Dealing with an “Access is denied” error on your external hard drive when trying to access it on your Windows 10 or 11 computer can be frustrating. Many users mistakenly assume their external drive is corrupted or hacked when faced with this issue.
However, in this tutorial, GESHub.org will walk you through the steps to fix this error without resorting to formatting, which would result in data loss.
Understanding the Error
The “Access is denied” error is a common technical issue caused by permission problems on storage devices like external hard drives, USB drives, and SD cards. Lack of administrator rights or NTFS permission issues often triggers this error.
NTFS permissions, employed by the New Technology File System in Windows NT, secure folders and files on NTFS partitions.
How to Fix “Access is Denied” Error on External Drive
- Connect Your External Drive: Start by connecting your inaccessible external drive to your computer.
- Open This PC/My Computer: Click and open This PC/My Computer on your desktop.
- Access Drive Properties: Right-click on the inaccessible external hard drive, scroll down, and select Properties.
- Navigate to Security: Click on the Security tab within the Properties window.
- Access Advanced Security Settings: Click on the Advanced button to open advanced security settings for the drive.
- Add a Principal: Click on Add and then choose Select a principal.
- Navigate to Everyone: Click on Advanced, then Find Now. Scroll down, select Everyone, and click OK.
- Adjust Permissions: Back in the permission Entry section, tick on Full control, and click OK.
- Apply Changes: Click Apply and then OK to save the changes.
- Success! Access Your External Drive: Congratulations! You should now be able to access your external hard drive without encountering the “Access is denied” error.
Conclusion
By following these step-by-step instructions, you can resolve the “Access is denied” error on your external hard drive in Windows 10/11 without the need for formatting.
Remember to exercise caution when adjusting permissions and ensure you have the necessary administrative rights. This guide provides a straightforward solution to a common issue, allowing you to regain access to your valuable data on the external.
Source: GESHub.org
