Have you ever faced the “action cannot be performed” issue on your computer? We published an article on how to fix it a while ago. There’s another similar issue, where you see the “You require permission from TrustedInstaller to make changes to the files”.
This can happen even when you try to make changes as the system’s administrator. If you wish to know how to fix this error message, that can appear even after all the necessary requirements are fulfilled, check this article out.
What Is The TrustedInstaller?
The TrustedInstaller is a Windows Resource Protection component that owns a set of files on the Operating System (OS) and protects the cores of the computer processor. On Windows computers, the TrustedInstaller is, generally, in the form of a built-in administrator account, that owns core windows files of formats like .dll, .exe, .sys, and .ocs.
Without the permission of the TrustedInstaller, it is impossible to access core system files. Despite many users wondering about the nature of the TrustedInstaller Windows tool, it is a legitimate process.
Why Does The “You Require Permission From TrustedInstaller” Error Message Show Up?
The main reason behind you seeing the TrustedInstaller error message is that you are trying to make changes to or delete the file that is under the ownership of the TrustedInstaller account. If you really need to delete some files that are protected by this account, you cannot do it as long as the file is in the control of the TrustedInstaller.
If you try to move the file or delete it, you will see a message like this:
You do not have permission to perform this action.
or
You need authorization from TrustedInstaller in order to perform this action.
This could also be caused by malware or virus files that are disguised as Windows processes, installer services, or important system files, in order to gain unauthorized access into protected Windows directories to get important files or folders.
Fixing The “You Require Permission From TrustedInstaller” Error Message
The only way to get rid of this error message is to shift the ownership of all the TrustedInstaller files to the admin or the user that wants to modify these files. There are only three ways to do this on your Windows PC and they are stated below –
- Transferring Ownership For Files Through The File Explorer’s Advanced Special Permission
- Using The Command Prompt Tool To Change Permissions
- Writing A Script To Take Control Over The File
Methods To Transfer Ownership And Permissions For Removing The “You Require Permission From TrustedInstaller” Error Message
Once you use these methods to remove the TrustedInstaller permissions for the files, try changing or deleting the protected files to see if it had helped. We will be trying to grant full control permissions to files and folders associated with the file explorer.
Transferring Ownership For Files Through The File Explorer’s Advanced Special Permissions
Since the system files and the Windows File Explorer collaborate for a lot of functions, you can use this feature to move the ownership and full control of certain system files to another user.
Use the below-stated steps through the file explorer properties window.
- Open the File Explorer window (Windows + E) and navigate to the file or folder directory you want folder access to.
- Select the Properties option in the right-click context menu.
- In the Properties window, Go into the Security tab and click Advanced, below the Permissions for SYSTEM list.
- This will make the Advanced Security Settings window appear on your screen.
- On the Owner section, select the Change link.
The name in this section is the person or Windows Resource Protection account that owns these system tiles.
- This will open the Select User or Group window, enter the name of the new file owner and click on the Check Names button.
This will make the OS automatically check the user name.
- After the user name check is complete, press OK and your new owner for the file/folder will be saved.
- Return to the Advanced Security Settings window and check the Replace owner on sub containers and objects checkbox. This will enable you to delete multiple files in the window.
- Select Apply and then, OK to save these changes.
- Go back to the folder properties window and then, again, click on the Advanced button in the Security tab.
- In the Permissions tab, select the Add button.
- At the top of the Permission Entry window, click on Select a principal link.
- Then, again, go into the Security tab, and click on the Advanced button.
- Press the Find Now button, choose the built-in user account, that you chose earlier, and click on the OK button.
- Check all the options in the Basic permissions section in the Permissions entry window.
- When you check the Only apply these permissions to objects and/or containers within this container check box, you might see a prompt, where you have to select Yes. If you see the Replace all child object permission entries… checkbox, enable it.
- Select Apply and OK for these changes.
- Click on the OK button in the folder properties window to close it.
When you finish all these steps, you can change, delete or rename files protected once by the TrustedInstaller.
Using The Command Prompt Tool To Change Permissions
Command Prompt is a powerful tool that can access every part of the computer and even make changes in the system’s configurations. We can use this tool to run some commands that will help transfer the ownership of the files you wish to modify or delete while it is under the possession of the TrustedInstaller.
This is what you have to do.
- Launch the Command Prompt window as the system administrator. You will have to search for this tool and click on the Run as Administrator option. This will launch the Admin: Command Prompt window.
- Type in and execute the following commands, one at a time –
takeown /f “C:\Windows” /R /D Y
takeown /f “C:\Windows\ regedit.exe
Hit the Enter key to execute these commands.
Once these commands are run, you will be able to notice that the file is no longer owned by TrustedInstalled, as you will have taken control of the Windows folder in C: drive.
Writing A Script To Take Control Over The File
This is a very simple task. You have to place the below script into the Windows Registry Editor.
Boot up your PC as a system admin and Open a Notepad file. Now, copy-paste the following script into it.
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\runas]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\runas]
@="Take Ownership"
"HasLUAShield"=""
"NoWorkingDirectory"=""
"Position"="middle"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\runas\command]
@="cmd.exe /c takeown /f \"%1\" && icacls \"%1\" /grant administrators:F /c /l & pause"
"IsolatedCommand"="cmd.exe /c takeown /f \"%1\" && icacls \"%1\" /grant administrators:F /c /l & pause"
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\runas]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\runas]
@="Take Ownership"
"HasLUAShield"=""
"NoWorkingDirectory"=""
"Position"="middle"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\runas\command]
@="cmd.exe /c takeown /f \"%1\" /r /d y && icacls \"%1\" /grant administrators:F /t /c /l /q & pause"
"IsolatedCommand"="cmd.exe /c takeown /f \"%1\" /r /d y && icacls \"%1\" /grant administrators:F /t /c /l /q & pause"
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\dllfile\shell\runas]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\dllfile\shell\runas]
@="Take Ownership"
"HasLUAShield"=""
"NoWorkingDirectory"=""
"Position"="middle"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\dllfile\shell\runas\command]
@="cmd.exe /c takeown /f \"%1\" && icacls \"%1\" /grant administrators:F /c /l & pause"
"IsolatedCommand"="cmd.exe /c takeown /f \"%1\" && icacls \"%1\" /grant administrators:F /c /l & pause"
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell\runas]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell\runas]
@="Take Ownership"
"HasLUAShield"=""
"NoWorkingDirectory"=""
"Position"="middle"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell\runas\command]
@="cmd.exe /c takeown /f \"%1\" /r /d y && icacls \"%1\" /grant administrators:F /t /c /l /q & pause"
"IsolatedCommand"="cmd.exe /c takeown /f \"%1\" /r /d y && icacls \"%1\" /grant administrators:F /t /c /l /q & pause"
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\runas]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\runas]
"HasLUAShield"=""
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\runas\command]
@="\"%1\" %*"
"IsolatedCommand"="\"%1\" %*"Save this file as the takeownership.reg.
This will be saved as a registration file. Run it and the ownership status will be shifted to another user or the admin.
These are the methods you can use to change the ownership of the files to another person and fix the “You require permission from TrustedInstaller” error message. You can also use third-party apps for this. We hope you were able to access protected files after this.