Folder Keeps Reverting to Read-Only? 3 Easy Methods to Fix It

Does a folder keep reverting to Read-only after you uncheck the option in Windows 10/11?

This guide explains how to determine what is actually preventing you from writing to the folder and how to fix it safely.

Why Folder Keeps Reverting to Read Only Windows 10?

A folder appearing to return to Read-only does not always indicate an error. The possible causes include:

• The Windows GUI Illusion: The square box in a folder’s properties is always filled or shaded grey by design. It does not mean your folder is actually read-only; look at the Security tab
• Controlled Folder Access: Windows Security blocks apps from modifying protected directories.
• Incorrect User Permissions: Your user profile may lack full control.
• Cloud Sync Locks: Services like OneDrive can lock files and folders if storage is full or sync errors occur.
• Third-Party Antivirus: Aggressive security tools may continuously re-apply read restrictions.

Now, let’s see how to fix can’t remove read-only from folder Windows 10.

Fix 1. Change Permissions

Changing permissions is the most common way to fix the folder keeps reverting to read only Windows 10 issue. Here’s how to do that.

Step 1. Right-click the drive that contains the affected folder or files and select Properties.

Step 2. In the Properties window, navigate to the Security tab and click on the Advanced button.

Step 3. Click on Change permissions in the new window.

Step 4. Select the user that you want to change permissions and click Edit.

Step 5. Select This folder, subfolders and files from the drop-down menu of Applies to.

Step 6. Select the checkbox of Full Control under the Basic Permissions. Now, click OK to save these changes.

If you have more than one user on the computer, you need to enable inheritance. Here’s how.

Step 1. Find the User folder in the C drive on your computer, and then right-click the folder and select Properties.

Step 2. Navigate to the Security tab and click on Advanced button.

Step 3. In the pop-up window, click on the Enable inheritance button.

After changing the permissions, you can check if the “can’t remove read-only from folder Windows 10” is resolved or not.

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Fix 2. Change the Attribute of the Folder

Sometimes, you may open a certain folder with the read only attribute, which leads to the folder keeps reverting to read only Windows 10 issue. Here you can change the attribute of the folder in command prompt.

Step 1. Type cmd in the search box, and then right-click the top result and select Run as administrator.

Step 2. In the elevated command prompt, type attrib -r +s drive:<path><foldername> and hit Enter (Replace with your actual folder name and path).

After removing the system attribute, see if the “can’t uncheck read only Windows 10” problem still persists.

Fix 3. Disable Your Antivirus Program Temporarily

As mentioned above, third-party antivirus software is also responsible for the issue – you can’t remove read-only from folder Windows 10. This is because your antivirus program detects the files as a threat and stops you from accessing.

In this situation, you can try disabling them temporarily. It is relatively simple to do that.

Step 1. Right-click the Start menu and select Apps and Features (Programs and Features).

Step 2. Find your antivirus program on the list, and double click it and select Uninstall. Then you can follow the on-screen prompts to complete the uninstallation.

Bottom Line

What to do if a folder keeps reverting to Read-only on Windows 10/11? You can follow the methods provided by this post to solve it.