We cannot deny the fact that computers have become an important part of our lives. From students to businessmen to shopkeepers, everyone uses computers or laptops for their work. In such a situation, if your computer faces any problem, your work can get stuck. One of the very common problems faced by computers is when you are trying to open a file or start a program and you see something like, Windows cannot access the specified device.

While using the computer, we might see a pop-up saying, this path or file may not have appropriate permissions. If you are facing any such problem then you are at the right place. In this article, we will tell you about four ways to fix this path or file.

Why Windows Cannot Access The Specified Device?

Why Windows Cannot Access The Specified Device

Before solving the problem, let’s understand the cause of the problem. When you are trying to open a file or start a program, you might see a notification saying “Windows cannot access the specified device path or file or file you may not have appropriate permissions. You may not have appropriate permissions”. There can be several reasons for it like:

  • Windows might have blocked that particular file or program that you are trying to access.
  • The file you are trying to access is corrupted so it has been deleted, or hidden by the Antivirus that you are using. 
  • The shortcut of the file or program has been corrupted. 
  • Your computer’s Antivirus has blocked the program or file.
  • You are not the administrator so you do not have access to enter the file or program. 

How to Fix Windows Cannot Access The Specified Device?

 

How to fix Windows Cannot Access The Specified Device

Now that you know the possible reasons why Windows cannot access the specified device, let’s find out its solutions. 

Check Permissions of the File or Folder

Check Permissions of the File or Folder (Windows Cannot Access The Specified Device)

If you are trying to open a file or start a program and you see something like, Windows cannot access the specified device, there are chances that you might not have permission to have access to that file. Follow the procedure given below:

  • Right-Click on the file that you want to open and Select Properties from the Context Menu.  
  • Go to the Security tab and Select your name under Group or User Name and Select Edit
  • Now under Permission for SYSTEM, check all the permissions in the Allow column and Select the ones that you want to have. 
  • Try to open the file again, if the issue was with permissions then it will be solved with this procedure. 

Disable the Antivirus Temporarily

Disable the Antivirus Temporarily

If the file you are trying to open is corrupted then the Antivirus might block, delete, or hide the file or program. No issues, the Antivirus is just doing its work here. You can disable the Antivirus temporarily and open the file. Follow the given steps for it.

  • Press the R key and Windows key on your keyboard together. 
  • The Run dialog will open, type msconfig on it and Select OK
  • Now the System Configuration Window will open, now Click on Startup and then Open Task Manager.    
  • Find the Antivirus program and Disable it. 

Check the Location of the File

Check the Location of the File

When you are trying to open a file or start a program with its shortcut and you see something like, Windows cannot access the specified device, then your computer might no longer be connected to the network location or the external hard drive. To resolve this issue, you can follow the procedure given below: 

  • Right-click on the shortcut of the file that you want to open.
  • Now Select Properties from the Context Menu. 
  • Click on the Shortcut tab on the pop-up Window. 
  • Check the path in the Target, whether it is available any longer or not. If it is no longer available then you would not be able to have access to the file. 

Unblock the File

Unblock the File

You might face the issue of Windows cannot access the specified device, if the file or program you want to open has been blocked by Windows. You can fix this by unblocking the file. To unblock the file, follow the given process:

  • Right-Click on the file that you want to open.
  • Now Select Properties from the context menu.
  • Go to the General tab and see if the file is blocked.
  • If the file is blocked, Select Unblock and then Click on OK

At Last

There can be several reasons why Windows cannot access the specified device, Windows might have blocked that particular file or program that you are trying to access or your computer’s Antivirus has blocked the program or file. If you are facing this issue then you can use any or all of the above options to fix windows cannot access the specified device path or file you may not have appropriate permissions issues. 

FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Why Windows cannot access the specified device Utorrent?

Users have many questions such as How long does System Restore take if Utorrent can’t be accessed or methods to fix the issue. But the most important question is why this issue occurs. Well, there can be various reasons why you cannot open the utorrent. This file might be corrupted so blocked, hidden, or deleted by the Antivirus or Windows. If you are trying to open it by the shortcut then it might no longer be available on your device. You can try the resolutions given above to fix this issue. 

Q2: What to do if the file I am trying to open is blocked by the Antivirus? 

If the file you are trying to open has been blocked by the Antivirus then you can temporarily disable the Antivirus. You can disable it through System Configuration. 

Q3- Why Windows cannot access the specified device?

There can be various reasons for it. The file you are trying to access might be corrupted so it has been deleted, or hidden by the Antivirus that you are using or you might not be the administrator so you do not have access to enter the file or program. Whatever the issue is, it can be fixed by the solutions provided by us.