Skip to main content This browser is no longer supported. Show
Upgrade to Microsoft Edge to take advantage of the latest features, security updates, and technical support. How permissions are handled when you copy and move files and folders
In this articleThis article describes how Windows Explorer handles file and folder permissions in different situations. Applies to: Windows 10 - all editions, Windows Server 2012 R2 SummaryIn Microsoft Windows 2000, in Windows Server 2003, and in Windows XP, you have the option of using either the FAT32 file system or the NTFS file system. When you use NTFS, you can grant permissions to your folders and files to control access to those objects. When you copy or move a file or folder on an NTFS volume, how Windows Explorer handles the permissions on the object varies, depending on whether the object is copied or moved within the same NTFS volume or to a different volume. More informationBy default, an object inherits permissions from its parent object, either at the time of creation or when it is copied or moved to its parent folder. The only exception to this rule occurs when you move an object to a different folder on the same volume. In this case, the original permissions are retained. Additionally, note the following rules:
You can modify how Windows Explorer handles permissions when objects are copied or moved to another NTFS volume. When you copy or move an object to another volume, the object inherits the permissions of its new folder. However, if you want to modify this behavior to preserve the original permissions, modify the registry as follows. Important This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, see How to back up and restore the registry in Windows.
You can modify how Windows Explorer handles permissions when objects are moved in the same NTFS volume. As mentioned, when an object is moved within the same volume, the object preserves its permissions by default. However, if you want to modify this behavior so that the object inherits the permissions from the parent folder, modify the registry as follows:
Note The MoveSecurityAttributes registry value only applies to Windows XP and to Windows Server 2003. The value does not affect Windows 2000. What happens to permissions when you copy and move a file?By default, an object inherits permissions from its parent object, either at the time of creation or when it is copied or moved to its parent folder. The only exception to this rule occurs when you move an object to a different folder on the same volume. In this case, the original permissions are retained.
What happens when a file is copied?In digital file management, copying is a file operation that creates a new file which has the same content as an existing file.
What happens to a file or folder permission if it is copied within an NTFS partition?What happens to a file or folder permission if it is copied within an NTFS partition? The original retains permissions, and the copy inherits permissions from the new location.
What happens to the NTFS permissions applied to a folder when the folder is moved to a different folder in the same volume?What happens to the NTFS permissions applied to a folder when the folder is moved to a different folder in the same volume? It keeps its previous permissions settings in the new folder.
|