[Windows 11] Troubles with permission for shared network drives

Troubleshooting Network Drive Permissions on Windows 11: Resolving Access Denied Errors

Managing shared network drives in Windows 11 can sometimes present unexpected hurdles, especially when dealing with permissions. This guide explores a common scenario where users face access issues with newly added hard drives and provides a step-by-step solution to restore proper permissions and seamless file sharing.

Scenario Overview

Suppose you have a home network setup with a dedicated server hosting multiple hard drives, all of which are shared and accessible from your main Windows 11 computer. Sharing and mapping these drives typically involve setting permissions for user groups, such as “Everyone,” to facilitate easy access.

Recently, a new 12TB HDD was added to this server, configured similarly to existing drives. Despite setting permissions to grant “Everyone” full control and successfully mapping the drive on the client PC, users encounter an unexpected problem: when trying to change permissions or transfer files, an error message appears:

“Failed to enumerate objects in the container. Access is denied.”

This issue indicates a permissions barrier that prevents modifying the drive’s security settings, leading to access restrictions.

Common Causes

This problem usually stems from security inheritance issues or ownership settings on the new drive. When a new disk is formatted or added, its permissions may not inherit settings from the parent or may be assigned to a different owner, blocking further permission modifications.

Troubleshooting Steps

To resolve this, follow these steps to manually adjust the permissions and ownership directly on the drive:

1. Access the Drive Properties

2. On the server machine, locate the new HDD.

3. Right-click on the drive icon and select Properties.

4. Navigate to Security Settings

5. In the Properties window, click on the Security tab.

6. Click the Advanced button to access detailed security settings.

7. Change Ownership

8. At the top of the Advanced Security Settings window, you’ll see the current owner.

9. Click Change next to the owner field.
10. Enter your user account name or select the administrator account.
11. Check the box Replace owner on subcontainers and objects.

12. Click OK to apply.

13. Grant Permissions to Your User or Group

14. Back in the Security tab, click Edit.

15. Select your user account or the “Everyone” group.
16. Check Full Control for permissions.
17. If your user