How to Take Ownership of files in Windows 10

1. Open the File Explorer program from your computer. This is where all the files are. Anything that exists on your device’s memory can be found here.
2. Find the file you need access to. Either browse by category or use the search bard for this task.
3. When you see the icon of the file that you are supposed to open, right click on it. A drop-down menu listing various options will become visible. Click on the option called “ properties”. This shows the specifications as well as the features of the file.
4. There will be multiple tabs in this window. Click on the one labeled Security. This will be your access point into NTFS permissions.
5. Click on the advanced button. Once inside this tab, you will find the Permissions tab. Click on it and then click on the add option.
6. Click on the option to Select a principal and add your user account here.
7. You will be displayed the “Select User or Group” page. When you reach here, click on the Find Now button.
8. Upon getting the search results, identify and select your user account, and click OK. Make sure it’s the right one.
9. When you are shown “Select User or Group” page, click on OK.
10. When you are displayed the “Permission Entry”, check on the Full control option. This will ensure that you will have complete access and fully extended control?
11. Next click on OK.
12. Now click on OK again. This will save the changes you made
13. Then click on Apply. The changes will be applied and put into effect immediately.
14. Click on OK once more.
15. Click OK to close the file or folder and then try accessing it with full permissions.

Remember all of this only works if you have administrative access. In case you don’t, you will require a third party application to gain access to these files. In case an error shows up, try closing the properties tab and starting again.