have told them to open a new issue thread and erased their post... Go call Microsoft!

It's a know When a thread is posted on a subject specified by the OP (Original Post(er)), the OP owns the thread and no one as any business using it to solve their own personal issues. The gentlemen with the encrypted files on page 16 is a flagrant example.

That being said, I'm puzzled by all the different code used to generate a "Take Ownership" context menu item.

Your code is under HKCR\*\shell\runas
The keys I ran before were in HKCR\*\shell\takeownership
Since to open command window as admin, usually, HKCR\Directory\shell\runas is used...

Why do you use runas? Or is their actually any difference?


Thank You for all your work... and for all your patience.

Gilles

 

[Brink]

Hello Gilles, and welcome to Seven Forums.

I prefer the updated version below that will still work in Windows 7.

:ar: Add Take Ownership to Context Menu in Windows 10 | Windows 10 Tutorials

The "runas" key allows the context menu to run elevated to be able to successfully run its command. This however removes the "Run as administrator" context menu for application files.

Otherwise, you have to use a method like I used in the newer version of the context menu.

 

[mgmarposs]

Good moorning,
Congratulations.
Can I have Add_Take_Ownership_to_context_menu for Italian system.
Thank you very much

 

[Brink]

Hello mgmarposs, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Here you go.

:ar: View attachment Italian_Add_Take_Ownership_to_context_menu.reg